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| Anchored facing easterly swells |
Saturday April 14th: Happy 6th Birthday Gracie!
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| Jester, Jabber and Admiral ashore |
Here we are! On our arrival here in February we didn't put the dinghy in the water and headed south much too soon. This morning it's time to explore! We have a 'baby Bruce' anchor for our dinghy and ensured it was well secured before we headed off to stretch our legs. Time to get reacquainted with all that is special about San Juanico. Kelly headed out on the dry, dusty road around to La Ramada. Carol explored for shells and set a slower pace. By noon a light chop has arisen, giving us a bouncy exit out of the dinghy back onboard. Shades of things to come.
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| Captain returning from hike |
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| Trail starts here.... |
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| Behind the beach...trails and a dusty road inland |
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| Low tide with the Spires on left (osprey nests) and the Hump on right |
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| SV Content crew on beach |
Later we puttered around in the dinghy; said hello to Phyllis, Gary and Sophie aboard SV Appolima out of Vancouver and chatted about the 'old days' in Bluewater Cruising. We met Paula, Bill and boat dogs Max and Emma coming back from a run on the beach We've have many sociable visits with this crew as our travels continued.
That evening, tuned in to the Southbound Net, we heard the sad news that Don Anderson, SV Summer Passage, had passed away onboard his boat and was found by friends this morning. Don was a well regarded "weather guru" of the Amigo and Southbound nets; his forecasts and advice were the basis for many cruisers' decisions or at the very least, given serious consideration. It was a somber moment; each of us had specific moments to recall in our contacts with this generous man who had spent so much of his time giving back to the cruising community.
[Don's obituary in part: Scientist and long-time sailor, Donald Anderson, passed away on April 13, 2012, aboard his boat, Summer Passage. Don was well known in both the scientific and yachting communities to which he provided many years of leadership and service. His sudden passing was a shock to his family and friends. More than anything else, Don loved to sail. He built and raced small boats in the 1950s and 60s, and in 1970, acquired his first offshore sailboat, the 32-foot Scotch Mist. In 1973, Don accepted a transfer with Chevron to Southern California where he joined Balboa Yacht Club and continued his racing success. Don, with family and friends, would race and cruise Scotch Mist extensively for the next 20 years. In particular, Don and Scotch Mist were heavy weather animals-the meaner the race, the better they did. Don's name may be found engraved on several major ocean racing perpetual trophies... In 1991, Don married his second wife, Joan. A year later they purchased the Valiant 47, Summer Passage and began outfitting her for globe-circling voyages to fulfill one of Don's lifelong dreams. In 1998, Don and Joan sailed to Hawaii from Newport Beach, beginning what would become a 30,000 mile cruise through the South Pacific and South America. It was during his time in the South Pacific that Don began sharing his weather observations with fellow cruisers as Summer Passage was equipped with receivers for real-time and forecast marine weather. Don would say that growing up in the British Isles, "Weather was always the first topic of polite conversation, even between complete strangers." Upon returning to California, Don honed his weather forecasting and routing skills, and in 2002, he and Joan moved to Oxnard, where Don constructed a world-class radio station providing the capability to transmit his weather information to hundreds of yachtsmen throughout the Pacific. Many of these "strangers," some of whom he would never meet in person, became Don's close friends. He kept a regular and rigorous schedule on the "nets" where Don's voice is now sorely missed.]
Summarizing our time at San Juanico:
Walks on the beach, introducing new folks to the "cruisers' shrine" and seeing if our INTREPID II burgee was still holding up from 2009 and 2010. It needs to be repainted for sure. World class Bocce Tournaments, enjoying the antics of four legged friends, playing Mexican Train dominos aboard Mood Indigo, wondering where on earth the National Geographic ship would anchor and whether we`d all get invited for cocktails (not!). Kelly and Bill going fishing and not noticing the wind picking up in their sheltered cove; Paula and I each rehearsing "Plan B" if our anchors dragged and the fellows were still focused on the fish! Watching, as always the ospreys on their nest and soaring around spotting their next meal. Moon rise over the Spires, countless stars overhead. Hunkering down when the wind blew strong, wet dinghy rides ashore when it died down; planning for the next leg. Having to head north all too soon.
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