Back to Mazatlan

I got everything on my list for the States done (see Carol, see doctors, see condo, see Ventura marina, see Mini, buy stuff) and headed back to Mazatlán on Wednesday.  Always culture shock and price shock both ways.  While I enjoyed my visit, it was good to see my cruising friends again, including some I hadn't seen in many months.  But it wasn't long before the boat work started again!  I'm very grateful that Curt is going to help me sail across the Sea of Cortez, but now I've got to get the boat ready for sea as we plan to leave at the next weather window.

I helped Carol get a new sink and cabinet 

for her bathroom.  I also tried to fix the bad

connector for her dishwasher, but the faucet

threads were torn, so the kitchen faucet

 had to be replaced as well.  We decided

to have the plumber do it all in case there

were "issues."

One of the fun things about Los Angeles is

you see all kinds of oddball things.

See what I mean?

There's some good stuff too, like a real deli!

Spring is a good time to be in LA:  the air is clear when

it's been raining, and there are a lot of trees in bloom.

Yup, this is really LA!

I checked in with my old marina in Ventura to make sure

I'm working my way up the waiting list.  Good thing; it's

full!

The new development next to the marina is progressing, 

albeit slowly due to some problems.  It will definitely

change things.

Approaching Mazatlán airport.  Always fun to see the

marina from the air.

There's Circadian!

It was great to have friends on board my first night back:

Curt, Mary and Gracie and Tony and his wife.  I brought

back a new heat exchanger for Tony's engine.  (It's in

the cardboard box on top of the hatch.)  After celebrating

cocktail hour, we all went to get pizza together where

we ran into Mark and Stephanie, other cruising friends

that Curt, Mary and I hadn't seen in some time.  

Always fun!

The next day, Mark was helping Curt wrestle with his 

outboard that wouldn't idle.

Back on Circadian, my dove friend not only was still

around, but was contemplating building a nest in my BBQ.

I quickly secured the cover to discourage it.  After all,

I had just spent two days scrubbing dirt and droppings

off the boat....

Gracie investigating one of the resident iguanas.

He warned her off by puffing up his neck sack:  "I'm 

a badass and this is my territory, so unless you want

to mate, keep your distance!"