We had lunch at El Cid today. After getting to Shannon early so it wasn't as hot, and after rebuilding the heads toilet (CJ work) and installing the new E meter (Kathy work) we downed tools and headed over to the El Cid Resort and Marina to have lunch in the shade by the pool. 'twas sitting there, looking out upon the sight of kids frolicking in the pool, the palm trees waving in the freshening breeze (more about that later), the deeply clear blue sky above, the brilliant green iguana's lounging on the rocks, and the pangas and the like plying the waters of the entrance channel... that I became aware, yet again, of how very fortunate we are. Not just lucky to be here; but fortunate in our lives... in the fact that we met and shared the same dreams and the same sort of courage that allowed us to do what we did. No, it wasn't easy getting ourselves and our boat ready to take on the west coast of North America... And, no, it wasn't easy to walk away from our friends and families... to abandon our comfortable home (which at 1780 sq. ft. seemed small at times)... and to move lock, stock and barrel, into a home that was 32' long and 11' wide at it's widest point... (hmmm I think that's something like 352 sq ft). No, there were easier things we could have chosen to do, but we didn't.
And that's what makes this side of the coin so very golden and so very shiny. The work of it all... even in this heat and humidity... well, as they say.. that's the price we pay to get to sail in paradise. So on those occasions... when you sometimes, might hear me whine a bit... please forgive my weakness... and know that really, in my heart, I'm so very proud of us for being here.. and so darn pleased to be experiencing this... We're not done here by a long shot... and we'll find our new 'ride'... and we'll be back in the Sea. We have much yet to explore and experience.
Now then.. about the other side of this coin... you may have heard of tropical depression Eighteen-E.
Seems this wee bit of wind and water hasn't read the book where it says that all tropical storms shall be over and done with by the end of October... and Eighteen-E has come around and seems determined to pass right over top of us. Not don't worry when I tell you this. The Mexican insurance companies aren't worried at all... (of course they use a different web-site than we sailors do...:-) Our plan is to pop down to Shannon tomorrow morning and take her dodger back off (this will give us a chance to treat the zippers...) and take off her shade cloth tarps... and maybe wrap up the propane tank apparatus... and she'll be fine. She's still got double dock lines and big snubbers... and her marina is further inside the estuary. Once Shannon's all set, we'll retreat to the comforts of our little bungalow where we have TV, wifi, air conditioning (which is good cuz it's really muggy), food and drink. Now, for you worriers (Laura :-) there's every reason to believe the storm will bypass us all together and could even turn again and head back out to sea.. or just dissipate and disappear. The good news is we have a plan and we have rum (and tequila... and Jamiesons... and beer)... and a great restaurant (Pancho's) right beside us... So we'll be fine and even have a chance to catch up on our reading :-)
That's all for now... Grant will be here soon and it's time to go out and pay our respects to the dead.
TTFN (ta ta for now) CJ.
