Trials And Tribulations

Here it is May already and our weather is still cool. We have had quite a bit of wind lately and the breeze from the north is cool for this time of year. I’m not complaining it is just unusual. By now we are in the 90’s and sweating a bunch. So I am thankful for the coolness. It is nice for sleeping at night.

Our friend Kenny, from the Fonatur Marina in La Paz, where we moor our boat, came up to look at the little 21 foot boat that was left here with the house. The one we were going to fix up and us for fishing until we found out that there is no paperwork on it so we won’t be able to import it to keep it legally. So when we were in La Paz the last time we were talking to Kenny about the boat and showed him pictures as he is looking for a fishing boat. He said he would come up to look at it. So he and his friend showed up the day before we were to leave for La Paz. The guys looked at the boat and inspected it, took it down to the boat ramp to off load it from the trailer it is on and put it onto Kenny’s trailer. When they were finished, Kenny and his friend spent the rest of the time getting the boat hooked up for travel and cleaning it up. Late in the afternoon Dave said we should return the compressor and table back to our neighbors, Creela and Phil’s, as we heard they were coming down and would be here before we got back from La Paz. At this time Tito, our gate guard was over talking to Kenny and when he heard we were going to Creela and Phil’s and we were returning some things he offered to go with us. I told him he could sit up front with Dave and I would climb in the back of the truck as I hadn’t ridden in the back for a long time and since we weren’t going far I thought it would be fun. I had a pronged small garden rake to dig up their key with so off we went. Dave backed up to their patio as we had to put the table back in the trailer and the compressor in the garage. When Dave stopped I started climbing over the tailgate with the garden rake in hand and as I was swinging my left foot over the tailgate to climb down from the truck the tailgate opened and I flew backwards and hit the cement path near steps to the patio. The rake went flying and I landed on my butt smack in the middle of it and as I hit the grown I felt my spine compress and pain!!!!! Tito came over to try and lift me up but I told him no, no, no as I didn’t know what shape my body was in yet. I rolled onto my left side in pain and Tito called Dave to come over. I felt very lightheaded like I was going to pass out but I didn’t. I was on the ground not too long and when Dave came over I was ready to try to get up. Dave helped me up and poor Tito was watching with such concern on his face. I leaned over the wall to the patio and stood there for a few minutes bent over then I walked up the two steps to the patio and sat down on the wall and pressed my back against the wall. I was in a lot of pain. Then I thought I needed to see if I could walk so I moved real slowly and took some steps. All was good with mobility but I was hurting bad. In the meantime Dave got the keys and unlocked the trailer and Tito and him put the table away and locked it back up. Then they took the compressor to the garage and locked that and they were done. Tito told me to sit in the front seat and he would ride in the back. What happened was that Kenny helped Dave put the table and compressor in the back of the truck and Kenny closed the tailgate but didn’t know he had to slam it hard to close it tight and Dave wasn’t there so he didn’t think anything about it. So that I why I had my accident. It wasn’t anyone’s fault as stuff happens. It is a good thing I had made the beds for the guys before we went to Creela’s because I wouldn’t have been able to do anything. After getting back to the house I put ice on my back and took a pain pill and sat for awhile. It hurt all the way around my lower body. All the muscles were contracting. I scrapped up my middle and ring fingers on my right hand when I fell but that was the least of my worries. I was really concerned of how I would feel tomorrow when we going to be in the car for 8 hours. But no time to worry about that now. I just had to try and do what I could to help get my back better. I wasn’t sure I could stand to make dinner but I did. I was really sore. The pain pill kicked in so I could move around with caution. We all had dinner and afterwards Dave turned the TV on to see if we could get the big fight, don’t ask me who was fighting as I don’t pay attention to that stuff. Don’t like it. So anyway while the guys retired to the living room I washed the dished. Pretty soon Kenny and his friend went to bed. It was about 8:00pm and the fight wasn’t on. Well we couldn’t get it anyway. I put some more ice on my back while watching TV and then went to bed thinking I was going to be hurting tomorrow.

To my surprise I wasn’t hurting as much as I thought I would. Don’t get me wrong, I was very sore and it was painful still but at least I could walk and maneuver. Kenny and his friend had already left at 4:00am so we said we would catch up to them somewhere down the road. We locked up the house and away we went. The ride wasn’t too bad. I had my magnet belt on so I was getting some heat to the back which helped. We did meet up with Kenny just before Loreto and they were continuing on and we were stopping. We told him we would see him tomorrow in La Paz.

We went to our favorite hotel and we were the only ones there so far. Then later another couple showed up. We tried to see our friends, (Robert and Kristi) that live part time in Loreto, but they weren’t home. We had a nice quiet evening and around 8:00am the next morning we headed out for La Paz. At least the ride is shorter today which makes it nice. We arrived at the marina and opened up the boat. The weather was nice with a little breeze and in the 80’s. Not humid like the last time we were here. My back is really sore and actually not just the back but all the muscles around the lower part of my body. Today is the 5th and it is our grandson Eian’s 16th birthday!!!! That is so cool. Happy, Happy Birthday guy!!!!!

Once on the boat we found the batteries were charged and all systems seemed to be working just fine. We noticed Diego hadn’t washed the boat. Come to find out later on when we went to see the boat broker and she told us he came to collect the money and so she thought he had done the job. That isn’t good. I guess they will have to start checking out the jobs they say they are doing before paying them. Dave went up to the marina office to talk to them about getting the boat hauled out around the 10th and they said there was no room. Hmmmm!!!! Last month we got a quote from them of how much it was going to be to get hauled out so we thought it was all settled and then to find out there isn’t any more room. That didn’t sit well at all. Dave didn’t get mad but he made it known that it was all worked out the last time we were here and he even showed them the paperwork. So with some discussion, they decided to make room for us. Now we need to get a survey done before the boat is hauled and then continue with the hull survey after the boat is out of the water. We asked around about who a good survey person was and found a guy named Mark. He said he could come and start the survey on Wednesday the 6th. So the process has begun. We are still looking for another insurance company. Dave has made a couple of inquiries and asked for quotes and no matter what the insurance is going to be high. There are a couple of companies we are looking at but can’t decide anything until after the survey is finished.

I couldn’t stand looking at the dirty cockpit screens so I decided to wash them. Once the boat is out of the water I can’t do it so no time like the present. It looks so much better and we can enjoy sitting out in the cockpit again.

Mark came on Wednesday and did his survey inside the boat. It took about an hour or so. Everything was looking good he said. The only thing we need to do is get our fire extinguishers serviced and a battery for our Epirb. He will be back on Friday to do the rest of the survey when the boat is out of the water.

It is boat hauling day today. We are waiting for them to notify us when they will be ready to do that. We got all the lines out and readied the boat for moving. Around 1:00pm or so we were notified they were ready for us so we fired up the engine and then headed over to the lift. After the straps were positioned safely under the boat we were lifted out of the water. They positioned a ladder for us to get off the boat so they could take it to the boat yard. They found a spot they could squeeze us into and that is where we will sit until about September and then they will move it in front of Kenny’s shop and he will take care of painting the bottom and cleaning her for our return. He did pay us some money for the little boat and then he is trading work for the rest. So it works out for both of us.

We made reservations to stay at Casa Buena for a couple days while we get the boat ready for the summer on the hard. So all day Thursday we were going up and down the ladder taking things off the boat and storing them in Kenny’s shop and then we took the head sail down and folded it up and put it in the sail bag to store that and then we secured the end of the main sail which was sticking out of the mast so it wouldn’t flop around in the wind. We took the BBQ off, the engine for the dinghy, the dinghy, put cushions away and all Kenny will have to do if there is a hurricane is take the windshield of the dodger off and the bimini. I didn’t do a lot of lifting but I was busy all day and on my feel so when we got to the hotel I was beat and needed to put the heating pad on my back. Actually I was surprised my back did as well as it did for all the activity. We relaxed that night at the hotel and there weren’t many people there this time.

Friday Dave needed to go back to the boat yard to meet with Mark, the survey guy, and I knew Dave would be at the boat yard all day so I told him I wasn’t going to go with him but I was going to go to the pharmacy and the fabric store instead. My back was sore but I thought a walk would be good. Dave dropped me off at the pharmacy so I could get some of my pain pills and then I walked to the fabric store, which was just down the street. I always planned on going to that fabric store but it never worked out before so now I was going to take advantage of the opportunity. It was fun looking at all the fabric but I needed to get home as my back was really hurting. So I walked back to the hotel and put the heating pad on and lay down on the bed. I had over done it yesterday but I had to as Dave couldn’t do it all by himself and there wasn’t anyone else. Kenny did help with getting the dinghy engine off the boat and headsail folded up but he was working so that is all he could help with. So I figured I would lay low for the day and didn’t do much of anything. I really didn’t feel good either so that was a bummer. When Dave came back it was later in the afternoon and he said Mark told him the haul of the boat was in great shape and we needed to get it painted (which we planned on doing) and change a zinc. So now we wait for Mark to send us a copy of the survey and then send that into the insurance companies and see which one will give us the better deal and cover us out of the water. We had some food left over from dinner on the boat the night before and then spent the rest of the evening in our room where I put the heating pad back on my back and read my book and Dave was on the internet. Then it was bed time.

The next morning my back was feeling a little better, but still sore. I was encouraged it would get better. We ran some errands and around dinner time we walked to the Bandito restaurant and had dinner then came back and chilled. We are leaving for home in the morning.

We were on the road around 8:00am or so. We were staying at the Angra hotel overnight and were hoping Kristi and Robert were at the house so we could see them. After getting to the hotel we called and we got a hold of Kristi. They had her sister-in-law with her husband visiting but invited us to come over anyway. So we went over to their house. As we were visiting with them another couple showed up which are good friends of Krisit and Robert and use to be their neighbors in Oregon. We visited for a while and then we figured we would leave. It was Kristi and Roberts wedding anniversary and they were making plans for dinner. Robert asked if we wanted to join them and with some coaxing we said yes. So we were to meet them at 6:30pm at Super Burro restaurant. Well we arrived on time but they weren’t there yet. We sat down at a table for 6 and ordered a beer. Soon after they showed up and we had good conversation going. Then dinner came and we got stuffed. It was the anniversary of the restaurant as well so they served us free cake. After that we said our goodbyes and went back to the hotel. We watched some TV then went to bed. We have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow.

Well my back is still sore but each day it is getting better. I really have to baby it so it will be ready for our trip to Washington at the end of the month.

Dave has been so good in lifting heavy things for me and making sure I don’t do anything foolish to hurt my back more.

Today is our son Michael’s birthday, May 9th!!!! He’s getting old! Ha!!!! He is 43. Happy birthday son!!!

We got home mid afternoon on Sunday the 10th. It was good to be home again. Now we can relax for a while before we are back on the road again but this time going north. Our grandson, E.J. is graduation on June 10th and they have tickets for us to attend and also he is having a family and friends party on the 7th which would be nice if we could be there for that.

Our daughter-in-law, Brooke is celebrating her birthday today the 24th. It is also our gate guards’ birthday. Happy birthday!!!!

We are just taking it easy right now and enjoying the cool weather. There has been a lot of wind lately. The yellowtail are running out in front of the house so Dave is itching to go fishing but when we tried to take the boat (a friends boat) out the engine worked for a second and then wouldn’t start again. So he was bummed but tore it apart to see what the problem was. Well he checked everything out and found gas wasn’t getting to the spark plugs which mean the carburetor isn’t doing its job. He took that out and cleaned it a couple times, put it back together and yesterday took it to the boat ramp to launch it and waaalaaa!!!! It works like a charm. Our gate guard has been itching to go out with Dave so now he can. However, Tito (gate guard) went out in a kayak yesterday and caught a large yellowtail and a Cabrillo. Dave showed him and his wife how to fillet a fish for future reference and at the end of it all, Tito gave us two nice yellowtail fillets for dinner. It was very good.

Dave and Tito went out this morning to try and catch another yellowtail but they all had moved on unfortunately. Bummer!!! Well at least they were able to get out in the boat and try. Later on Tito took the kayak out to see if he would have the same luck as he did yesterday but he didn’t.

We have decided to leave on Thursday the 28th. So now it is coming up fast. I have already started packing but will get serious about it today the 26th. I put out some danger tape which when tied on the rafters flaps and it keeps the birds away. So last night I did the railing of the deck and this morning I did the rafters and washed the solar panels. All that is left is packing which I need to get to now.

O.k. I am all packed except for last minute stuff. Dave moved MaryAnn’s boat in the garage to keep it out of the weather. The truck is outside under the carport and the jeep is parked under the stairs ready for our getaway tomorrow morning. I defrosted the refrigerator and freezer so all I have to do tomorrow is shut the propane off and put towels in on the shelves and leave the doors open. I packed a lunch for us and have lots of breakfast bars to munch on the way.

Lynn and Tom, our Bahia neighbors invited us to dinner tonight and they served Carnitas. They were very good. We had a nice visit and dinner then we said goodbye and went home. Dave packed this afternoon so all we have to do is load up in the morning. We have already put our 2 large suitcases in the car to make the morning car packing go smoother.

Well it is the 28th and the car is packed, the propane off, and the solar panel has been flattened and turned to where it will get the most sun in the afternoon. We turned off the inverter this time as we didn’t need to keep that on and the water is still on as our gate guard is going to water the few plants we have while we are gone. Everything is locked, the toilet bowls are covered with saran wrap and the drains are covered over to prevent cockroaches. I loaded up the garbage to drop it off in town and burned all the burnable things. We gave our guard food we had left over, which wasn’t a lot, and gave some other things like butter, sour cream, beer, etc to neighbors and friends. I did a pretty good job this year in not having a lot of food items left to give away.

Well we said goodbye to the gate guard and his fiancé and told them we will see them in September.

We took the road from Chapala to cross the border at Mexicali. We normally don’t go that way as about 13 miles of rough road but it was a lot better this time then when we came down coming back last September after hurricane, Odile. Once we were on smooth pavement again we sailed up to Mexicali. It is faster than going to the Tecate border so since we need to be up in Washington close to the 7th, we decided we would try it again and see how it went. We don’t like the rough road, but if you go slowly it isn’t bad. It took an hour to cross the border then another hour and a half to get to our friends house in El Cajon, CA. Creela and Phil had been waiting for us and had dinner ready and drinks right after we arrived. They haven’t been able to go to Bahia due to a bad renter and issues and legal things with him. So it was good to see them and spend a couple days with them. Shortly after we arrived, Phil said his best friend who was his best man at their wedding had a stroke and is bad. So Phil was torn about leaving while we were there, but we told him he should go and see his friend. So the next morning he left for Reno. We were glad he decided to go because none of us know how long we are going to be here on this earth. Creela and us had breakfast, then she asked if we wanted to see the rental they had to go to court for to evict the renter. She said there was a lot of damage done to it. We had no idea until we got there of how much!!!! Went went inside and Creela noticed lights on and said they were off yesterday when she was there. Also food was on the floor and counters and it looked like someone was making waffles for breakfast. Dave and Creela walked down the hall to the bedrooms and looked in each one and the last one they found a young kid standing in the middle of the room fiddling with his fingers. Creela hollered, “Who are you and what are you doing here?” Then she asked again----“who are you” and he mumbled, Ricardo. Creela said she was calling the police and we all walked outside to the side of the house by the window of that room. She was still on the phone when the kid jumped out of the window onto a hedge and then down on the grass in the yard and took off on a skateboard. He has a bag with some stuff in it but we didn’t know if that is something he had already or had taken stuff from the house. Creela couldn’t find anything missing of hers so the police couldn’t file a report. Anyway----4 police cars showed up and looked in the house and gave Creela some advice about taking care of the broken windows and cleaning up the yard. There was all kinds of office desks, chairs, cubicle material, as the renter was selling this stuff from the house. Doors inside the house had been taken bashed in, the stove was broken, all kinds of junk lying all over the floor and broken furniture and all laying around. I had never seen such a mess in all my life. This kid was probably a friend of the evicted son, and was just staying there overnight. We saw evidence of cooked meth and a pipe, plus there was a 5 gallon bottle of water in the bedroom where the kid was found and I think he thought he was going to stay awhile. Well the police went looking for the kid and after they left we helped clean up the yard and put all the junk that was there in the backyard hidden from view. We tried to make the house look like there was someone in it. As it turned out Creela was able to get a nephew by marriage and his friend to help with the clean-up and one of them came back that afternoon to stay in the house to keep anyone else from coming in and taking copper pipes, electrical stuff – anything that can be sold on the street for drugs. So that worked out real well for Creela as she got a phone call around 8 or so from the guy staying in the house that someone knocked on the door wanting to get some of his stuff and Pat told him he would have to come back with the property manager. Creela and Phil have to store all the evicted renters stuff for 13 days until he can get it all out. This guys (renter) has been doing this for a long time and the police are very aware of his actions. So this guy will probably work it until the very last second before clearing out all his stuff. Unbelievable!!!!!! I just don’t understand what is wrong with these people. Well yes I do-------drugs!!! It makes people strange and mean and just plain awful. Creela and Phil are in there upper seventies and they shouldn’t have to deal with this kind of stuff. Plus this is part of their income. Well they have turned over that rental to a property manager and they will be able to take care of the renting and background checks and all. In the meantime, Creela and Phil have to get the house cleaned up, replace what is broken, replace the carpet and make it look nice again. It is a nice 4 bedroom one level house. It is just a shame. Well hopefully this is the end of bad renters!!! I am not naive enough to know that this can’t happen even with a property manager looking after the property, but hopefully less of a chance.

Well we left Creela on Saturday 30th and headed north and seeing how far we can get today. Well we got as far as Santa Nella, north of the grapevine in California to stay the night. We headed out around 7-7:30am the next morning. We made good time and instead of stopping at Redding, we kept going toward the coast. Our hope was to stop in Crescent City, but that remains to be seen.