S/V INTREPID II - Cape Dory Intrepid 40

My photo
Intrepid II is a Cape Dory Intrepid 40 sailboat, hull #2, designed by Chuck Paine and discovered by the Captain in Blue Hill Maine in 2006. The crew are Kelly (Captain) and Carol (Admiral and Blogger). In 2009 INTREPID II embarked on her West Coast journey from Victoria to San Francisco, the Baja Sur Peninsula and into the Sea of Cortez. In 2010/2011, we sailed from Guaymas, south to Bahia Banderas and back. In 2011/2012 we left Guaymas, headed south to La Paz, spent three weeks at anchor on our northward journey and rested on the hard in San Carlos. Her 4th, 5th and 6th seasons were Boat Projects related. Season 7 - an incredible amount of boat work - but no cruising. Season 8 - Tropical Storm Sergio toppled Intrepid II in San Carlos dry storage. A disappointing season of serious and costly repairs. Season 9 - continuing those repairs and still hopeful for cruising.

January 27, 2012

Friday night in the big city!


Mural on the wall of the RV Park in San Carlos
19:00 hours (07:00 pm) The music is absolutely exuberant and right next door across the small expanse of water. If only we were here on holidays, could take siestas and party until 3 am!!  The Captain is calling down from the cockpit that there is a parade of sorts, trucks loaded with big speakers towing floats and heading towards the Fisherman statue. Lights are flashing, fireworks set off, but there are nowhere near the number of people you would expect for all the frenetic energy being expended.  Who knows what the rest of the evening and early hours of tomorrow morning will bring!  We expect this is a lead up to Carnaval which will take place starting February 16th. 

Our dancing shoes are tucked away in a locker and we've just finished a very tasty dinner at home: red snapper "roja imperial", pan-fried with a panko breadcrumb and herb coating, steamed  broccoli and cauliflower and colourful fusilli pasta.  Of course an economical but presentable white wine. We will listen to the music; now there are horns and a rapid drum beat over-layed with a variety of other instruments; voices over various loudspeakers ramping up the level of energy. Perhaps we will have to venture out to see for ourselves; or not. 


While we are in the midst of all this energetic activity, it still requires a long walk to circumnavigate the parts of the malecon which have yet to be repaired from a previous hurricane.  Huge chunks of concrete still lie askew and unrepaired, preventing a direct walk from the marina to the main part of the malecon.  You must detour down some gravel, walk behind what is usually the space for a variety of midway rides and small food stands, then head towards the wide sweeping sidewalks which are the 'malecon' around the harbour.  It is hard not to think about all the infrastructure projects which are badly needed here  (LGD folks - thinking of you and all those dollars being doled out back home!)


Friends have sent concerned messages about staying safe in Mexico and we reply that we always try to be vigilant without becoming paranoid.  We find Guaymas safe and welcoming for the most part during our visits to the mercado or ferreterias (hardware stores) or walking down Serdan, the main street.  We've been asked for the time and don't feel intimidated nor uncomfortable when walking together or on our own.  Of course, being cruisers, we are rarely out late at night.  Our midnight experiences are vicarious as we stuff plugs in our ears and wonder what the music really sounds like up close!  Hopefully, by the end of this cruising season, we will be able to confirm that once again we have found Mexico and its people to be warm, welcoming and friendly.


As for updates, Kelly successfully made his run north to Nogales on Monday for the topping lift and replacement Dutchman system, along with a variety of purchases at WalMart, Home Depot and Safeway.  I also sent with him a package to the Medical Services Plan folks to be mailed from the U.S. to speed up the delivery time.  Hopefully they will see their way to ensuring I am reimbursed for the excellent medical treatment I received for my vertigo


The wind has not cooperated.  Northers blew again, making it difficult to lay out the mainsail and measure the appropriate spacing for the mono-filament and related attachments.  Today we lugged the mainsail up to the cruisers' lounge and laid it out on the floor to measure and determine the placement of the Dutchman system on the Amsteel line which will now form our new topping lift.  Remember -- measure twice, cut once -- so it's similar to that old carpenter's maxim.


With Kelly on the highway, the Admiral decided to be 'Suzy homemaker' and tackle a week and half of laundry.  That entailed hauling 4 bags up the dock and ramp to the laundry room, only to find signs taped to the dryers that there were no functioning dryers until further notice.  The marina office confirmed that head office in Mexico City had not released funds to pay for the propane to fuel the dryers. It's the latest in a long list of business decisions which impact cruisers at Fonatur marinas without any thought to the flip side.  As in compensation of some sort when a service is not available.  Without going into a long rant (been there!) I sent off emails to the head office suggesting that the cruising community would be more than interested in providing feedback and recommendations for operating a successful and efficient marina. We all have our opinions about what is really behind so many of the decisions which make it difficult for the marina staff to carry out their day to day duties.


Laundry the hard way when the dryers aren't working - more eco-friendly of course!
We found time to explore another few Guaymas highlights, such as the imposing
statue which stands over Guaymas. We don't believe it is of Benito Juarez, despite what the maps say. 
Below is the lovely Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.  It is important to stop and appreciate the efforts the city and its citizens make to celebrate their history and their beliefs and community.
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Arches inside the cathedral
Given the various glitches and side steps we've encountered in our current projects, the Captain advised the marina office that INTREPID II will remain at the dock for another 'semana'. The Northers are building again and won't lie down until at least Monday and we have agreed we won't wear ourselves out racing to complete projects with no down-time.  This means that we will be here for Candlemas or "Candeleria" on February 2nd.  Those of us who found the 'monas' or little statues in the Rosca del Reyes on Epiphany are required to provide a party on that date, featuring tamales.  We have met a lovely lady who lives onboard a sailboat moored near the shrimp boats, Suzy, who has offered to make the tamales for all of us. So we will all participate in yet another Mexican fiesta.  Having made tamales in the past ourselves, we appreciate the work that goes in to these fabulous foods.

We aren't as lonely on the dock as we were last week.  As always Mike on nearby  MV "Fn Fun" holds down the last dock space with his Hatteras (get well Mike...your kite surfing duties await!).  Ken of Plan B came in to the dock for a few days and we always enjoy heading out to brunch at the Armida Hotel with him.  Margaret and Julius and Digby (SV Zeeba) came back in from the anchorage for a night's respite and now have headed south. Tony and Pat are still hard at work on SV Forbes and Cameron. Dick and Arlete successfully launched SV Quatro de Mayo and are fine-tuning things at the fuel dock.  George continues to 'move forward' on SV Mollymawk and Taz holds down the fort in the corner of the dry storage yard.


Surveyors have been busy on the docks and Ted (the marina manager) says that Fonatur does this periodically; who knows if it means anything.  I'm trying to identify the flocks of black birds which flit about around dusk in great flocks with cheerful songs.  Think they are some sort of swift.  They have a regular routine of swooping down just overhead of the docked boats, then zoom over to the malecon and back towards the marina office.(Dannie C. where are you to help - oh yes...by now you should be in San Blas!)


Time to say 'buenas noches'.  Take care everyone and know we are thinking of you!


Enjoying the sunset - pretending we are on vacation!


Yes - we do take time to stop and enjoy the sunsets!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Kelly and Carol,
We are having some work done on Batholomew (our motor). Bart will be coming out Wednesday and going in on the following Monday. Then, as soon as we test it with a short cruise to Stone Island, we will head for La Paz. I guess you are ahead of us now (Ha ha).
Jay + Anita