On the boat but not afloat

We have just spent our second night on Sal Darago in Guaymas, Mexico. We were very pleased to find her in good condition once we’d removed several layers of dust and fine sand. The boat batteries had not survived seven months of inactivity. Two of them have been replaced. We bought them at Malpa in Guaymas, as recommended by Ariana at the boatyard. Later, I found an oil-like substance had leaked into one of the stern lockers. Jeremy had noticed something similar in the bilges. It turned out to be catalyst fluid from the emergency fibre glass repair kit, which had corroded its way out of the tin. It’s going to take some time to clean up.

It’s very cold here at night – as low as 8C – and we can’t find our portable heater! I’m wearing three layers of clothes and two pairs of socks. In the daytime, the temperature might reach 21C.

Here’s a summary of our activities since the last blog.

We bought a 2010 black Ford Focus Titanium. Jeremy was determined to sort out the engine light problem on the older car. Eventually, the light went out of its own accord two days before we were due to leave the country, so we were unable to sell it. Any offers?

Fairy castles in Port Erin

I went to the Isle of Man for a week early in January and had a lovely time with my two sisters and my Mum.

Sara, Mum and Pat

Jeremy had a second sigmoidoscopy on 16^th January. Apart from some scar tissue all was well.

Our electricity supply was restored to us on 24^th January. E.ON had made an erroneous transfer of our meter number and electricity supply number to a new house across the road the previous October. Numerous phone calls, emails, the involvement of our local councillor and MP eventually resolved the situation and we were accepted by British Gas for the Feed in Tariff for our new solar panels.

All dressed up for Burns Night

We spent two nights, 24^th and 25^th January, in Glasgow staying at the Golden Jubilee Hotel for the Westerly Owners Association AGM. On the way there we spent a night with Jeremy’s brother, Gavin and his wife, Eileen. On Friday night at the hotel we celebrated Burns Night. Saturday was taken up with the AGM and presentations, followed by dinner and a ceilidh.

On Sunday 26^th January we drove to Mull and spent four nights in the cottage in Tobermory. While we were there it snowed. We enjoyed some pleasant walks and an evening get together with John and Eilidh.

Kathy on Mull before the snow

On the drive home the windscreen washer fluid froze. Further south there was no snow, but it was still very cold. We spent a night with Jeremy’s brother, Ritchie and his wife, Catherine.

New car parked at Loch an Tor, Mull

The first event in February was Jeremy’s birthday. Our daughter, Emily, took a day off work. We hiked about six miles with Tess the dog and had lunch in the Coach and Horses in Melton. At teatime, we had cake and candles when the girls joined us. They presented Jeremy with works of Art.

Sophie, Jeremy, Ellie and Kathy

We collected our hire car on 9^th February and drove to London Gatwick Airport on 12^th February for our flight to San Francisco.

We left our house with mixed feelings. It had been lovely to spend so much time with Emily, Ben, Ellie and Sophie and we shall miss them all.

Erin and Simon

Our son, Simon, picked us up at Oakland Airport and drove us to Sunnyvale. Erin arrived from work soon afterwards looking very well in the last few weeks of her pregnancy. It was good to see them again.

Part of the remains of the airship hangar

Simon took us to the Moffett Field Museum and for a hike, once the rain had stopped. The next day we took Erin to work at the world headquarters of Symantec and later we met Simon for lunch at the world headquarters of Netflix. Very impressed!

Jeremy, Kathy and Simon in wet and windy Sunnyvale

Erin drove us to the Caltrain station on 15^th February. The second leg of our journey to Guaymas had begun. Twenty hours later we arrived, after a flight to Phoenix and an overnight bus to Guaymas. We checked into Hotel del Sol and slept.

Sal Darago on our arrival

The next day we collected our Canadian friends’ car from San Carlos. Thank you very much Ann and Barry. Already the car has been invaluable in sourcing boat batteries and for shopping.

Jeremy sanding SD's bottom

So, here we are on Sal Darago. The hard work has started and a new adventure has begun.