A while back GB posted about our visit to Isla Isabela, a logical waystop between Mazatlan (90 miles to the north) and points further south such as San Blas (about 45 miles south and east) and Puerto Vallarta (errm….further south and east). A cruising couple we know, both marine biologists, had told us that a…
Cruiser Net Overload While I was finishing out my job in Seattle I heard a lot about cruiser nets from the publications I read. Web sites like CSBB and “Lectronic Latitude” were always referring to net this and net that – “we heard about it on the net“. What were these curious institutions formed by…
Trigger Fish from Isla Isabella – about 2 pounds each – they were big fighters with very tough teeth for eating sea urchins – they broke several hooks – delicious firm and white flesh. Fishing in Mexico Man – I just lost the big one. I am so sad. I felt worse than when I…
Certain handy boat items require only small portions of string, Sunbrella or sail canvas. Examples: gate pulls, winch covers, protective flag covers, protective strips for exposed Velcro, and cockpit pockets for lines, sheets or miscellaneous small items. Gate pulls: we have some pretty firm lifeline gates that are often difficult to open by the clevis…
Isla Isabela east anchorage – very rolly – we were here for three days.. We left Mazatlan on a Friday – which is notorious as a bad luck day for departures. Are we superstitious – well – there was good wind, or so we thought, and dead calm predicted for the next day. Reluctantly, MS…
After a year of cruising, both having anchored-out and stayed at docks in 3 countries, we were pleased to find how much went well with the boat and its gear under the conditions we encountered. Some of what follows may be irrelevant for some readers (for example, vacation-style cruisers may not care about how much…
Six years ago today you were delivered to us in Tacoma, Washington. Time flies when you’re having fun. m
January 28, 2008, marked one full calendar year since we sailed away from the dock at Shilshole Marina in Seattle, Washington, with no intention of returning. The year has been…interesting. Rewarding. Complicated. Satisfying. We have successfully avoided killing each other – though on a few occasions bad words were muttered sotto voce. And sometimes, not…
There we were a while back, sitting in the fine seats of Mazatlan’s Angela Peralta Theatre watching an outstanding flamenco performance by local talent.* Having recently watched an orchestra perform Mozart’s "Requiem," GB turns to me and remarks: "There’s no tuba in flamenco." I replied, "…" What would YOUR answer be? (1) "…Thank Gawd." (2) …
So, GB has not posted much of his exploits as The Propane Chef recently, but he wants all of cyberspace to know he has not given up The Good Work. He surveys all the local markets for the freshest ingredients. Here he is, exploring all the finest crustaceans the Mazatlan Fish Ladies offer. Even when…