Well. Loki’s tied to a dock, first one since Ensenada over a month ago. I know I’d rather be anchored out where it’s way less stuffy. Loki feels the same. First thing we did when we arrived was to wash everything. I can see through the windows again! All the built up salt, washed away. And showers! Two in two days and I’m finally clean. Filled the water tanks without dragging the water maker out. Walked to the store without lowering the dinghy, than to a restaurant where they hand delivered cold beer and tacos. Some simple things you miss when on a boat. Fireball and I even gave all our really dirty laundry to a woman and she washed it for us. Nine loads! Good thing too, because I was down to one not-too-dirty shirt.

After a couple of days here, the boat is getting back to a state of organization. I enjoy fussing around my boat. Being on the move all the time, and living in close quarters, things get shoved in corners rather then put away where they belong.

Gabe and Amelia left yesterday, sad face, so it’s Fireball and me on the boat until Torauni shows up this afternoon, happy face. It’s been quiet without the other two “kids” on my boat. Way less chaos; much of the time, the three of them together are like a tornado out of control. I miss it. I really miss it. I miss watching the three of them playing, constantly playing. It seemed as if the only times they were serious was when I was barking orders after the wind picked up and we had to reef. Or when we had a fish on the line and the fight was on. Or when it was time to eat: Those boys can eat! Some of their “have fun no matter what” attitude has rubbed of on me: I wish more of it had. They had fun raising and lowering the dinghy, making any silly game they could outta it, and chores! They made chores fun. They snorkeled a lot and always together, for hours. They would surf together usually unless it was to big for Amelia, than she would dinghy back to the boat. She only left them far from the boat once while the sun was going down. “They said they’re going to paddle back”. I had to go get them in the pitch black, & I wasn’t happy. Boys will be boys.

I don’t miss the “that’s not my dirty dish” or “who drank the last cold beer and didn’t put any more in the fridge?” It’s kinda nice making tea in the morning without having to worry about waking the sleeping Stark three feet away too. I already miss the help though. Cheerfully, Gabe would do any chore I threw at him, and believe it or not, clean up and put tools away too. He’s a really good mechanic. Amelia took after her father as chef. She cooked 90% of the meals, everything except the fish, because that was Fireballs department. And clean the boat, she would put her earbuds in, dance around singing, and clean absolutely anything that got in front of her.

I’m clean and wearing freshly washed clothes and Loki isn’t swaying back and forth with the tide, all salty from the ocean spray….feels weird…not sure I’m liking it. Fireball’s out with his speargun right now looking for our dinner, hoping for fish on the BBQ tonight. Some things don’t change.

I’m leaving the boat in San Jose Del Cabo until the middle of January, than The Admiral is coming to help me move it to La Paz where the dockage is much less expensive. We’re in La Ventana now, kiting for a few weeks, change of pace,something to mix it up. I woke up the past four nights with no clue where we were, wondering who’s on watch, how come the boats not rocking….? Panic until I realize everything’s ok. I’ve been sleeping very soundly, something different than when we’re at anchor.

The plan, as of now and that could change, is that I’m flying back to California to refill the coffers until mid March. The wind will be settled down in the Sea Of Cortez by than, & the water will be warming up, so more fish will be here for the catching. We’ll sail around aimlessly for a few months, April, May and June, before having to make the decision to leave the boat in San Carlos or bash back up to Santa Cruz. Putting decisions off until they absolutely need to be made.

But for today, we’ll kite La Bahia De La Ventana with reckless abandon, and embrace the food groups crucial to any Mexican vacation: fish tacos, cold beer, shot o’tequilla, repeat.

Tor