The rest of the week was mostly boat maintenance, with one day off to join a casual pool party at my dock neighbor's new condo at Paradise Village Golf Club.
The Panga Trip to Yelapa
The trip to Yelapa
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I cajoled a group of friends into hiring a panga to take us
to Yelapa and Los Arcos: Vicky, Mike, Mike, Bob, Lisa.
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| Juan was our skipper. |
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| Francisco was crew and guide. |
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Looking east from the landing dock
in Yelapa
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| The village "Home Depot" |
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Walking through town: there are no cars
or roads, the largest paths are cobblestone
about 4 feet wide. They can barely
accommodate the ATVs that are the
only practical vehicles in Yelapa.
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Chickens, horses, mules, dogs, cats are all common
sites around the village.
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Horses are a great way to get around, so the kids
apparently learn young.
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When it's difficult to bring in construction
materials, you make do with what you can
get. Makes for some interesting results.
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| A chachalaca |
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| Here you can see the color. |
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Bob and Mike checking out a small three-way dictionary
painted on a school wall.
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| Left to right: local dialect/Spanish/English |
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The village is squeezed between the jungle-
covered mountains and the bay, with a
stream running through the middle and
one side separated by the river.
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At one end of the village is the famous
waterfall, a major tourist draw.
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Because of recent rains,
it was running too strong
and muddy for the
usual dip.
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We walked about two miles through the village and
across the river to get to Fanny's Restaurant on the
beach at the small cove on the east side. This view
shows the village and the main cove from the hillside.
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On the left side, the beach with Fanny's; on the right,
the river mouth.
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We had to walk all the way to the bridge
to cross the river because it was running
too deep to ford.
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| Looking downstream |
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| Upstream |
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| The main "road" to Fanny's |
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| The red umbrellas mark Fanny's. Our panga awaits on the left. |
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Looking back toward the river from the beach
in front of Fanny's Restaurant.
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| No comment. |
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You never know who might be looking over your shoulder
at Fanny's!
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A Stop on the Way Back to Snorkel at Los Arcos
On to Los Arcos
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| Tossing breadcrumbs into the water brings the fish. |
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| Into the warm water…. |
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Through the cave and back to the boat....
So long, and thanks for all the fish!
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| Returning to Nuevo Vallarta Harbor |
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My dock neighbor Jack invited a group over for a
little pool party at his new condo.
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Nice place right on the golf course, easy going, casual group.
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A Surprise Visit
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| Not the same one who visited me in Yelapa! |
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| A jellyfish swimming along the dock. |
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| Just a purple plant |
Boat Maintenance Never Ends
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| Second maintenance coat of Cetol Gloss on the rub rail |
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| Stainless trim strip remounted and the brightwork maintenance is done for the year. Hoorah!!! |
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| The old raw water pump impeller prior to replacement. |
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| New impeller. Face plate cleaned and fine sanded. |
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I didn't have the exact replacement gasket, so I modified
a variation. To ensure no leaks, I used a little hi-temp
silicone as well. Impeller lubed with silicone grease.
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| Cover plate prior to cleaning up. |
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| Ready for re-installing |
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| Paint touched up, checked for leaks and good to go. |
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Pumping out the old oil, the first step
in the oil/filter change process. Not
a technically tough job, but very hot
and sweaty since the engine has to
be recently run and hot.
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