Where did the summer go?

Just where DID the summer go?

Between house projects, we made a run to the boat/San Carlos a few times and a trip to Dallas to see kids and grandkids. Linda also attended her annual Take Shape for Life conference. (http://www.cardionurse.tsfl.com/)

We also made a long weekend visit to New Mexico, Albuqureque and the Taos area, to see friends. The Enchanted Circle loop near Taos is gorgeous.

July 4th was fun as we had Cristy down from Phoenix and Marty and Michael Jr. visit from CA as well as Karen from Tucson. We did the fireworks and ate fried chicken, our annual treat.

We just had/are having an exceptionally wet monsoon season in Sierra Vista. A total of 10" so far - and 3" of that was in ONE DAY! We had a lake in the back yard!! Bill has been working his butt off around the yard with lots of mowing and trimming, patio furniture re-painting , inside decor painting, tiling...and all the things that go with that....lawn mower repairs, paint clean-up and beer drinking.... Linda was able to do some sewing for the boat (fender covers, etc) and some intense sorting and cleaning, shopping, planning and seeing Cristy, helping friend Lillian...and started doing some baking, as well.

In Dallas, we had the grandkids, Chase and Amber, stay with us at the resort for a few nights before we went to their house and did "car pool" for the week for Vicky while Lindsey was visiting his mom in CA. We had a surprise (to Bill II) visit from Stormy (aka Bill III) and his girlfriend, Cris, who flew in from NC!

And Linda met up with some Army Nurse friends at conference, too....here's Brenda and Patti with Linda.

We have enjoyed the summer mostly at home, seeing a few friends and working on the house and yard. One more trip south to "strip" Tanque de Tiburon for hurricane season, which has already started on the east coast and one threatened way south of San Carlos. We are making lists and gathering information for this upcoming winter trek, when we hope to get even further south of Puerto Vallarta before Christmas. We have "pretty-sure" house sitters lined up with Russ and Jodee from Smoke-N-Blues, who currently have their boat for sale.

We are in hopes of a mini-family gathering over Thanksgiving and are receiving our "RSVPs" and have the guest rooms already filled. One for Robin's and one for Bill's sister Karen. Hoping for Cristy who celebrates her 30th in November!

Our next trip is north. We will visit Tom and Joan in Halifax, Nova Scotia Sep 29-Oct 15. Looking forward to great lobster and expensive beer. Beautiful scenery and culture.

Have a great fall!!!

Linda and Bill

Sail Finale 2010

See the note below! Just a few pics from our trip back north....enjoy!!! Linda and Bill

So sorry so long in updating but we had some adventures and travels and got busy having fun and..and...no excuses! Our Sail Log is up to date but lengthy, so will NOT add it to the Blog! If you would like to view the Official Tanque de Tiburon Log, we will be happy to email it to you on request. Let us know at sharktank2003@cox.net. We are heading home from San Carlos May 11th, this Tuesday. It's been a great winter! We made FIVE fests! From Carnaval in Mazatlan, to the Boat Show in La Cruz with the Banderas Bay Regatta, Bay Fest in La Paz and Loreto Fest in Puerto Escondido! Met new friends, saw old friends, lost a friend, surfed a wave into San Blas and made YouTube (google San Blas Knockdown...it may still be there). We are tired and ready to go home and rest....Here's a few pics form here and there. I also have more pics on a Kodak Gallery and will also send if you would like to view them! Just know we are fine, boat is fine and we will be back in Sierra Vista soon!

San Blas

Here's Linda and Tanque de Tiburon on our arrival in San Blas and the Marina!

We left Mazatlan and head south on an overnight passage, then spent two "rolly" nights near Isla Isabela. Here's Bill on the bow infront of the Isabela Rocks we anchored near but we were unable to dinghy to shore to tour due to the state of the seas. Th Blue Footed Boobies will have to wait for the next trip - but the Frigate birds were flying all around!

So we went on to San Blas,

have spent a week, touring the city, the jungle and crocodile farm nearby, meeting new friends, eating and shopping and generally doing boat chores.

San Blas is a delightfully sweet town...stone streets abound so the cars have no shocks, many on bicycles , lots of small mom and pop stores, restaurants, bars, people enjoying the plaza (Bill says it reminds him of the play, "Our Town"!) and arts and crafts from the local Huichil Indians.


Think about this picture - could this be Prescott 1956?

The courtyard of the Flamingos Hotel - lovely!




March 4th - en route to La Cruz with several stops...details to follow - stay tuned!!!

Mazatlan The City+

A few weeks in Mazatlan flew by! We met new cruise friends on Swan Song (Swan and Al from Hawaii) and Conteneto (John and Penny) and friends of friends on Saucy Lady, Roy and Winona. On dock four, we also met SeaBourn's friends on Summer Wind (Larry and Diana. And many more nice cruiser folks here and there. More details and pics on Carnaval (spelling is correct!) to follow! But here we are at the parade in our new cool decorator masks:

Walking the streets one evening prior Carnaval, we encountered people painting walls, bought flowers from this cute little girl and watched the crew set up many lights and beer stalls.

Now this has no explanation. Out by Cerritos, there is a horse stable that offers BILINGUAL horses! They are doing better than I, I suppose. Is that "Whoa!" or "Alto"?

McCrea's visited Mazatlan and we visited them at their resort...

We also took a dinghy ride and stopped at El Cid resort and marina for lunch. The funny taxi is a polmonia...a VW "Thing" that is unique to Mazatlan. At times, it feels like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!

The moral to this story, even if you are a dog, beer will get to you. Bill is being kissed by a sea lion at the Aquarium, Linda sizes up a whale skeleton there, as well. And that's a Dorado fish so proudly caught at Cerritos Beach, where we ate fresh grilled lobster and shrimpfor about $12.

We are departing February 19th for parts south...details TF as we go and find wifi!!