"FISH ON!"
What sweet words to wake up to, as I napped on deck during my off watch. I'd dragged a cushion out of the cockpit to enjoy the warm sun; over time I'd felt the breeze pick up and cool, and now here was Dan – looking like a gigantic excited five-year-old – pulling in his first EVER fish: a teensy (but ambitious) yellowtail that looked even tinier being held up by a burly man with a week-old scruff of beard. Soon after we released 'Little Jack' the wind filled from the perfect angle and we hoisted the asymmetrical kite. The crew humored me and let me drive several hours, 'til it was finally time to start dinner. Now, 28 hours later, we're still under sail (wing & wing with the big genny) with another six or seven hours to Bahia Santa Maria.
Since I last wrote we enjoyed the official Baja Haha beach party at Bahia Tortuga. Having missed the costume party in San Diego (as we were still loading every nook and cranny of TUGTUB with stuff) we finally got to wear the Chilean Miner outfits Pamela put together. We thought we looked cool (and authentic) but were mistaken for a hazmat team, Texas longhorns (huh?), or boaters merely suited up with helmets and safety vests for the rowdy dinghy dismount in the surf.
There at the far end of Turtle Bay, at an otherwise deserted beach beneath barren toasty hills, was a massive potluck, with volleyball, tug-of-war and monkey golf games; beer, music and line dancing lessons (we were JUST getting the hang of it when Achy Breaky Heart played for the last time... ) When we got back to TUGTUB we soaked in the hot tub – letting it out on a long painter so we could drift way behind the boat. Floating in the 110° degree water, in the gently tumbling motion of the cove, was like being in a womb! Fittingly, I slept like a baby that night.
The next morning we had a 'rolling start' for the leg to Bahia Santa Maria (BSM), which lasted several hours until the wind came up. It has stayed up – getting kind of rowdy at night, and Pamela and I did some 'PRB' during our 8PM-Midnight watch. No, not "Pre-Race Beers" but "Professional Bull Riding" – as the motion of the big seas bucked us forward and aft, side to side, strewing anything that wasn't perfect stowed or tucked away, throughout the interior of the boat.
We've had a few more 'incidents' too (Pamela insists there's a force field that is attracting metals to fail, while repelling fish*) and yesterday all our Bob the Builder tools were out for several repairs - too lengthy to get into, but nothing so involved we couldn't fix. (*While I'm at it: Pamela and I are tied for the "DOH!" award: she for putting her line out all day yesterday with the little rubber safety tips still on the fishhook ;-)~ and me for making the GPS receiver go out whenever I go to the back of the boat : -? My hips?!)
A streak of golden orange greeted us this morning on our 4-8AM watch, as the sun rose out of the Pacific. Like a bright jack-o-lantern, it popped suddenly over the horizon, heralding a clear, sunny holiday. Happy Halloween! It has been a great day with lots of treats and no tricks; we are still under sail hoping to arrive in BSM around midnight; the beers are chilling and we are eager to anchor and get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep! "Gnite & love to all. Miss you! ~Betsy- Mom
ADDENDUM
11/1 (All Saints Day and Erin's Birthday!)
TUGTUB joined the parade of boats filing into Bahia Santa Maria: like the jets lining up at LAX -- waiting our turns in perfect intervals, as we negotiated the entrance in the dark night. "BSM" is a bay at the head of the much larger Bahia Magdalena (Mag Bay) with little more than a few fishing huts; although it resembled a carnival at night with the hodgepodge of anchor lights of assorted heights, the red and green lights of boats still motoring in, steaming lights, deck lights, and the occasional strobe signaling another particular boat.
This morning's roll call was postponed due to an emergency: a boat (not participating in the Haha) had gone up on the beach just outside BSM and the Poohbah and crew were rallying volunteers (over 50 turned out) to hike to the site (2-3 miles) to help salvage valuables and equiment off TACHYON before high tide. Pamela, Paul and Dan went; leaving me on anchor watch. I spent my day cleaning up the carnage from the past few days, peeling dried up squid off the decks and scrubbing their inky crime-scene outlines off the non-skid. (I thought about fun deck scrubbing KANALOA ;-) - I miss you LB!) and had plenty of time to contemplate. TUGTUB was spotless by the time the rescue team arrived home; now we're all enjoying a little down time before heading over to a raft-up party tonight. We're bringing the hot tub of course, snacks and drinks; tomorrow is the big beach party ashore – with a band, and vendors selling fish tacos and cold beers, all trucked into this remote fish camp from quite a distance. Insane!
Wednesday (I think. I'd hardly know what day it is, if not for the torture watch...) we leave for Cabo* – another overnight sail – and will stay there long enough to celebrate our passage, get laundry done and provision some fresh veggies, then it's off to La Paz – another two or three days, stopping each night. Looking forward to the warm water and climate of the Sea of Cortez! Although it is sunny here there's a cool breeze in the anchorage, and a swim is not too appealing (-- yet! Not til the hot tub is in!).
It is magnificent to be at sea, enjoying life at this pace, and the natural beauty of God's creation. I am feeling well and having a wonderful time with the folks on TUGTUB. But I am missing my loved ones, and sending you all warm wishes and big hugs. XOXO Betsy/Mom.
(*I hope to find an internet café in Cabo)
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS – THANKS!
.
No comments:
Post a Comment