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!"

November 15, 2018

Where have I been?  I spent an anxious couple of weeks in Los Angeles getting some health issues checked out and hoping I would be able to get a diagnosis and repair of my non-op autopilot.  I also voted and had a nice visit with Carol, but that wasn't related to the anxiety.   Other than a skin scrape biopsy for which the results are still outstanding, the health issues all turned out fine.  I also got lucky on getting needed parts back before my return flight.  HOWEVER, the autopilot is still not working.  The factory suspects a lightning strike, but now I will have to try shipping several components from Mexico to the US, at best expensive and at worst risky.  And perhaps contend with the insurance company to get some reimbursement.   It will take several days of effort just to remove the components, research shipping (DHL seems the best bet), and get it packed and shipped.  Stay tuned!

While I haven't had much opportunity for fun since my return to Mexico, it's encouraging to see that the cruising season has begun:  No more thunderstorms and temperatures, especially at night, are coming down.  I hope I will be able to get the autopilot issues resolved so I can enjoy it!

The bad motor controller for the autopilot.  The blown fuse

was an indication of bad problems within.

The new updated motor controller installed.  Initially it still

failed to run the motor, but after a couple of days of 

messing with cable connections, the motor worked. 

HOWEVER...

The pilothouse controller did not display the course or

control the rudder.  More testing and then back to the maker.

This is why you need to change the air filter on a marine

engine even though there is no dust on the ocean.

There are grungies, including fan belt dust.  

I had to bring back a new one from the US because

 I couldn't find one in Mexico.

Sunrise behind Circadian.  Most now are cloudless with

the coming of the dry season.

The marina at sunrise

It's not a joke.

On one of my gear-hunting expeditions into

Puerto Vallarta, I finally found a Chinese

restaurant that was a least one step above

the fast-food steam table places that you

usually find.

The white-collared seed-eaters decided to take full advantage

of the long docklines I deployed across the vacant slip

next to me during hurricane season.

Good thing, because the lines had to be removed before the

crowd from the Baja Ha Ha arrives and the slip is neeeded.

I squeezed in some time saying goodbye to friends before

I left for LA and they left for points south.  Here I'm

enjoying a drink on Footloose, Mike and Lisa's big beautiful

catamaran.

The start of a big bon voyage dinner at a fancy Italian

restaurant in Bucerias.  Maureen and Lisa enjoying

the view.

The rest of the crowd (clockwise from front left):

Donna, Lisa, Bob, Maureen, Mike, Lou, Patrice, Tod.

Popcorn clouds on the approach to LA

Sundown from the air

Adjusting to LA?  Halloween!

Carol got into it.  Pretty scary!

LA wall mural

An evening at the LA County Museum of Art

One of the exhibits displayed Mimbre pottery from

an ancient people living in New Mexico from the 

10th to 12th century.

I voted, but had to use a provisional ballot.  I hope it

was counted!

I tend to revert to black and white imagery when

I visit LA.  This is one of the many cacti in Carol's 

front yard.

The big wooden flat file in Carol's

dining room has a long history.