Log of the Emily B

Sunrise.......Sunset

The sky is beautiful from our slip at the dock at Marina de La Paz. The sunrise these days is around 7am with sunset at 5:30. This varies by about 1 1/2 hours each way throughout the year. Of course now we are almost to the solstice so the days will start lengthening again.

We took care of the bare spot on our hull by having divers apply an underwater epoxy called "Splash Zone" which should protect it from worms. Turns out the electrical current going through copper sheeting Dean placed against the hull for the single-sideband radio caused the wood to deteriorate and the paint to pop off. Luckily we finally figured out the problem and caught it before there was more serious damage. But that problem on top of the engine oil leak earlier this month caused us many stressful days and sleepless nights.

We're heading back to Tucson tomorrow morning to catch up with family there. Our time in La Paz has been shorter than we hoped but very much fun. Between welcome dinners out and goodbye ones, there was nary a lapse. Lots of good times at the bridge table and excellent meetings of the writer's group. Dean worked really hard sanding and varnishing the brightwork as well as repairing the sealant around the windows. No paint on the rails yet- they were so beautiful when he finished that it would have been a crime to paint over them. So, the rail covers are back on and we'll see what we decide to do in the spring.

So it's back to land for awhile. You can look forward to following our Tucson adventures with the new house and the new baby in the coming days.

Lovin' La Paz

We made it to La Paz in 2 days from Agua Verde and have been thoroughly enjoying this lovely place for the past ten days. Hard to believe, but this time five years ago we were cruising down the outside of the Baja Peninsula on our way to La Paz for the first time. So much has happened since then, but one thing hasn't changed- our love for La Paz.

I walked to the Saturday farmer's market yesterday with a dockmate and bought hydroponically grown organic lettuce, freshly baked French bread, and handmade German sausages. Last night we went to a blues/jazz concert that was held in an art gallery. The duo, a young Mexican singer and her guitar player partner, were excellent. Also in town last night was the Mexico City Ballet ,performing the Nutcracker in the city theater. There are myriad art galleries, cute restaurants, and beaches just a short ride away. We've been out to dinner or had people over nearly every other night, catching up with old friends as well as getting to know new ones that we met cruising in the Sea on our way here from San Carlos.

The jam sessions in which Dean enjoyed playing so much are not happening this year, but he has played sax duets with his friend Bob a couple of times. I'm back with the Writer's Group and also playing bridge with my buddies. Dean is now in the process of sanding and varnishing the brightwork (wood trim) on Emily B and has just about decided to put a coat of enamel paint over the varnish, which would not have to be sanded and redone every year. Also, we met with the boatyard owner who painted the bottom of our boat last spring to discuss the alarming bare wood that has appeared (again) on the hull only a few months after the paint job. We think we have solved the mystery- more on that later.