Still in Mexico

Our arrival to La Cruz was Dec.24, 2014, Christmas Eve.  Departure April 3, 2015, Good Friday.

We had a wonderful time there.  Very comfortable, life was easy and very convenient.  My duties on the boat are the galley (groceries), laundry and basuro (garbage).  Important jobs as I am sure you will agree.  There are many tiendas (small markets with limited selection) so it's relatively easy to pick up low fat milk, cold beer, and fresh veggies.  Our friends John and Marlena were generous enough to drive us to Mega (mucho grande grocery store), the Pemex for jury jug gasoline, and Costco in Puerta Vallarta any time we needed to go.


Our pastime was spent going to the beach on the way to Punta de Mita, Destillidaris Beach; sailing Banderas Bay mostly to make fresh water (yes, we have a water maker); took a few tours of the area with our new friend April; listened to great music, and feasted in the local restaurants and on the boat; caught some fish; shopping at the Sunday Market and collecting fabulous local arts - pottery, jewelry, and woven products. AND even went skiing for a week in Snowmass, Colorado with the New Smyrna Beach Ski Club!!! Lots of company came to visit too:  Diane, Paddy's sister from Alaska, Jill and Ray from Crystal River, and Larry from Palm Springs/Arlington, WA.

With Jill and Ray at the beach

Ray trying out my new paddle board

Paddy, Gator Dave, Maryjane and Cabana on the slopes

La Cruz' Sunday Market 

On the famous malecon in Old Puerta Vallarta

Our fav - chili rellano

Jill and April getting into trouble

a parked Ass!!!!

Jalisco Hacienda in need of repair but still lovely and great representative of the era

John caught a fish!

Ahi!

Diane's a funny gal!

Major things were taken care of such as refinishing our anchor chain.  It required being removed and disconnected from the boat, transferred to a panga, then to a truck and driven to Guadalajara - about 4-5 hours away, dipped in a cleaning solution then twice into a galvanizing dip.  Then the reverse!  Paddy then had to rig a temporary rope/chain/string combo to use instead for the 3 weeks ("oh, you said only 2 weeks!") that it took before being returned to the Le Chat Beaute.  Fortunately Jill and Ray were visiting and Paddy put Ray to work as his co-captain.

It's always something.........................

In Mexico for the Winter

It's been a long time since I updated my blog - right, Suzanne?  Now that I've been busy on facebook, I have overlooked the blog.  There's no way to catch up without boring everyone, so briefly.........

After leaving the Napa River with the boat newly repaired, we returned to Sausalito and San Francisco, then down the coast of California stopping in Redondo Beach to visit with Laurie, then to San Diego.  Thanksgiving was spent with Larry and Shelly in Indio where we were able to sneak in a few Harley rides.  Back to San Diego to prepare for our trip south to La Cruz, Mexico.  We checked into Mexico in Ensenada - with the Capitano de Puerto, immigration, and customs.  What a joke - sorry but the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing - it's all very frustrating.  But you have to do it to be legal.  Now we are on a mission - after 2 days at sea we stopped in Turtle Bay for a break and a good night's sleep.  Then back to sea for 2 + days and a sleep over in Magdalena Bay.  Next stop Punta de Mita (check this place out!).  We only saw it from the water, but it looks very high-end with gorgeous scenery.  www.puntademita.org 

With all the cruising we've been doing, we have seen our share of spectacular sunsets.  

Booby on the bow rail.  He spent the night there!

                                           Joshua Tree National Park outside Indio, CA.  Took a harley ride with Larry through this unique national forest..........................lots of boulders, few trees.

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                                            Sunsets in La Cruz.  View from our boat.

                                                                Santa Paddy Claus

Friends John and Marlene, who live here 6 months of the year from Navarro, CA, invited us to join them for Christmas festivities.  They live behind a wall that opens into a spacious living area full of color and Mexican art.

                                          In the center of this village is a plaza/park.

                                      Christmas day with Jenn, Dawn, Marlene and Marina.

I hope your Christmas was bright and your new year a delight!

xox  Queenie

Back in the Bay! (Finally posted from Oct.)

(This is an old post that I never published - think I had a weak internet connection)

We arrived back in San Francisco Bay on Oct. 7.  I feel like I'm returning home.  I just love it here! 

 While on our way to Napa to visit friends we hit a buoy!  Ouch!  Fortunately Linda and Doug, who we came to visit along with Wayne and Elly from Roatan, live on the Napa River.  AND there is a marina @ 1 mile up the river where we can get the boat out of the water and get it repaired.

 As I have discussed before, living on the hard is HARD.  But this time, we did it right!  We were able to stay with the Simms' and enjoy the Napa Valley.  First on tap - dinner at the Pedroncelli Winery.  Dinner was served in the
barrel room after a wine tasting outside in the warm California sun.

Below is Wayne, Elly, Linda and Doug.

The Girls after a few glasses of very yummy wine.  Pedroncelli - try it if you can find it.

Then on to Domaine Carneros,  makers of Tatingers sparkling wine.  Domaine Carneros | Napa Valley Sparkling Wine and Pinot ...https://www.domainecarneros.com/

 Great quote on the wall:  "Remember Gentlemen, it's not just France we are fighting for, it's Champagne."  Winston Churchill.  He drank 1/2 a bottle of champagne everyday with lunch (or for lunch?)!!  My kind of guy.

Oh, then there's Gloria Ferrer, another sparkling wine winery.  This is a photo of one of their caves where they store there bottles in a naturally cool setting.

Yoga with Elly on the deck - downward facing kitty...............................

Lunch on the deck overlooking the Napa River - beautiful scenery.

Bonnie Kuhr is a multi-media artist who we met during the summer 2013 - she joined us several times on the boat to watch the Americas' Cup races.  We were able to attend her studio opening.

Thank you Elly and Wayne for letting us enjoy your Benz baby!  We only ran out of gas once!

The girls' all fixed and ready to go back into the water - after 3 weeks and mucho dinero!

On our way back to Sausalito, we spent the day/night on Angel Island.  Here's the view of San Francisco from the top - whew! what a hike.

Sunset over Sausalito....................