June 28, 2018

If you're curious about what life is like here, this week's post illustrates a typical cruiser's week in Nuevo Vallarta during hurricane season.  For me, it means a mix of photography, fun with friends, local events, boat projects, and keeping an eye on the weather.  And of course some indolence, but I'm too lazy to photograph that.


This image is the result of using Photoshop to
combine the two following images.  Both were
taken by me from almost the same place, but
nearly a year apart.

Great blue heron on top of a mangrove tree behind my
boat.  Taken this week.

Full moon rising above the mangroves behind my boat.
Taken last year.

Young yellow crowned heron chicks in the nest

Older heron chick out on a limb

Heron chick

Green heron in the nest.  Although commonly seen fishing
from the docks in the marina, green herons are very
protective of their nests.  They are hidden deep within
the mangroves and are hard to find, let alone photograph.
The adults will not lead you to the nest if they are concerned
about any danger about.  Lots of patience and stillness
are needed to get a photo.

Green heron working on the nest

Green heron fishing from my dock line.  Much easier to
see, but they still don't like you  to get closer than about
fifteen feet.

Pelican pushes off the water at take-off.

Typical sunrise with coffee in the cockpit

Most mornings the fishermen are out casting their nets
behind my boat.

Dad, mom and son all take part.  The little boy is
already learning how to handle the nets at age 6 or so.
The pelican is hoping for a handout or a dropped fish.

Casting the net

The Optimist North American Championship
was held at the Vallarta Yacht here this week.

Quite a big event with about 150 competitors
from 14 countries, each with family and
a new boat and cart.

A fraction of the fleet getting towed out to the 
starting line in Banderas Bay.

The Optimist North American Championship


This is me petting the horse in the coral across the street
from Titi's Restaurant in Jarretaderas where I took friends
Mike and Vicky this week.

The entrance to Titi's

The horse across the street from Titi's was quite friendly.

It was some gear that accidentally got
pushed against this switch in the cockpit
that caused the windlass to burn out
trying to haul up an anchor that was
secured on the bow and immovable.

To prevent a recurrence, I fabricated and
installed a guard using some left-over
plexiglass the right color.

With the almost daily evening thunderstorms and showers,
the only varnish work I could do was interior work.
I finally got down to sanding and varnishing the 
removable fiddles for the galley lockers that had
never been finished.

The first coat of varnish always makes a
dramatic difference.

Three coats were good enough.

Clips back in place and the fiddle clipped in.

No more irritation from seeing an unfinished piece 
of teak every time I open a locker.

Emilia is the latest in a series of developing tropical 
storms passing by off the coast.  She is far enough
off shore that there is little effect here.  Meanwhile,
another tropical depression further south is expected 
to develop into a storm in the next few days.  
Because they usually move northwestward, 
I'm not concerned.  Nonetheless, I check the 
forecasts daily to avoid any unpleasant 
surprises.


Time lapse of the clouds and thunderheads that bring
evening rains

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