Christmas came and went, along with many great social gatherings with friends and sailors from all parts of the world. The tree trimming party was truly special at Russell and Lorie’s in La Cruz, where the cruising community and many land lubbers all joined in the Christmas spirit and cheer that was most abundant on that special occasion.
Like usual Sailors Run’s, time was brief in Puerto Vallarta, and this time it was Debbie’s broken tooth that hastened our departure to Barra De Navidad where our favorite dentist’s place is close by in Melaque.
This is the season of parties; here in Barra cruisers had put together a Christmas Potluck/white elephant gift exchange party, where Debbie was picked to be the head Elf. The food was great as well as the interesting gifts,all fighting for some of the good ones.
We then had a great New Years Eve out on the town, where we traipsed around Barra, dancing everywhere they had music, and drinking everyplace they served drinks. Wow! how the night gets away when you are having fun. The water taxi poured us back aboard the old Sailors Run sometime after 3am, where our V-birth was a most welcome sight. “What’s life without some fun!”????
Here in Barra, the Lagoon is peaceful and a great place to repaint the bright work and Debbie has busted out the sewing machine and is making fender covers for our eight fenders.
It is also football season and the playoffs are here once again and not so amazingly the” Sea Hawks” are right in the thick of it. Debbie is an amazing “Sea Hawks” fan and we watch all the games at Los Arcos a nice little family restaurant with a big TV.
It will be February before we get moving further to the south, and for me, I’m starting to have flash backs of my “Cape Horn” trip, and spend more and more time thinking about the upcoming solo circumnavigation, and what is yet left to be done before November first. The biggest items are the haul out in Puerto Madero to paint the bottom in early April, and getting a new furnace on the boat for reliable heat once in awhile while cruising in the Southern Ocean. The other big thing is the provisioning for a 5-6 month voyage, and acquiring some quality foul weather gear, and lots of warm undergarments.
I’m truly thankful for having an understanding wife like Debbie and lots of great friends and acquaintances that are supportive in this upcoming adventure. Our book sales of my “Cape Horn” book have gone along ways to helping us fund the dream.
I also wrote a recent article for 48* North a Northwest sailing magazine, it can be read in the January addition and is titled “Smoke on Green Water”. Check it out. At WWW.48’NORTH.COM
Debbie with the crew on Sv Calou-Bruce,Pascal & Antoine
Philo from Philo’s bar in La Cruz kicking back at the Christmas party
Jeff at Christmas party with crew from Elan
The Five Debbie’s at the Christmas Party
Debbie singing a beautiful Christmas song
Lori & Debbie swapping out dresses 🙂
Debbie,The Elf with Bruce & Jim at cruisers Christmas party
Cruiser’s White Elephant gift exchange in Barra
Debbie on Sailors Run ready to do New Year’s
Eve in Barra de Navidad
The Skipper & his mate heading out for New Yr’s eve fiesta
Friend Paul & me enjoying New Yr’s eve
Debbie & friend Carol enjoying New Yr’s eve
night
The beach by the Barra golf course “Nice”
The hiker gals-deb & carol at barra beach
If we ever were to give up the boat our house might look like this
Maybe Debbie would want a house like this?
The Grand Bay Golf course club restaurant
Sailors Run bright work getting a new coat of paint while anchored in Barra lagoon
Debbie with new hatch cover she sewed for friends paul & carol
Deb in process of making 8 new fender covers for Sailors Run
Fabric is of fleece, already tie-dyed
Sailors Run with her new fender covers at work at anchorage in barra lagoon
Sailors Run getting underway from La Cruz
Sailors Run sailing away from La Cruz, Mexico to Barra de Navidad
Your Amigos, Jeff & Debbie S/V Sailors Run