More odds than ends

We've been trying to listen to the morning cruiser's net on VHF radio.  It's a way for the cruisers in Ensenada to communicate needs, events, and otherwise be sociable.  We hadn't heard anything in a week, had assumed that everyone had dropped off.  Doug's the net control (host) for Monday mornings, he started off, didn't hear anyone check in, so assumed no one was there and signed off.  Peter, one of our neighbours and radio experts, ran over to say something's wrong, we're all here.  Turns out the volume on the radio had gotten turned down, so everyone could hear us, but we couldn't hear them.  Doug got back on and finished the net with egg on his face, but had a good laugh at himself.  Once a bozo...

We finally got far enough down in the todo list that we pestered the guy who does higher speed internet on the docs again.  He took our information, he did program his equipment, but never let us know he had. Doug checked yesterday, saw we had signal, and now has it set up with our external antenna/signal booster and on board wifi.  Cindy can watch "Bones" again, and we don't have to go up to the office to make cheap phone calls and download updates for the devices.  It also cuts out the major part of our phone bills (data plan).  Near as we can tell, we're down to about $50US/month for unlimited internet on the boat, cell phone coverage, and unlimited phone and text between us.  We pay by the minute for outgoing calls, but a lot less expensive than our old Verizon plan.  Ya'll know you can still call us on our old US numbers, right?  Sorry, text messaging from the US still doesn't work, so we get to hear the sound of your voice.

Big shout out to our nephews and nieces.  Kyle and Shannon Monroe just gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and along Daniel and Keisha Lira celebrated third wedding anniversaries.  Getting to see them married was on Doug's mother's bucket list.  We just celebrated 26 years in May, keep the adventures coming.

Blessings to all.

Odds and Ends

Crazy busy time in Ensenada.  Three weeks ago Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto visited for National Maritime Day, so we had Navy ships, helicopters, brass bands, 21 gun salutes, the big Mexican flag, Federali military guards in addition to the regular private security, a number of road closures, and we were restricted from leaving the marina by sea or land.

Then the next weekend was the Baja 500 off road race, which started and ended right outside the entrance to the marina.  Roads were closed, crowds were huge, loud music and exhaust noise, helicopters, and Bud Lite was everywhere. We stay on the boat as much as possible during the crazy time, but we needed to provision on Friday so we braved the crowds.   Then Saturday we ran out of water on board, and the water truck couldn't get to the marina because of the traffic.  Sunday we  went to 7-11 to get a couple of 20 liter jugs until we could get more water on Monday. Yes, a cruise ship was in town, too.

About water:  In the US, the water at the docks is usually drinkable, so we used to filter it and put it in the two 100 gallon tanks on board the boat.  At Ensenada, the water on the docs comes out of a well that is not deep enough or far enough away from the ocean.  It has a high mineral (a.k.a salt) content, so we don't really want to drink it, even though it is safe to do so.  But there is a booming business in purified water here.  We call a truck, and these burly guys deliver purified water in 20 liter jugs to the boat and pour them in to our tanks.  The company is Ciel, which is owned by CocaCola.  We get about 200 liters (50 gallons) every week, which we use for drinking, cooking, and washing dishes.  Water cost about 1 peso/liter, or about 28 cents/gallon.  Showers are done on shore (with the salty water), as well as the laundry.

The towel is on this guy's head to keep the sun off, and because our boat just geysered some water on him.  We've fixed the geyser problem.

The marina is a busy place for social events.  We've had several Quinceanera's (girl's coming of age party at 15), and last night was a wedding reception complete with sit down dinner and a live band.  Fortunately last night the band knocked off at 11pm.  The Quinceaneras go on until 2am.  Shouldn't these girls be home in bed by then?  Some of us old fogeys need our sleep.

The cats are fine with us being on the boat, especially for the Navy gun fire and the helicopters.  Since we haven't been able to find a suitable cat food in Mexico, I have been making it for them, from chicken, with the proper nutrient additives.  Maui had been having an issue with his urine again, probably due to him wanting to stay off the boat all night and eating the marina cat's dry food.  We add water to his chicken chow and feed him "Tinkle Tonic".

Maui in his marauding has become quite the hunter.  He pretty much took out the marina's population of Western Brush rabbits, and has since brought us several gophers and field mice.  Thanks Buddy.  With the bunnies he was also bringing back a face full of "stick tight" fleas that Cindy would have to pick off of him.

We'll try to get updates out once a week, but so far this has been an elusive goal.

Adios!