Random Thoughts and Random Shots

October 31, 2014

Over the last few weeks since returning from Victoria we've been living life in the slow lane. I've had lots of time to reflect.  Today I thought I would write down some of my random reflections and throw in some random photos to the bundle.

1. Mexico is safe!
When back in Canada many people asked us if we feel safe in Mexico.  I know I've mentioned it before – a resounding YES.  We've been in Mexico almost a year now and feel completely safe everywhere.  Of course we use our judgement late at night in a major city but other than that we've moved around with no problems at all.

Here’s another example of how un-threatening Mexico is.  In Mexico you say hello to everyone when you get into a 15 passenger transportation van. Busing in Canada, you pay and sit down, never making eye contact with others, usually looking out the window.

Jim waiting for lunch at a beach side restaurant, Mazatlan

In Mexico the van and bus drivers keep a sizable float on hand for making change.  It sits on the dash, sometimes in a cigar box but more often displayed in a hand-made wooden tray featuring custom sized slots for coins.  All would be easy pickings for a quick thief who dashed on the bus, grabbed the pesos and fled but that doesn't seem to happen. Obviously it isn't a problem or they would all be using something more secure.  Meanwhile, in Canada you pay your bus fare when you embark, using exact change if you don’t have a ticket or pass.  The cash then goes into a glass and metal container securely fastened to the bus floor to protect it from theft. Hummm.

2.  Learning Spanish is not that easy!
Jim and I received some expert coaching by our Spanish speaking tutor, Franca, during Spring 2013 but we never really mastered even the basics.  I've gained self-confidence since our first days in Ensenada when I was afraid to walk into town by myself, not because of safety, but my own ineptitude in speaking Spanish and navigating around unfamiliar streets and Mexican customs.  Since then I have improved my Spanish somewhat – enough to make sense of most things I read at least. Though my Spanish is not much better I feel confident in my abilities to get by with a combination of gestures, some Spanish and finding English speaking good Samaritans who translate for me.  I travel alone on the local buses, shop and purchase pretty much anything I need, even without Spanish.

3.  We need to see distance wherever we live.
During our 9 weeks in Victoria and Vancouver we moved 11 times.  Through this experience we both realize how important it is for us to be able to see distant views, be they mountains, ocean, cityscapes, forests or fields.  After cruising together for 25 years with the biggest backyard imaginable – the Pacific Ocean – I found I really enjoyed the lush green forest that bordered Connie and Peter’s home and seeing glimpses of the hills beyond was similar to looking at the shoreline from our boat underway.   Nothing beats waterfront living but being in a cottage near a raging river, overlooking Beacon Hill Park from a high rise or travelling in an RV near the Grand Canyon are also most appealing thoughts for our future home on land.

America's Cup, San Francisco  September 2013

4.  Living in hot and humid cimates is harder than we thought it would be.
Since we arrived in Banderas Bay in early May the temperature has climbed from the low 80’s  (30 C) to the mid 90’s (35 C) and then stayed there.  Neither of us have lived in extreme heat before, what with residing in the Pacific Northwest forever and cruising it for a quarter of a century. Unfortunately the summer heat on Mexico's west coast is usually accompanied with extreme humidity.  Sometimes it reaches 75 - 80%, even with the sun shining!  It is a debilitating heat that saps our energy and forces us to take shelter below decks in our wonderful air conditioned main cabin.   All port lights have been covered with insulating bubble wrap so our living space is more cave-like than cabin-like.   If we’re not out and about on errands, that’s where we are most days from mid morning til dusk.  

Look closely....see any familiar faces?  Taken at Monterey Aquarium

We usually start and end our days with long walks along the Malecon, walks taken while we watch the blazing sun sink below the mountains to the west near Punta Mita or rise above the steamy tropical hills behind Puerto Vallarta.  Hikes are unfortunately out of the question!

Ever see a hibiscus close up?

5.  People are wonderful everywhere!
When we decided to stay at Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle for six months we had no idea that our social life would become a major part of our experience!  We knew we would meet other cruisers staying on their boats over the summer but within a day of arriving we were welcomed by a close knit group of cruisers that hung out together.  Many of them had been cruising together loosely for over two years and were very tight.  We were warmly embraced by the group and soon sharing special events, accepting dinner invitations and learning the subtleties of Baja Rummy card game.   A few of them had imported their vehicles so they had wheels too!  Those with cars kindly included us in grocery runs and evening plans that took us beyond our little neighbourhood of La Cruz.

One sunset excursion took us into the Romance District of Old Town Puerto Vallarta, over an hour away.  We have a great pub style dinner then back to the Drunken Duck Bar for drinks and dancing in Bucerias.   We listened to live bands locally once a week on average, often with the ‘girls’ taking to the dance floor together at Gecko Rojo or Philo’s Bar.  We attended nearly 10 birthday parties alone!  We were even invited to a fun filled Halloween costume party last weekend where we all gathered around the TV for the Rocky Horror Picture Show before swinging a stick wildly at two hanging piñatas until the candies came flying out.  Weekly nine of us play Baja Rummy cards at 5:00 Fridays in the Cruisers Lounge.  We always share appies and stories while we play, often stopping the game with rounds of laughter.  Usually a walk into town for street tacos followed cards.

Celebrating my 60th birthday in October.

We got to know each of our new friends individually and as couples.  Each contributed tremendously to our enjoyment and appreciation of how lucky we were to have chosen La Cruz for the summer and being accepted by this close knit community.

6.  Saying goodbye is always hard!
When we flew back to Mexico in Septembeer, saying good bye to family and friends in Victoria was hard. A few tears were shed.  Soon we’ll be leaving La Cruz and heading north again, back to La Paz and the Sea of Cortez.  We’re looking forward to a rendezvous with old friends in La Paz for Christmas then we’ll start our second winter of exploration of the Sea.  Leaving our new buds behind in La Cruz is the saddest part of what we signed up for when we made the decision to cruise full time. We're all aware that our time together is for a finite period so we embrace it, knowing that soon the building winds will blow, scattering us to distant shores where we’ll meet more cruisers and begin the dance again.  Having said that, our summer in La Cruz will always be a very cherished memory.

7.  Change is good!
Hurricane season is almost over, though we hear that there's another one heading north of here next week.  We’re getting ready to haul Falcon out of the water to paint the bottom on Monday.  We're staying on land in a little studio apartment for the week, a nice little change of scenery.  After we re-splash we’ll put her back in cruising mode and leave the marina to begin our winter sailing.

Passing a freighter in the Delta, California

Untying the lines and taking Falcon VII back out to sea will be exciting.  Getting the sails flying again will be exhilarating.  Saying goodbye to everyone – not so good.  But it doesn't have to be forever, right!  Many of us stay in touch (most through Facebook but Jim and I are hesitant to get into Facebooking because we're too busy living our life).   Jim and I often think that, in the future, an RV road trip to reconnect with all our cruising buds would be a great way to see both Canada and the US.

Now….the sun is almost setting an another day in paradise.  Time for a dusky walk along the breezy malecon!

Well, enough random thoughts for now.  Halloween is tonight.   More on that later. Until then....

Tricia and Jim Bowen
Falcon VII
email: tandjbowen13@gmail.com