Got no Swiine Flu!

We are safe and sound, so far, in the little town of Mahahual. As Mexico City is closed and Cancun shuts down, we ponder if we should go anywhere. Not like we really can with the transmissions being broken. However, just our luck, as we did plan to go to Cancun the end of this very week to have the transmission fixed. I guess it is just wash your hand, wash your hands, wash your hands for us!

As the media frenzy about the Swine flu intensifies and all of Mexico begins to shut down, we plan to leave for Isla Murjers (Island of the Women) to bring the transmissions to Cancun. As we sit in the Internet cafe we look up at the TV (CNN or something like it) and see the Minister of Heath, or in Mexico, the Secretary of Salud (State). Don´t we know this guy? Oh yes, that´s the big wig we took sailing with his family when the boat broke down! Wow.

Anyhow, since we have no power and must sail in, we can´t go directly to Cancun. Getting into a quiet and adequate anchorage will be challenge enough. Only 180 miles to sail to Isla Murjers, and then once there a quick and cheap ferry ride over to Cancun. This should take between 24 - 36 hours, depending on weather. It always comes down to that. Good thing we will have friends Sara and Thane on board to assist. Even though they have no real sailing experience (they will after this trip) it is always nice to have extra hands who are willing to learn.

All aboard, Friday, May 1st, along with an entire grocery store full of food, the six of us head off for blue waters. We´re going sailing :) Yippee! The adventure continues....

White Squail

As we watched the sky darken, and the sea turn, we buttoned down the hatches and prepared for stormy weather. Brian gave a lesson on a squall line to me, and we watched as the weather did exactly what Brian predicted.

It is so cool being on a boat in the rain. The sound of the drops is like a song and I feel so connected to nature being on the water in a storm. Of course, it was like 75 degrees out still as it rained, my kind of storm. Kind of like being in Kauai, rain and warmth at the same time. It is very cleansing, both physically (as Captain Gary capitalized on it by taking a shower at 11:30 at night) and spiritually, just washing away the negative. A clean slate so to speak, something much needed.

The real rainy season doesn´t really start until June / July, and goes until about Oct. However, due to hurricane season coinciding with rainy season, we will be long gone before then. Extreme heat and rain only equals unbearably hot, humid and mosquito ridden days that no one wants to experience.

Pictures to follow on Flickr

House Party & Earth Day!

Meeting people and making friends, that's what it is all about. Well, experiencing new places, cultures, etc. - that too! Anyhow, we took our new friend, Sara, up on her offer to come over to her house. Saturday afternoon, we headed out. She lives north of Mahahual, in Uvero, about 30 - 40 minutes by car. The good doctor (the local chiropractor in town) - Thane - offered us a ride in his Land Rover. Good thing too, because I don't know if we would have found it. Their really are no roadsigns to speak of, and the one's they do have, were all mangled from hurricane Dean. They are not easy to spot.

Casa Morena Sirena (Dark Siren): Located on a long sand road next to the beach, Sara's house was paradise. A big beautiful granite kitchen, solar, Internet, hot water private showers, and oceanfront. As we sat in the lap of luxury, I mixed up some cocktails and Thane started the outside BBQ. We dinned on whole grilled Snapper, grilled veggies, and tortillas, out by the water of course. As everyone danced the night away, I sat under the stars on the beach. It was a good night.

Thinking that Earth Day was 4/20, and laughing at that, we decided to do our part and pick trash out of the water and off the beach. We collected 2 buckets out of the water and one bag off the beach. Our good deed of the day but actually we do this every 3 or 4 days anyhow. Funny, Earth Day was 4/22 this year! On a Wednesday? Just another good excuse to do our part.

Enjoy the pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katnbrian/sets/72157617137134051/

Something to do

Boat continues to be broken :( and while Capt. Gary, with the help of Niki, feverishly run around trying to come up with any solution to fixing the transmissions (it was not the engines as previously thought, but both tranies), we on the other hand are going nowhere fast. On top of that, Semana Santa had just wound down. Its a two week celebration, centered around the Easter holiday, featuring concerts on 3 different stages and all night parties at most clubs. All the people and excitement disappeared, we were depressed. On the bright side, I did manage to make the ritual Creamed Eggs on Toast for the occasion (Easter). Alas, no coloring of eggs, or a hunt, or even a chocolate bunny! Things were looking grim.

To pull ourselves out of the doldrums, we decide to go to Chetemal with Steve (he goes every Monday to stock the restaurant) to buy some used bicycles. Score, we found some real beauties, but in Bacalar. This is a small resort town built around a large lake. As we sat and drank a few cold ones by the waters edge, waiting for the bicycle shop to open after siesta, I marveled at the colors of the water. They were very ocean like, except at the edges, then they were murky like a lake normally are. Too relaxed to take pictures, you'll just have to image it.

So far the bikes are a hit, even more so now that I deck mine out in hello kitty stickers, streamers, and nail polish (as paint). It's sparkly! Meow Also a hit, is the new floaty Brian had to have. Well, it is a water love seat, complete with his and hers cup holders. I just don't know if both Bri and I can fit on it together. It will be fun trying! So shopping good (fun), but shopping bad (on the budget).

My bike was a steal, at 300 pesos (like $23 bucks)! Brian's was more and he got a girls bike- he,he. The kitty shredder lives to ride another day. I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike.....

Quotes Antidotes!

Just some fun and funny stuff:

"It's not me (moving or swaying), it's the boat." -Juan Carlos
24 shots of tequila later (yes, that many) for his birthday party, he gets off the boat, and says "oh, it is me, it is not the boat!"


"My hair is no blonder than before I started (this journey), and it wasn't very blonde then either." - Kat
Said in frustration that the sun and sea have not lightened my hair any!


"Real men don't suck." -Capt Gary
In response to why real men don't like using a straw in their drinks.


"I got to have nice hair for a week." -Niki
Said in conversation about her week back in La Paz, where the humidity and showers are better.


"It's not me, it's the motion of the sea." -Juan Carlos
A few days later, after he recovered from his Birthday party


"I would like to be able to take a shower naked someday, hot water would be nice too." -Kat
Said while walking down the dock on a chilly night with 20 mph winds blowing, to the outdoor showers (none on the boat & no hot water).


"Eating habeneros is bad for your fingernails." - Yoshi
In response to our question why, he simply stated because when you go to the toilet, you scratch your nails down the walls! Capt. Gary ate 5 whole cubana Habeneros! His fingernails are just fine, but then again, he has an iron stomach.


"It's not the boat, it's the port!" - Kat
Said in response to the fact that it didn't matter that the boat wasn't working, the port was closed, again, and we couldn't go out even if we wanted to.

"I have fingernail issues right now." - Brian
I responded yeah I need to do some personal grooming myself and he said no, not that, from the hot stuff. (See Yoshi's quote above for details.) :)