Rock Beach

For fun this week, we discovered a secluded rock beach ten minutes from our wonderful rental house. We explored tide pools, collected shells, scrambled among the rocks to the point and added some beauty to our photo album. Though we looked hard for empty shells, we accidentally brought home two hermit crabs. Don't worry; they were returned to the ocean!

In the Yard

We have been busy in the boatyard working on replating the keel. We have found an experienced welder who has been replating shrimping boats in Guaymas for 20 years. Today the first plates of steel go on; when finished, they will add about 750 pounds to the keel. Joe has done most of the prep work this week; including identifying the weak spots, buying the steel and lots of grinding. Finn and I helped with making patterns, cleaning the keel and painting the new steel. It is a good feeling to finally fix one of the most crucial issues on Wildflower!

Yes, those ARE Finn's eyes showing through the biggest holes in the transom!

We're in Mexico!

We are in Mexico! The road trip was made very easy and comfortable by our new Chevy 3/4 ton Cargo Van, affectionately named Beluga. Even the cats didn't whine too much! We have moved into a beautiful "apartment" (more like a small house) on a gated property between Guaymas and San Carlos. Twenty minutes away is the boat yard, where we will be spending the next few weeks preparing Wildflower for this year's cruise. The yard is VERY rustic and the work will be dirty, so we are happy to have found this alternate living situation. In the yard, we will be replating the keel and parts of the hull with new steel, building a new auxiliary rudder and applying copious amounts of epoxy paint. It is beautiful here - highs of 80 degrees, cooler at night. Out the bedroom window, we see a cactus covered mountain; one block down the cobblestone street is the ocean. Despite the work ahead, we feel very enthusiastic!