Getting ready for the winter trip south!

Happy Holidays 2009 from

Tanque de Tiburon




I think we are ready. The boat is packed, prepped, stowed, cleaned and provisioned for the 2009/2010 trip south. We depart manana, December 19th, for the Baja. Plans are to spend less time in La Paz and head back to the mainland for Mazatlan and on toward Puerto Vallarta.
A new adventure so we'll see what unfolds!

Be sure to check the other two new blogs, the prep and Thanksgiving, too...

We have three sets of house sitters for the winter so don't need to be home until May. Red is settled with friends here and there and we'll miss the old guy. But truth be known, he hates the boat! He's 14, so don't think I would like it at age 95, either. The Koi and tortoise are in good hands, too.

So how did the packing go? Here's a few shots. Between stowing, we spent time with friends, attended a fundraiser and saw the lighted boat parade in Guaymas. The weather here has been cool, 50's at night and 70's during the day. Bill is ready for further south and warmer.

Here,of course, is the most important shelf on the boat, haha. Just kidding. But I did decorate it!

Christmas at the Captain's Club, a nice small restaurant/bar we like for lunch.

Honest, I need it all! The before picture. Where oh where will it go...??? Bill's comment ----aaaghhh! First the salon, then the galley

And Oscar giving us new rigging. So we are safe and sound at sea. He's just about all the way up the 50' mast, BTW.

Our "SPOT" next to Bill's phone....this little guy sends a message when we push the button and lets the kids and sibs know exactly where we are!!!

Ok, a little better - almost ready to travel!

A new transom sign that people can actually read!!! Yeah! Bill's sitting in the new dinghy placing the 5 separate decals while crabs nibble on his toes.

Ta Da!

And of course, gotta have some Xmas decor!

The one guy we'll miss - Mr. Red, now gray, is floating between Lillian, the house and last year's house sitters, the Donaldson's. As long as he has a lap, a head rub and food, he's happy. He hates the boat....

Fall Prep Trip to San Carlos....

Our fall trip in prep for winter; we brought the dinghy down, got it to the boat, cleaned up from the hurrican clutter, swabbed the deck and cockpit, cleaned cabinets, scrubbed heads...saw friends in and around..and relaxed a little.

A sign for the fishing license!

A fundraiser at the Captain's Club Bar

Really, what do we do on the boat all day?

Hang out in the cockpit, read, hangout, read, chores, eat, provision and read....

where do I store this basket?

The pig being roasted at the Soggy Peso!

How about Racoon Tracks on our car after a night in the marina! We see the tracks on the boat occasionally, too. They have been known to find the snack cabinet on many a boat - lock up tight or beware! Who knew, racoons at the beach in Mexico?

Sunset at The Soggy Peso near us - with Tom and Joan...

Delivering the new Dinghy in October! She arrived on the roof of our Blazer, then off and inflated in Folker's drivceway and on Pegasus' truck and to the marina...whew, made it to the boat!

Dinghy trials....ahh, she runs smooth!!!

Herer we are with JUCE...Judy and Bruce at The Soggy Peso for a pig roast!

And a sunset at the Soggy Peso beach....

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Bill & Linda

Sierra Vista and Prescott

Thanks for hosting, Jim and Amy!

Good to see Marilyn and Bill, as well. And we loved having Michael and Daniel for a few days!!!

We met daughter Marty in Casa Grande and picked up the boys for the week! Here we are at the Cracker Barrel....Bill, Marty, Linda, Michael and Daniel. The exciting week was Kartchner
Caverns, golf, the movies and hanging out - tolerating Linda's cooking....
















There was a lot of hanging out. games on the patio.....



















For Thanksgiving Day, we traveled to Prescott via Cristy's, picked her up and spent the day at Marilyn's daughter, Amy's and Jim's , house in Prescott Valley....the kids played some pool and we ate and visited.













...here's Michael, Courtney and Ashley playing pool...



Megan, Marilyn, Bill and Jim ....toasting in the driveway? who knows....











Now for dinner.
The usual kids table...
Danny, Courtney, Megan, Ashley and Michael


Ahh, the gang...the pics with Linda did not turn out so am waiting Cristy to send.....but here we have Daniel, Ashley, Marilyn's Bill, Courtney, Megan ,Michael, Amy, Jim, Socie and hidden Marilyn (oops), Cristy and Bill.
Nice shot of the kiddos!!! Dan, Mike in the back and Mega, Courtney and Ashley up front. The girls helped out with serving and dishes and hostiung. Thanks, Amy and Jim, for hosting us all!.
Back to Phoenix in the car with Cristy, Dan and Mike in the back seat....sharing an iPod. Cristy worked to 8 PM the night before and had to be up at 0400 for the Black Friday sale at Target. Apaprently, the Rx drugs went on sale, too..always need a pharmacist at 5 AM...????Being the good manager, she went in to help the store. We stayed over at her house with the boys and drove to Tucson the next day to meet Jamie and BF who were to take the boys to Bill's ex and then head back to San Diego. So....meeting Jamie at Guadalajara Grill, had a nice lunch, met Jamie's BF and turned the boys over....Bill with Marty's kids - Jamie (20), Dan (13) and Mike (16). Nice kids!!