Weekend wrap up - Saturday, February 3

Time to stop and smell the desert and sea!

There is a monthly "tianguis" or flea market/swap meet the first Saturday of each month at Bahia Storage, with the 150 pesos fee to vendors going towards education needs in the community.  We had not found enough items to sell to warrant setting up a table, but we headed over to the Bahia neighbourhood to see what treasurers were on offer.  Items are often of a nautical nature, including outboard engines, various fittings, left-overs and spares no longer needed.  A crowd always converges first thing and most folks know that if you really want to find bargains, it is best to set up early as a vendor and buy your items before the general public are allowed in.  It is a social event as well as fellow cruisers stroll by.  No boat parts for us, but we scored a good length of light coloured Sunbrella fabric and some black screening - for the Admiral's fabric bin. 

The morning was sunny and bright after two gloomy grey days, so we parked at the marina and treated ourselves to breakfast at Barracuda Bob's, sitting out in the warm sun.  Eggs Bennie and Quiche, OJ and coffee hit the spot.  Paid our marina bill for February; walked to Star Marine, where we were pleasantly surprised to find the raw water impeller model we needed. The price was reasonable and 'a bird in the hand' was the deciding factor.  Our spares are 'somewhere' onboard.

We rounded out the late morning with a visit to INTREPID, then to the Altered Tails Bookstore and the vendors set up on the marina walkway.  Altered Tales is a used bookstore run by the SBPA (Sociedad Benefactra y Proteccion Animales) which accepts books and donations to support spay and neuter clinics in San Carlos.   Outside their door were boxes of fresh produce which caught our eye.  The vendor had a 'special' on offer - mix and match your choice of veggies and fruit for either 60 pesos ($4.25) or 90 pesos ($5.65).  Too good to pass up!  Our purchases will make for  tasty, healthy meals this coming week.

Valencia oranges and ruby red grapefruit - 60 pesos

Beans, squash, cherry tomatoes, cherry bombs, brussell sprouts - 60 pesos

On to the Rescate (volunteer emergency services) thrift store to drop off a donation and to check out the weekly market held in the compound.  Vendors there offer hand woven blankets, baskets, carvings, jewelry, veggies, food; we just missed a performance by some young dancers.  A lively place.

Weekly market at Rescate compound

INTREPID II - "What do you mean you are putting me back on the hard already?"

Sad but true.   The past month was a busy one for Captain Kelly.  He had planned to stay at least one week longer before hauling out then heading homeward.

INTREPID II once again settled into dry storage

However, "time and tides wait for no boat or captain".  While checking for a suitable depth in the shallow marina, during working hours, Kelly determined that the entire last week of March was no-go!  The next best option was this current week and in order to have a 'Plan B' (apologies to Ken S.) to allow for any unforeseen 'oops', INTREPID II was lifted out of the water yesterday (March 19th) at 10;)) a.m.  The works yard at Marina Seca was the first stop to finalize, organize, stow and take off any extraneous items.  Kelly managed to book a cozy room down the way at the R.V. park for two nights.  It's at the very back of the property, so hopefully quieter than the 5th wheel which was home base at the beginning of this sojourn.

A link for anyone who might want to check out the accommodations:
http://www.totonakarv.com/home.html

Today (Friday) was part two of moving INTREPID II back into the dry storage yard. Kelly ensured she was settled in and secured for the Sonoran spring, summer, fall.  There will be blazing sun (it is already hot), gritty winds, thunderstorms; hopefully no hurricanes track this far north!  

Although the sailing opportunities did not arise, there was time to make new friends, connect with a few from previous years, battle the "bo-bos" and wish for the air conditioning unit that was sold for a song last season.  He pondered the whys and wherefores of what kept causing the Internet to go down at the marina.  Thank goodness for the cell phone data plan!  Kelly took on the task of 'weather reader' on the morning net when most people could not get wifi.

Happily, after many attempts, the stars aligned to actually do the hike in the Nacapule Canyon with intrepid fellow hiker Ken H.  Pictures to be downloaded; in the meantime here's a link:
http://www.whatsupsancarlos.com/nacapule-canyon-hike-canon-de-nacapule/
Looking forward to hearing about the hike details...stay tuned.

This event comes "Highly Recommended":  the annual 'melodrama' to raise funds for the Rescate services of San Carlos area.  Lots of fun, laughter and for a good cause.  Keep it in mind for next year if you are in San Carlos at this time.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is Departure Day.  The Captain is still sorting out his itinerary it seems.