 |
| Happy Birthday Mike! |
A quick summer update from your friends on Pura Vida. This
year marks a huge change for us as we made the decision to leave our boat in
Mazatlan for the months we are in Portland. We left our boat at Marina
Mazatlan, carefully tied down like Gulliver’s Travels. She is being cared for
by Luis and Angel who are each providing monthly services to ensure all remains,
shall we say, Ship Shape.
 |
| Songbird on Saguaro in Guaymas |
 |
| A Mazatlan Marina guard |
Some may laugh as it’s not even a conversation for our many
friends who have circumnavigated or those who sail amazing distances around the
world. But for us, leaving the boat further south is a big deal.
Since we are careful planners, we had a lot of logistical decisions
to consider. Our car awaited us a 12-hour bus ride north in Guaymas and we could
not carry much of our beloved ‘stuff’ we usually transport back and forth. I
took the bus to buy boxes for shipping our carefully curated items. Our guy
Luis graciously offered his truck to take us and our 4 large boxes from the
marina to the shipping company. After a few days and a few snafus, our boxes
awaited us at the Guaymas boatyard.
 |
| Our guy Luis |
 |
| Our buddy boating friends - here in Muertos |
Luis also offered us a late-night ride to the bus station,
if we promised to take him to his favorite taco place. Before our departure
from the marina, after a long, muggy day of closing up, tying down, and double
checking, we were treated to a quick goodbye drink on the stern of our long-time
buddy boating friends’ catamaran. They kindly had a glass of wine waiting for
us, to say our fond farewells and helped schlep our stuff up the ramp. That was
a very thoughtful treat.
Luis and his son picked us up after dark and we drove toward
the bus station. Along the highway, he pulled into a gravel lot where we dined in
folding chairs at a very popular taco stand, along with young couples, large
families, scooters loaded with 3 or 4 people, the police and us, the 2 gringos.
As Luis regaled us with stories of his life, we dined like kings on giant burritos
under the bright halogen lights of the closed auto glass shop. Life was good.
 |
| The Sphere in Las Vegas |
We took the Tufesa bus with 7 planned stops throughout the
night and 2 inspections along the way. Tufesa is a great bus company with comfortable, clean buses (and no chickens). Not much sleep that night but it was mostly
pleasant; even the Mexican Army stop at 3:40am wasn’t bad, where we had to
exit, haul and scan our bags. Of course, there was a ‘freshly made’ burrito
vendor standing at the bus ready to serve the sleepy passengers. A nice touch
but we passed.
 |
| The 'burrito' |
We arrived in Guaymas late morning and the scramble started!
Mike uncovered and loaded the car, put the ‘burrito’ car rack on the roof for
more storage and reconnected the battery. Eduardo and I carried down the 4
large boxes from the office, we said a quick hello to friends then dashed off to
our semi annual teeth cleaning with our guy, Dr. Gustavo and say hi to his brother, Dr. Octavio. No time wasted!
 |
| Our fabulous door will be replaced |
After our quick stay with friends in San Carlos, we traveled two weeks visiting friends and family along the way to Portland. After
traveling for over seven months, we were ready to start our northwest lives plus, the weather was getting hotter in Mazatlan. Our garden is planted, with deck projects
and a new front door installation underway. We are very sad to lose our stained glass door but it's time...
 |
| Our veg garden has grown quickly! |
The big news here is that Mike officially retired! I am still
working with my two long-term marketing clients, as I have been year around
since before we started boating. Otherwise, we are free agents.
For those who’ve seen me in the last couple of years, you’re
aware I’ve been experiencing increasing degradation and compromise in the functionality of my right hand. It's gotten worse and I am happy to say that I’m scheduled for hand surgery on June 20th.
 |
| Excellent message @ Chinese restaurant, Roseburg |
Well, now that I am done writing, it’s not such a quick post...yet there are additional stories abounding, as I am sure with all of you…
 |
| Under sail toward Mazatlan |
 |
| Cool rock formations at anchor |
