February ‘01

*Additional notes may appear in italics after my mom’s initial journal entries.
A ladybug means you should check the comments at the bottom of the page to see what Mom has chimed in on after reading these!

February 1, Thursday
Escondido

Mostly calm and sunny – until it was 3 pm and at 4 all were due to head over to Storm Haven for Happy Hour - then 15-20k.
John went into Loreto with Darryl, Princess Erika, to fill 3 jerry jugs with deisel and go to the bank.
After 6 years of having the dinghy board on the starboard side where the engine and gen-set exhaust is – we finally figure out that we should board on the port side. One of those DUH’s that takes forever to dawn on you.

February 3, Saturday
Escondido

Yesterday the wind HOWLED 20-30k all day and most of the night.
Today was much nicer 10-12k for the most part. FLAT tonight.
John helped Jim, Priority, fix his electric windlass. Bob and Cynthia came over. Maggie and Seager sure are cute together.
Days are starting to warm up – when there are no clouds.

February 4, Sunday

We took laundry into the Tripui, real cheap here still. They do it at the store. Seager is pooped by the time we walk from the dinghy dock to the store and back.
Only 5-10k today, nice and warm too. With the ¾ moon shining down on the flat water, it looks like we’re sitting on a glass mirror. Beautiful.

February 6, Tuesday

Happy Birthday, Mom.
Drayden is 1 month old.

I tried to do a phone patch to talk to Mom – but Bob, the radio guy in Scottsdale was not on today – oh well, I did mail her a letter.
Everyone got together at Storm Haven tonight. A short one.

February 7, Wednesday
Escondido

We were planning on leaving this morning for the southeast side of Isla Carmen – but there is a front going through – so we stayed put. Not much wind in here – warm clouds.
We visited at Bob and Cynthia’s today.
Peggy and Caleb mailed pictures and a video of Drayden to Mac and Caroll in SLC for them to bring down to San Carlos. Now let’s hope they get out of Marina Real and over here so we get the photos.

February 13, Tuesday
Escondido

Well, once again, as we planned to leave, the weather is not favorable. Another front passing by. Few sprinkles last night. Only light winds, but they turned us in circles more than once.

Angie sent me an email:
Why men aren’t secretaries – a husband’s note to his wife.
“Doctor’s office called – said Pabst Beer is normal.”

February 15, Thursday

Clear skies today – but of course WIND, 15-25k north.
John went over to put out a second anchor on Rosinante, Alec’s boat, was dragging down on Bert, Island Woman.
John is just about out of projects to keep him busy on the boat. It needs to calm down and warm up so he can dive.
I’ve had enough of this weather too – migraines once a week for quite a while now.
Oh – heard on the net that 4 men escaped from the Tres Marias Islands near San Blas and P.V.

February 16, Friday
Escondido

Not too windy today – had snacks and Nutty Professor II at Storm Haven tonight for Gail’s birthday (Priority).
Samie and I got a case of the giggles in her room for a couple of hours. Fun.

February 17, Saturday

Happy 14th Birthday to Samie!

The 3 of us boats all walked into Tripui for lunch – nice. It was 4 pm when we got back, so I’ll fix Samie’s taco dinner tomorrow.
Sam and I watched tapes of Ally McBeal and Friends, we also played Boggle.
Seager wants to play.

February 19, Monday
Escondido

Venture Forth, Mac and Carole came in to Escondido early this morning – with mail! Peggy send pictures and a video of Drayden and Danielle sent pictures of Chase, Schyler and Jeremy. What cute kids. Jeremy has changed – so cute, looks like a little man. Schyler is growing, Chase is 26 lbs now and has the happiest smile!
Drayden is also a cute one, we got to see her in the hospital and at home. She says he weighs 10lbs now – he was 1 month when she mailed it. Can’t wait to hold him.

February 21, Wednesday

Happy Birthday, Caleb!

We had dinner at Princess Erika with Darryl, Linda and Amy is here for a week.

February 22, Thursday
Escondido

Not a great morning. John was sharpening his fishing looks and Seager got curious and ended up with a size 14 (big) j hook in his nose. It was on a repala – which looks like [ https://marine-deals.freetls.fastly.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1b2e871699de66caea4208e2cf16bd73/g/r/groupedrapalmagnumcd7-2.jpg ]. One hook was in his nose and we were afraid he would flip another one in his eye or somewhere else. We taped down the far end and John cut off the other two closest ones – not east to do. Samie was trying to hold him, but he bit her. We called Jim, Priority, to help. All is well now, John ended up with a big gouge on his arm. Poor Seager, it was awful.
We borrowed Darryl’s truck to spend $90 US at Tripui and stock up so we can head south toward La Paz on Monday or so.
Storm Haven, Bob and Cynthia went out to anchor for a couple of days. I guess it was really rough while on the move.

February 26, Monday
Escondido – Agua Verde

We left at 8 am for Agua Verde – smooth, calm, whales blowing and sounding, but don’t know what kind. Maybe blues or greys.
Good to move!

February 27, Tuesday

How wonderful to be warm. Baja is cold in the winder and I’m glad spring is at last getting close.
Last night here in Agua Verde the fish were running through the anchorage – giving us a light show – the phosphorescence was incredible!
Caleb’s email said they stopped to see Danielle and Ben on their way home from a week in Mesa. He says Chase looks like a “sumo man.”
Drayden is 10lbs and 23” long now at seven weeks. He’s starting to “talk”.

February 28, Wednesday
Agua Verde

The girls – myself, Gail and Carole – all got together on Cynthia’s Storm Haven to bake bread (sourdough) in her bread maker. Fun afternoon. Black clouds all day, we only have 10-15 sprinkles and no wind in Agua Verde – but from San Francisco to Bara (that I know of) had squalls, heavy rain and 20-40 knots of wind. Two boats in Tenecatita were struck by lightning; 1 of them lost all their electronics.

January ‘01

*Additional notes may appear in italics after my mom’s initial journal entries.
A ladybug means you should check the comments at the bottom of the page to see what Mom has chimed in on after reading these!

January 8th, Monday
San Carlos

Happy 25th B-Day to Danielle.

Clouded up today.
Talked to Peggy, she’s pretty sore and extremely tired. She will probably go home Tuesday.

January 9, Tuesday

We left San Carlos at 5 am along with Bob, to drive to Nogales to pick up 4 new batteries for Bob and for the 3 of us to renew our VISAs and van tags. Now we’re ok until we leave in May.
Nice enough, only 15 minutes wait on US border. Fast trip into WalMart and Safeway. Lunch at Carl’s Jr – green light – 21k, also green light. Drove through clouds all day, cold in Nogales. Rain and hail on drive home. Only took 12.5 hours – home at 5:30 pm.
Gail, Priority, and Cynthia, Storm Haven, came over to walk Seager. He was so glad to see us home again.

January 10, Wednesday

Caleb sent pictures of Drayden to our Hotmail. We went in to the internet café to download it. Hard to tell much – but he looks like a sweet one – and big like Chase was.
Chelle called; Jeremy is starting to walk – a month tomorrow. Schyler told us he lost his front tooth (first one) and he got $5.00 for it!
Oh, John had to put in a completely new toilet today. $300 U.S.
We disconnected the cell phone; we figured it cost us $300 US for 2 months. Long story- but it’s gone. Thank goodness for email.

January 18, Thursday

We checked out for the last time Saturday the 13th and of course it started HOWLING. Jim and Gail did leave Monday night, but now there are in Chivato with howling wind. Glad we stayed. Their ride over was not the best, 11 hours normal took 14 hours.
John and Gene, Sun Bear, took apart our laptop to fix a broken hinge – don’t know if it will last the rest of the season. Gene is loaning us their spare.
Sam and I watched The Perfect Storm last night as it howled 2025k and the boat rocked here in the slip.

January 20, Saturday
San Carlos

Happy B-Day Janelle

Storm Haven was put back in the water and came around to Marina Real this morning. I called Goon, all is well with them. Caleb will try to figure out why none of his emails are getting through to us.
Calmer today, 15k late afternoon. Jim and Gail, Priority, said they moved from Chivato to Pulpito and had 15-20 k with 3 to 5 foot seas – glad we aren’t leaving today, as was planned.
Clinton is gone – Bush is in.

January 21, Sunday

John and Gene, Sun Bear, spent the morning getting Storm Haven’s batteries all hooked up.
Talked to Kelly on Refuge at 11 am, they were an hour out – fairly calm and 10k – so we got it together and left the break water at 12:30 pm.
Finally out – Seager was kinda green for the first 4 hours or so. He puked 3 times before it calmed down a little and he got his sea legs.
Seas smoothed out, nothing over 14k W – most of the trip 10k.

January 22, Monday

We came into Escondido and anchored at 8:30 am – 20-hour trip, nice.
Seager never did pee until after we anchored, he found the mat and went for at least two minutes.

January 24, Wednesday

Happy Hour on Priority, Marty and Taska, Cloud Nine, also here. Taska looks wonderful – last year she battled lymphoma cancer. For now she is 100% ok.

January 27, Saturday
Escondido

We had Priority, Cloud Nine, and Darryl, Princess Erika over last night – nice visit.
Cloud Nine, Marty and Taska left this morning for Agua Verde. Heard them on the radio – they had 25 SW all day, as a front went through. In here at Escondido, we didn’t get over 12k SW – so hope as tonight wears on and it switches to the NW we won’t have much either.
Talked to Bob, Storm Haven, at 5 pm on 3838, they were just going into Pulpito – they left San Carlos at 4:30 am and had 20/25k SW all the way. Don’t know if Bert, Island Woman, left as planned or not.
When the clouds rolled in today, they sat over the mountain in a fog – pretty. We did get a few sprinkles, but only a few.
Seager is starting to get the hang of using his pee mat on the deck. Although he won’t poop on it, he just goes on deck wherever.

January 28, Sunday

Bob and Cynthia, also Bert, came into Escondido around 2 pm.

January 30, Tuesday

Wind kicked in early this morning. Here it is 8:30 pm and still blowing 15-20 with the gust of 25k.
John has been taking Seager to shore once or twice a day because he won’t pee on the boat. He’ll hold it all day and night – that’s both good and not good.
Email from Chelle says Jeremy is walking everywhere. Schyler is doing better in school and will be in T-Ball again. Danielle went up to Show Low and saw Drayden.
Caleb’s email said Drayden only woke up once last night and they got 4 more inches of snow. Samie’s friend said there is 15” or so on the ground. Yuk - and I thought it was cold here.

January 31, Wednesday

Calmer today – flat tonight.
We borrowed Nutty Professor II from Storm Haven – what a crack up!

December ‘00

*Additional notes may appear in italics after my mom’s initial journal entries.
A ladybug means you should check the comments at the bottom of the page to see what Mom has chimed in on after reading these!

December 1st, Friday

Worked on sanding most all day – 5th sunny, warn, no wind day in a row.
Mac and Carol, Venture Forth, came in, we all went to dinner at the little place up at the RV park here – good.

December 2, Saturday
San Carlos

I’m working on a new drop screen for the companionway – John is still sanding.
100% clouds today – even rained for 15 minutes or so around 3 pm.
Goon and Shine called, she is so big and uncomfortable now and still a month to go.

December 3, Sunday

8 am we left the dock – ventured out to Catch 22 Beach. Just after anchoring, Seager threw up a little.
It wasn’t even rough when we left the dock, Seager couldn’t figure out the world was going. We ran the new gen-set for 3 or 4 hours while using the electric sander. Samie worked along with us.
The wind was 10-20 and starting to shift around – so we came back into the dock at 3 pm. Venture Forth, Mac and Carol were headed out – they stayed.
Seager did use his matt to poop on – but he didn’t make it off the boat fast enough back at dock and went pee on the deck.
Thank God the sanding is all done!

December 13, Wednesday

John put all the cetol on and it looks wonderful. Should have done this years ago.
Stay in touch with Caleb most every week day with email. Peg didn’t have too many come to her baby shower, but then it was at Angie’s in Taylor – a drive for everyone. Her doc appointment yesterday – all is well, no dialating yet and he hasn’t dropped yet. She goes in once a week now.
Took Seager to the vet last Saturday to have his nails clipped. Since he tries to bite he tied his mouth up with gauze – but he still fought like hell. John got big scratch on his arm, vet got one on his back we think. And poor Seager was foaming at the mouth, pissed and pooped. I’ll never make him go through that again – I’ll drug him first.

December 14, Thursday

Jim and Gail, Priority, came in. They have a 28’ motor home now along with their boat.

December 17, Sunday

Mac and Carol, Venture Forth, came back.
Arturo has finally been working on Storm Haven getting painted. He has done beautiful work, but not sure he put the right color on the “house.”
Weather has stayed wonderful – not much in the way of wind.
John has been buys stripping the paint off of the decks.
Peggy’s baby, Drayden has dropped – guess she could go any day.

December 21, Thursday

Finally – Bob, Cynthia and Maggie are back.
Sure enough – Arturo has the paint reversed on the boat. Oh brother. So they will now buy more paint and wait for Arturo to repaint the house white also.
Good to have them back, they are staying in the guest house of some of their friends, Dave and Barbara Poulson over on the beach. Their son is working at Show Low High School.

Dec 23, Saturday

John got the 2 new trojan  batteries in and part of the deck paint – Bob brought these goodies down.

December 24, Sunday

Nice calm and warm. Get together at Bob and Cyn’s for chips etc., then drove into town to watch the boat light parade and on to dinner at Bananas.

December 25, Monday
Christmas

Samie opened her gifts. Seager had ripped the “lobster” from Cynthia within 5 minutes – boys.
Called Goon, Shine and Caleb, all’s well – she’s so ready to get the delivery over with. They ended up with 8-10 inches of snow.
Went to call Chelle, the phone was cut off! John was so mad. We went over and used Cynthia’s phone for a quickie to the girls – all’s well there, too.
Later in the day my mom called – but we still couldn’t get out.
For Christmas dinner everyone made a chicken dish and other goodies and we ate at the house Cynthia is staying in – out on the patio. The wind came up around noon – but we were protected.
Those presents were Bob and Cynthia, Storm Haven, Jim and Gail, Priority, Mac and Carol, Venture Forth, Nick and Tanice, Wylie May, Bert, Island Woman.

December 29, Friday
San Carlos

I’ve been saying this would be the day Drayden would be born. Goon has been having some contractions the last couple of days, but as of 7:30 pm – I was wrong.
I talked to Peggy earlier, the contractions have stopped, but she was in good spirits.
One of the gate guards here at Marina Real was killed last night. He was trying to catch a ride in there from San Carlos. We have picked him, Andre, up before. I guess he stepped out in the road to flag down one of the Mexican worker trucks and he was right in the sun. The driver never saw him. Bob and Cynthia came up just behind the truck and said the sun was right in their eyes. All of us here in the marina are going to take up a collection for his wife and family – 5 kids, the youngest one 15. He was the friendliest of all the guards, so sad.

December 31, Sunday

New Year’s Eve Pizza Hut pizza party at B&C house.

Jan 6, Saturday, 2001
San Carlos

Drayden James Rowell
12:04 pm
20 ¾ inches long
7lb 10oz

I was a nervous wreck before the day was over. I talked to Goon twice in the morning, she was getting real tired, I could tell. Called twice later, could not talk to her. Once in O.R. and no one could tell us anything. Finally got through to Sylvia and Shine called later.
Following is the email Caleb sent with details:

(Addressed to: KB7ZIK@K6IXA, which means we received this over the HAM radio. The information is relayed via morse code, then decoded to read like a regular email.)
“Well, I’m back to work! The baby is doing fine, with Mom in the hospital. They will most likely hold her till Tuesday. Well, here is a summary of what happened in case there are any confusions. Water was broke at 8:15 on the 5th, labor started right away. Early on the 6th she was still at 7, talked about checking her in an hour. If she had not dilated anymore, they would do a c-section. Came back in an hour and she was at 8. A few more hours, she came out at 9 to 10. Pushed for about 2 hours, no movement in the baby, just did not want to come down anymore. Got second opinion from Dr. Hunter. Took her to the O.R. at about 11:00. Gave her a big dose of epidural stuff, still did not numb her up, gave her more, still did not work. Put her under. Baby came out at 12:04. He had a bowel movement inside of Peg. They have to suck all the waste out of him, then put him on oxygen, and give him some antibiotics. They started him out at about 60% oxygen, then weened him down to 22% the same amount in normal air. Peg got the baby for the first time at about 7:00 pm on the 6th. They took her off of the heavy drugs yesterday, they are now giving her some others tuff for the pain. She is walking around a little. We had the baby all day yesterday, Daddy had to change his first ever diaper. Drayden is now feeding better, and hanging with Peg for today. Also, when he came out, he had a scraped, flat, red nose. It’s starting to go away, and regain its shape. His head also had a BIG dent in the back, with a big knot below it. That is also going away. He has big feet and his bottom lip is indented. Everyone said he’s a keeper, I’ll have to agree with them. Well, time to go back to work, I’ll be in tomorrow also, I’ll give you an update then. I have some film developed; I just have to scan it.”

November ‘00

*Additional notes may appear in italics after my mom’s initial journal entries.
A ladybug means you should check the comments at the bottom of the page to see what Mom has chimed in on after reading these!

November 6, Monday

All is going along fine. New gen-set inverter and water maker all in and running. New sail on and it fitts!
Have to buy a new compresser for the fridge and thermal cuppler for the oven. BOAT – Break Out Another Thousand.

November 8, Wednesday

Happy Bday Aunt Janice.

John got all the switches and gismos hooked up for the gen-set and inverter.
The fridge guy came by but he has to go to Hermosillo to get another part – so mañana. 
Samie has started doing her school work on her own. It helps her pass the day. Last night she used a phone card to call friends on the mountain. She was on Cloud 9.
We finally got to see Bill and Trish – either we were too buys or they’ve had company since we got here – so o time and now they’re leaving in the morning.
Reports are 8” of snow in Show Low. Down to 18° at night. Glad we’re here.

November 10, Friday

Yesterday was beautiful! Clear skies, warm and no wind. Today cloudy, cool land breeze – a front is trailing down here as it heads for Arizona.
Still no results on the Nov 7th presidential election – it is so close that Gore is calling for recounts. There are still all the military overseas votes to come in. We shall see.

November 11, Saturday

If the fridge guy would get his act together and get our fridge fixed then we could more less get on out of there. Cloudy again.

November 21, Tuesday

John got the fridge compressor back from the “bad” fridge guy – he was sanding it down, he thought he could sell it back as a new one. We had paid him $400 US to order a new one. To date we have only $90 of it back. Come to find out he has done this before and been turned into the judge, which I guess is what we’ll end up doing if we don’t get the rest of the money. Al, the “good” fridge guy put more freon in it and WOW – it works.
Yesterday was wonderfully warm, light breeze only after the last 3, 20-25k. This morning, 100% cloudy.
Talked to Chelle on Sunday, Rick’s mom has lupus and is in a hospital in Tucson.
Peggy is doing fine, weighs 150 lbs, but says it’s all baby. She goes in again today for a checkup. 5 or 6 weeks to go.
Seager is so funny when he eats – or tries to – peanut butter.

November 23, Thursday

Happy Bday Deb and Turkey Day

John worked on gridning and sanding down Samie’s hatch. It has needed fixed for a long time, so he’s gonna put down fiberglass.
It was a pretty nice day, only a little wind.
I fixed a pork roast, papas, carrots, candied sweet potatoes and salad for dinner. Bert, Island Woman, was an hour late, cause just as he was leaving his boat in Guaymas dry storage they came to put him in the sling so they could put him in the water first thing in the morning. I fixed him in the water first thing in the morning. I fixed him a plate – neat guy.
Carl and Lina, Fido Pause dropped by – they are here for a couple of months.

November 24, Friday

Howled today.

November 28, Tuesday
San Carlos

The last 2 days have been perfect weather, no wind and warm.
John is stripping the paint off of the painted white wood on deck, caprail, handrails, etc. We decided to put cetol on it and have the wood effect. Same was even using the electric had sander – until Dario said no more electric sander. So once John has it all stripped, we’ll go out and anchor for a couple of days to do the sanding. Be good to go out anyway.
The planets, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus are the closest to earth than ever in the last 200 years – like the moon last year – they say you can actually see the rings around Saturn and some of her moons. Samie and I can see the moons and we think the rings. Really neat.
Goon called, her doc appointment is said all is well – 5 weeks to go.