We've been on our trip for a whole month now, and we've gotten all the way to San Diego. Whee.
I zoomed down to the copy place in Chula Vista this morning, ran off ten copies of the log, stuck them in the envelopes, and mailed them right there. Then I crossed the street and had my hair cut, so I won't have to carry 20 pounds of foliage around on my head in the tropics. Returned to San Diego, took the bus to Old Town, and bought flags for Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize, forgetting that we already had a Panamanian flag on the boat. Oh well, we can probably sell the extra to another cruiser.
Bought a few groceries and returned to the boat. Roy was gone. Turned out he'd finished mounting the solar panels, and while he was testing them, he went over to George Monier's boat for a pleasant visit.
Roy wants to test the solar panels again tomorrow, so we're going to stay here tonight, take the boat to the City Dock tomorrow, and leave for Mexico Wednesday. So far the solar panels are doing a good job.
I laid out our course, non-stop to Cabo San Lucas. Of course, we can always detour into a harbor if we want to.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, March 14, 1993 - San Diego, CA
What a beautiful day! Perfect temperature. Clear. Lovely scenery.
Wanted to run off copies of the log, but the only copy place that was open didn't have double-sided machines. Went all the way down to Chula Vista, to the good place where I used to copy the log, but it was closed. At least I was able to buy some fish at the good fish market down there. And now I know where the bus stop is. To my surprise, it's closer to a bus from here than it was from Silver Gate.
On my way back, I bought a bunch of manila envelopes. Addressed them all, so as soon as I copy the log tomorrow, I'll be able to bop the copies into envelopes and mail them.
Roy spent the day mounting the solar panels and doing a little painting on the sides of the boat. Unfortunately, he got caught by the security guard (exterior painting is a no-no here).
Wanted to run off copies of the log, but the only copy place that was open didn't have double-sided machines. Went all the way down to Chula Vista, to the good place where I used to copy the log, but it was closed. At least I was able to buy some fish at the good fish market down there. And now I know where the bus stop is. To my surprise, it's closer to a bus from here than it was from Silver Gate.
On my way back, I bought a bunch of manila envelopes. Addressed them all, so as soon as I copy the log tomorrow, I'll be able to bop the copies into envelopes and mail them.
Roy spent the day mounting the solar panels and doing a little painting on the sides of the boat. Unfortunately, he got caught by the security guard (exterior painting is a no-no here).
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Saturday, March 13, 1993 - San Diego, CA
Roy rode his bike to the Post Office and got his mail. I returned the key and paid our bill. We've decided to go to the marina George Monier's at instead of down to Chula Vista. That turned out to be a mistake; it's $23 a night at Cabrillo Isles Marina. Paid for two nights. On Monday, we can go back to the City Dock.
Stopped at the fuel dock on the way to Cabrillo Isles. Filled the tank and all the rest of the jerry cans, so now we have 100 gallons of diesel.
After we got settled in the marina, we went to the deli for lunch. Roy accidentally went to the ladies' room to wash his hands! There was a woman in there washing her face, but that didn't stop him. (Lucky all he wanted to do was wash his hands!)
There's a laundry room here, so I washed all the clothes, while Roy started working on the solar panels.
Someone gave us a grapefruit, and someone left a can of lobster bisque on the deck. Had it for supper. Yuck!
Stopped at the fuel dock on the way to Cabrillo Isles. Filled the tank and all the rest of the jerry cans, so now we have 100 gallons of diesel.
After we got settled in the marina, we went to the deli for lunch. Roy accidentally went to the ladies' room to wash his hands! There was a woman in there washing her face, but that didn't stop him. (Lucky all he wanted to do was wash his hands!)
There's a laundry room here, so I washed all the clothes, while Roy started working on the solar panels.
Someone gave us a grapefruit, and someone left a can of lobster bisque on the deck. Had it for supper. Yuck!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, March 12, 1993 - San Diego, CA
Roy rode his bicycle all over the place this morning trying to find Solar Electronics, so he could buy some solar panels. He went to the address shown in their ad, but they weren't there. Then he went on a wild goose chase. Finally, someone phoned them and found out they're miles away, off I-5.
Fortunately, one of the small marine-supply stores, Downwind Marine, makes a pickup truck available to cruisers for free, so we borrowed it and drove out to Solar Electronics. Bought two solar panels and a regulator.
The gas gauge showed nearly empty, so we stopped at a station, but we couldn't get the tank to accept any gas. The attendant said it was full. Weird.
Took the solar stuff to the boat and then went to Von's and bought a ton of groceries. Took them back to the boat.
While I was putting the groceries away, Roy took the truck back to Downwind and told them about the gas gauge. They said another customer had reported the same problem a few days ago. So we're not totally insane.
Fortunately, one of the small marine-supply stores, Downwind Marine, makes a pickup truck available to cruisers for free, so we borrowed it and drove out to Solar Electronics. Bought two solar panels and a regulator.
The gas gauge showed nearly empty, so we stopped at a station, but we couldn't get the tank to accept any gas. The attendant said it was full. Weird.
Took the solar stuff to the boat and then went to Von's and bought a ton of groceries. Took them back to the boat.
While I was putting the groceries away, Roy took the truck back to Downwind and told them about the gas gauge. They said another customer had reported the same problem a few days ago. So we're not totally insane.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Thursday, March 11, 1993 - San Diego/Tiajuana
DOOD IT!
Everything went beautifully today. Left right after breakfast and zoomed straight to San Ysidro (two hours). When I got to the border, I splurged $1.25 and took a bus to downtown instead of walking, thinking I'd save a few minutes. Didn't save much time, because she took a circuitous route, but at least I saw some different scenery. As soon as I got off the bus, I walked over to where all the local buses stop. Almost immediately, I saw the bus I was looking for and got on it. (The fares here are higher than in other parts of Mexico: 1100 old pesos, or about 35 cents U.S.) There are buses that would have taken me closer, but this one took me within walking distance. Got off at the right stop and walked in exactly the right direction. Didn't make a single wrong turn! Considering that most of the streets don't have names on them and they twist in every direction, this is pretty remarkable. Just about the time I began thinking I must be headed in the wrong direction, I saw the tower that's next to the building and headed right to it.
Sr. Rivero met me at the door. He was very pleasant and courteous. Unfortunately, his secretary had just left for lunch (it was 12 o'clock), and the poor man was hopelessly lost without her, so I offered to return in an hour. He accepted the offer gratefully.
I spent the hour wandering around the neighborhood and eating my trail bars. At one, I returned to the office (which, incidentally, doesn't have any kind of sign or even a number on the door, so if yesterday's cab driver hadn't shown me where it was, I might never have found it). There were a lot of other people there this time, but the secretary hadn't returned. She arrived about 1:20. (Nothing like working 9 to 2:30 with an hour and a half for lunch!) She took care of another client and then got to me. She had an electric typewriter, but the correcting ribbon didn't work, so she had to erase! She didn't even have White-Out or that paper stuff. When she had too many erasures, she tore up the paper and started over, so it took her the better part of an hour to type the one-page letter. A nice new computer and printer were sitting nearby, but she didn't know how to use the word-processing program. The whole thing would have been so simple with a word processor. She could have had the whole letter on file and just plugged in the name, address, call sign, and date. It wouldn't have taken three minutes. But maybe that would make it harder to justify the outrageous fee of 221 new pesos ($73.67). She did mention, however, that someone would be coming down in a few days to teach her how to use the word-processor.
(The Mexican government has dropped the last 3 zeroes from their money. The 50,000 peso note is now 50 pesos. However, during the transition period, they are continuing to accept money already in circulation, distinguishing the two by referring to them as "old pesos" and "new pesos".)
Anyway, I finally got my XE2 (Mexican license). That is, I got a letter saying I could use my U.S. call sign (KC6ZNU) plus XE2 to transmit while in Mexico.
Strolled back to the bus stop, caught a bus to El Centro (downtown), walked across the border, ate lunch at McDonald's, and took the trolley back to San Diego.
In the meantime, Roy had mounted the wind-speed-and-direction indicator. He's really making progress.
We have permission from the Port Captain to stay here at Silver Gate until Saturday. Then we'll probably head down to Chula Vista. We hope to leave for Mexico on Tuesday.
Everything went beautifully today. Left right after breakfast and zoomed straight to San Ysidro (two hours). When I got to the border, I splurged $1.25 and took a bus to downtown instead of walking, thinking I'd save a few minutes. Didn't save much time, because she took a circuitous route, but at least I saw some different scenery. As soon as I got off the bus, I walked over to where all the local buses stop. Almost immediately, I saw the bus I was looking for and got on it. (The fares here are higher than in other parts of Mexico: 1100 old pesos, or about 35 cents U.S.) There are buses that would have taken me closer, but this one took me within walking distance. Got off at the right stop and walked in exactly the right direction. Didn't make a single wrong turn! Considering that most of the streets don't have names on them and they twist in every direction, this is pretty remarkable. Just about the time I began thinking I must be headed in the wrong direction, I saw the tower that's next to the building and headed right to it.
Sr. Rivero met me at the door. He was very pleasant and courteous. Unfortunately, his secretary had just left for lunch (it was 12 o'clock), and the poor man was hopelessly lost without her, so I offered to return in an hour. He accepted the offer gratefully.
I spent the hour wandering around the neighborhood and eating my trail bars. At one, I returned to the office (which, incidentally, doesn't have any kind of sign or even a number on the door, so if yesterday's cab driver hadn't shown me where it was, I might never have found it). There were a lot of other people there this time, but the secretary hadn't returned. She arrived about 1:20. (Nothing like working 9 to 2:30 with an hour and a half for lunch!) She took care of another client and then got to me. She had an electric typewriter, but the correcting ribbon didn't work, so she had to erase! She didn't even have White-Out or that paper stuff. When she had too many erasures, she tore up the paper and started over, so it took her the better part of an hour to type the one-page letter. A nice new computer and printer were sitting nearby, but she didn't know how to use the word-processing program. The whole thing would have been so simple with a word processor. She could have had the whole letter on file and just plugged in the name, address, call sign, and date. It wouldn't have taken three minutes. But maybe that would make it harder to justify the outrageous fee of 221 new pesos ($73.67). She did mention, however, that someone would be coming down in a few days to teach her how to use the word-processor.
(The Mexican government has dropped the last 3 zeroes from their money. The 50,000 peso note is now 50 pesos. However, during the transition period, they are continuing to accept money already in circulation, distinguishing the two by referring to them as "old pesos" and "new pesos".)
Anyway, I finally got my XE2 (Mexican license). That is, I got a letter saying I could use my U.S. call sign (KC6ZNU) plus XE2 to transmit while in Mexico.
Strolled back to the bus stop, caught a bus to El Centro (downtown), walked across the border, ate lunch at McDonald's, and took the trolley back to San Diego.
In the meantime, Roy had mounted the wind-speed-and-direction indicator. He's really making progress.
We have permission from the Port Captain to stay here at Silver Gate until Saturday. Then we'll probably head down to Chula Vista. We hope to leave for Mexico on Tuesday.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Wednesday, March 10, 1993 - San Diego/Tiajuana
Roy and I both still have miserable colds and coughs.
Listened to the VHF net on channel 68 at 9. Mike of Pacific Marine was net coordinator, so I asked him about a bus to SCT for my Mexican ham license. He said to take a cab.
So I set off on my Tiajuana adventure, bound and determined to take a bus. Why spend all that money on a cab, when I can ride a bus for a few cents?
To make a long story short, I spent hours wandering around Tiajuana, watching zillions of buses going by, but none seemed to be going where I wanted to go. I asked at two tourist information offices, asked bus drivers (in Spanish), and even ventured to use one of the crazy public phones to call the bus company, but to no avail. At 3 o'clock, I gave up and took a cab. The place closed at 4:30, so I didn't have any more time to waste. Ha, ha! I'd misread it; it closed at 1430 (2:30), not 4:30, so by the time I got there, it was locked up tight.
Oh well, tomorrow's another day. Saw zillions of buses running around when I was up there in the cab, and by craning my neck, I was able to read the name on one of them. Something like "Pereferico".
Listened to the VHF net on channel 68 at 9. Mike of Pacific Marine was net coordinator, so I asked him about a bus to SCT for my Mexican ham license. He said to take a cab.
So I set off on my Tiajuana adventure, bound and determined to take a bus. Why spend all that money on a cab, when I can ride a bus for a few cents?
To make a long story short, I spent hours wandering around Tiajuana, watching zillions of buses going by, but none seemed to be going where I wanted to go. I asked at two tourist information offices, asked bus drivers (in Spanish), and even ventured to use one of the crazy public phones to call the bus company, but to no avail. At 3 o'clock, I gave up and took a cab. The place closed at 4:30, so I didn't have any more time to waste. Ha, ha! I'd misread it; it closed at 1430 (2:30), not 4:30, so by the time I got there, it was locked up tight.
Oh well, tomorrow's another day. Saw zillions of buses running around when I was up there in the cab, and by craning my neck, I was able to read the name on one of them. Something like "Pereferico".
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Tuesday, March 9, 1993 - San Diego, CA
The Manana Net came in loud and clear this morning. I signed on and asked about taking a boat into Mexico without having the papers stamped in advance. They were very nice. Someone told me those papers are no longer needed. Just take the crew list to the Port Captain. That makes me feel a lot better. Someone else asked if I'd gotten my XE2 (Mexican ham license) yet. I said I was going to Tiajuana tomorrow to get it. Mike at Pacific Marine came on and said to come by the store and he'd give me directions.
I went to Pacific Marine that afternoon, but Mike had left for the day. The woman who was there xeroxed the map and directions for me. Unfortunately, they're driving directions. I asked about a city bus, but she didn't know.
Went to a copy place and made the copies of my license and tourist card that I'll need tomorrow. Bought a few groceries, but forgot fish.
Roy finished working on the chain washer. Tomorrow he'll install the wind speed and direction indicator.
Talked with my daughter Nancy on the phone about her and Jim joining us in Mexico. It's going to be tricky to coordinate, because when we arrive at a certain place depends on the weather and other factors over which we have no control. Suggested the possibility of their going through the Panama Canal with us.
(That would have been a great if we had made it.)
I went to Pacific Marine that afternoon, but Mike had left for the day. The woman who was there xeroxed the map and directions for me. Unfortunately, they're driving directions. I asked about a city bus, but she didn't know.
Went to a copy place and made the copies of my license and tourist card that I'll need tomorrow. Bought a few groceries, but forgot fish.
Roy finished working on the chain washer. Tomorrow he'll install the wind speed and direction indicator.
Talked with my daughter Nancy on the phone about her and Jim joining us in Mexico. It's going to be tricky to coordinate, because when we arrive at a certain place depends on the weather and other factors over which we have no control. Suggested the possibility of their going through the Panama Canal with us.
(That would have been a great if we had made it.)
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