Log Book
Oct 2008
Oct 2008
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| October 2008 |
La Paz
October 13 Susie was able for the first time to use the hanging step and get onto the
boat. She was also able to get around in the cockpit and down into the cabin and around
inside the boat – she was HOME! We moved back onto the boat – after getting Joyce’s
house in El Sargento prepared for the expected storm Norbert – and spent our first night
at home in our own bed on Thursday, October 16. This was a few days before Joyce was
expected home from her travels, but she reminded us of the possibility that the road
between La Paz and El Sargento might get washed out – it had already suffered
considerable damage during earlier seasonal rains – and we did not want to get stuck in El
Sargento. On Friday, October 17 Sam worked hard to prepare the boat for the arrival of
Norbert. And on Saturday, October 18, Norbert arrived at about 9 AM and blew until about
9 PM. It was not a hurricane here on the Baja and the eye of the storm passed north of La
Paz. The biggest gust of wind we recorded on our boat in Marina Costa Baja was 56
knots. There was no damage to boats here or elsewhere that we know of and not much
more than blowing palm fronds on the streets of La Paz. In fact, there was very little rain
associated with this system, at least here in La Paz. We were prepared for more and
experienced less, so that’s a good thing.
After Norbert’s departure, Sam and Susie started working to return the boat to normal
living conditions, after having been gone 3 months. We had work done while we were off
the boat – carpentry work in the V berth and painting – and of course everything in the V
berth was in the main salon. Sam had to re-wire the navigation lights at the bow and put
the anchor chain back into the anchor locker. It took several days to get things back in
their proper places. Other chores included re-starting the watermaker and repairing things
that mysteriously stopped working while we were off the boat, like the hot water heater.
Fortunately, the weather cooled down some after Norbert came through, which is typical
according to those who have lived in La Paz for a while. Good thing, since we don’t have
air conditioning on the boat. Although we were spoiled after 3 months of air conditioning
at Joyce’s house. We will have to re-aclimatize our bodies.
We played some Mexican Train with friends at Marina Costa Baja and Susie played bridge
once people started coming back for the season here in La Paz. The doctor gave Susie a
medical clearance on her right knee on October 30 and we made plans to leave La Paz
about November 5. We plan to head north, making day passages and spending the night
at anchor, up to Santa Rosalia. From there we plan to cross over the Sea of Cortez to
San Carlos on mainland Mexico, where we have never been before. After that, who knows.
October 13 Susie was able for the first time to use the hanging step and get onto the
boat. She was also able to get around in the cockpit and down into the cabin and around
inside the boat – she was HOME! We moved back onto the boat – after getting Joyce’s
house in El Sargento prepared for the expected storm Norbert – and spent our first night
at home in our own bed on Thursday, October 16. This was a few days before Joyce was
expected home from her travels, but she reminded us of the possibility that the road
between La Paz and El Sargento might get washed out – it had already suffered
considerable damage during earlier seasonal rains – and we did not want to get stuck in El
Sargento. On Friday, October 17 Sam worked hard to prepare the boat for the arrival of
Norbert. And on Saturday, October 18, Norbert arrived at about 9 AM and blew until about
9 PM. It was not a hurricane here on the Baja and the eye of the storm passed north of La
Paz. The biggest gust of wind we recorded on our boat in Marina Costa Baja was 56
knots. There was no damage to boats here or elsewhere that we know of and not much
more than blowing palm fronds on the streets of La Paz. In fact, there was very little rain
associated with this system, at least here in La Paz. We were prepared for more and
experienced less, so that’s a good thing.
After Norbert’s departure, Sam and Susie started working to return the boat to normal
living conditions, after having been gone 3 months. We had work done while we were off
the boat – carpentry work in the V berth and painting – and of course everything in the V
berth was in the main salon. Sam had to re-wire the navigation lights at the bow and put
the anchor chain back into the anchor locker. It took several days to get things back in
their proper places. Other chores included re-starting the watermaker and repairing things
that mysteriously stopped working while we were off the boat, like the hot water heater.
Fortunately, the weather cooled down some after Norbert came through, which is typical
according to those who have lived in La Paz for a while. Good thing, since we don’t have
air conditioning on the boat. Although we were spoiled after 3 months of air conditioning
at Joyce’s house. We will have to re-aclimatize our bodies.
We played some Mexican Train with friends at Marina Costa Baja and Susie played bridge
once people started coming back for the season here in La Paz. The doctor gave Susie a
medical clearance on her right knee on October 30 and we made plans to leave La Paz
about November 5. We plan to head north, making day passages and spending the night
at anchor, up to Santa Rosalia. From there we plan to cross over the Sea of Cortez to
San Carlos on mainland Mexico, where we have never been before. After that, who knows.
| Photos for Oct 2008 |