What's up with Slacker?

So we have been big-time Slacker’s on the whole blog writing.

I will try to catch you up on the comings and goings of Slacker and her crew.

We spent one month in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle at the beautiful Mariana La Cruz.  We needed to get some canvas work done and knew the work would be better than we could get done in Mazatlan. We had a new bimini and sun shade made by Full Sail Canvas.  Camilla and her crew were great and for anyone having anything made down here she was always on time and finished the job on schedule and on budget. We would highly recommend her.

Mike also was a “stitch bitch” and sewed some little pieces, handrail covers, bolster pillow, mast boot cover and re stitched the dodger.

We also painted the dodger top, got the rig inspected and tuned, touched up some varnish and and a ton of other little things.

La Cruz is a great place to hang out there is always something to do, Movies at the amphitheater, pool parties and bbq’s and always the music scene in La Cruz.   The Marina, Katrina and Mike with P.V sailing are constantly organizing events and parties for the cruisers.  There was a Full moon paddle in the harbor with prizes for picking up balloons at the different marks



the start of the paddle race. Anythiing that you could paddle could enter, you can just make out the guy with a small piece of plywood in the front!!  



you had to carry the ballons without breaking them so this was the way i did it! 

 

One of the cool things we saw  right at the entrance to the Marina were about 5 of the biggest iguanas we have ever seen!!  They were from nose to tail over 8 feet.They would hang in the tree and sometimes cross the road in a group “Why do iguanas cross the road you ask?” We have no idea they just seemed to like the grass over there in the afternoon. 

 

 

We got out of the Marina and headed down the coast to end up in Barra De Navidad for Christmas. Barra is just one of our favorite places. The lagoon anchorage is so flat it is like being tied to the dock and the town is small and easily walked in a couple of minutes. I had a great birthday celebration with cocktails watching the sunset at Sea Master and then dinner with good friends at Isadora’s. 



The sunset at SeaMaster's



The Harmony's and Mija's and Slacker's

On Christmas day there was potluck dinner at the Sands with 60+ people for turkey and a variety of sides that come with a potluck.




The buffet table at the Sands

 

Bob, Deanna and Patches enjoying the pool

 

Jake and Sharon of s/v Jake, and Jim and Susan of s/v Windward Bound put together a great party along with all the turkey and stuffing there was the gift exchange, a very fun day indeed.



Christmas Reindeer?

The gifts for the gift exchange 



Pacific Jade enjoying Christmas Dinner 

 

 

Puerto Vallarta here we come!

After a calm night anchored at Stone Island we left for La Cruz (Puerto Vallarta). We have made this trip several times and it’s usually a motor boat ride the entire way. We had the anchor up at 07:30 and set our course to pass outside of Isla Isabel. Going outside of Isabel adds a few miles but gives you a better chance at some sailing breezes and fewer long lines to snag your rudder.

By early afternoon we were getting enough wind to keep the jib full so we shut down the engine and did some sailing! One of the few sailing rules on Slacker is that when boat speed drops below 3 knots the engine comes on. It was on and off all night long as the breeze was kind of fluky. Friday morning the breeze really began to fill in and we were able to sail the final 50 miles to La Cruz. The sail was one of our better ones as witnessed by the photo of our gps. Please note the SOG (speed over ground). Total trip was 188 miles and took 29 hours for an average speed of 6.4 knots. Not bad for an overweight 35 year old boat.

Stone Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving the marina on Tuesday we had a nice 2 hour sail down to Isla Piedra aka Stone Island.  Its really not an island but is the southern side of the breakwater for Mazatlan's old harbor.  It offers good protection from northely winds and waves and has miles of sandy beaches along with the ever present beach palapas. 

Mazatlan in my rear view mirror

Yep, we finally got out. It wasn’t easy but we did it. Oh, it was easy enough backing out of the slip. The trouble began earlier when we were thinking about all of the good times and good friends (2 & 4 legged) we have  there. We have made Mazatlan our home for 5 seasons and you get comfortable when you stay somewhere that long and it’s hard to say goodbye.

Dia de los Muertos

After 1 week in the boat yard we got back in the water just in time to enjoy the Dia de los Muertos march here in old Mazatlan.  Every year we march with the crowd around the center of town, chase the donkey carts and the free Pacifico beer.  The crowds were bigger than ever this year and the costumes much more elaborate.   It is always a fun tradition.

 

Julie and her sister



BOO!

 

 

 

 

One of the little girls watching the people go by




The donkey is checking out the costumes

"more beer!!"



someone got so excited following the beer carts they lost a shoe!

A proud man and his burro



"ME, ME, ME,!!!"

The ups and downs of cruising

   We were supposed to be hauled for bottom paint Monday morning. Up in the boat yard 6 feet in the air, climbing up and down a ladder to get in the boat, no water, no cooking and no head, for about 1week. I was not looking forward to it.   But Monday the travel lift broke down. 

UP-We were not in the slings when it broke.
DOWN-We don't know when it will be fixed.
UP-We are not the first boat in line to test the repaired lift. 
So goes the cruising life!    

Week 1 in Mazatlan

     We arrived on Friday the 12th safe and sound after a truly uneventful drive to Mazatlan. Again the truck was loaded to the gills and we a got green light. The border crossing gods seem to be in our  favor. The weather is hot and humid but after driving all over Texas the week before I think we adjusted pretty well. We did see what looked like a funnel cloud over one of the Condo buildings the other evening but we just got a ton of rain that night.

 

 

funnel cloud over the marina

Mike getting the engine ready to start.

Dock 6 Kitty is still here and is awaiting the arrival of her fellow dock mates

The outboard with her Mexico shirt on 

sunset over the marina






       The Marina is empty of people Dock 6 is full of boats just waiting for their owners to get back from their summers away! The Marina office is very quiet without Elvira there, the new ladies seem to be doing OK but we sure miss Elvira and all the great things she did for "all her Cruisers". 
The boat came through the summer great thanks again to Ruben for taking such good care of her. The engine fired up on the first try. Yeah!!  

We are trying to settle in to the heat and getting used to boat life again.


 

 

 

  

Slackers go to Texas

      Before our drive down to the the boat, Mike and I took a little trip to Texas for Mike's nephew's wedding. We flew into Dallas and spent some time with his mom and on to Austin for some fun before the wedding on Saturday.  We stayed at the lovely Hotel San Jose right in downtown Austin so everything was in walking distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yummy!! 

What a great town.  If you want to eat,drink,and listen to some great music this is the place to be!!  We toured around and saw the oldest pool in Texas called "The Big Eddy"  Where they used to have a show with a diving horse! 

 

 

loved the name of this truck

Austin is such a fun place to visit and the food and music are fantasic. There are food trucks parked on just about every corner and bands too!!

 

After 2 nights in Austin we spent 2 more nights in a beautiful house with 3 other couples on the river just outside of Wimberly, Tx.  The wedding was a few miles away at a ranch and the ceremony was held under a beautiful grove of live oak trees.

 

 

 

the barn where the band played until all hours of the night!! 

 

There was a rehersal dinner at the ranch  as well and Mikes brother Gary played along with Max on the saw and and Paul on the trash can

Gary in the guitar,Paul in the trash can drum< and Max on the saw

Gary and Daphne made wedding cups for all the guests. They were gorgeous!!

They are both professional potters and do beautiful work, check out their web site

pinemills.com

 

The wedding was beautiful! Everyone got "poodled up"

and had a great time.

Gary, Phillip, and Mike 

Gary and Daphne
 

Julie and Mike

Meagan and her Dad
 

Mike and his sister Chris



  The party went way into the night with live music and more food!! 

the pizza truck for dinner

and the make your own ice cream sandwiches for dessert!!