Another Week In The Yard

We have been back in Penasco for a week now working on boat projects and trying to get Empyrean ready to go back in the water. It seems like the projects have been never ending but finally we are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Last Sunday we crossed the border at San Diego/Tijuana after having enjoyed a week with family and  friends in Southern California.  After walking across the border and purchasing our visitor permits we took an all night bus back to Penasco. This was our final border crossing for the year.

It is so true how they say cruisers plans are written in sand at low tide. We never imagined that we would spend almost 6 months on the hard here in Penasco.  We have been caught up in projects, some planned and some not, most of which have taken longer than expected. Although yard time is never fun, we feel we have made the right decision to spend some extra time here since we are planning to make the big jump across the Pacific in early Spring.

Over the last week we have been working on thru hulls, raising our waterline, bottom sanding and prepping for bottom paint along with cleaning out lockers and cleaning off the much accumulated dust and dirt. Tom has also been busy trying to figure out the mounting of our new Mantus Anchor and a new anchor light. The new anchor is too big for our existing bow roller and so some modifications are necessary.

Over the past weekend things were very busy here in Penasco. We had been warned that the weekend would be rowdy as the city hosts an annual Biker Rally. As Friday rolled around thousands of bikers from all over the US and Mexico poured in. Just a block from the boat yard vendors were set up serving food and drinks and selling memorabilia.  Concert stages glowed through the nights as bands performed a variety of genres. Engines revved and tires smoked as the streets became crowded with motorcycle activity. Friday night Tom and I ventured out to take a look at all of the bikes that had begun to gather. I must say there are some pretty impressive bikes out there. The shear number of bikes gathered in this rather small city was pretty amazing. Saturday night was the busiest of all and we were able to watch some pretty awesome stunt bikes perform just outside of the yard gates. Overall I was pretty impressed with how well the invent was managed. Everywhere we looked it seemed people were having a good time.

Now Monday has rolled around and we are back to work and school here on Empyrean. It looks like we have another week in the yard. We are looking forward to getting out of here soon! Keeping fingers crossed for a pre-Thanksgiving launch!

An Introduction From a Boat Kid by Hannah

Hi guys, I have decided to give blogging a try. My name is Hannah, I am 14 and the middle kid on my boat. I have been sailing for about 3 years and living on my boat for the last 1.5yrs. My first thoughts on living on a boat and cruising around the world were that it was "interesting" to say the least. I didn't think that it was totally crazy but I also didn't feel that it was totally sane either.  My questions about living on a boat went something like this "How do they get food?" "How do they go to the bathroom?", "What do they do to entertain themselves?" and more stuff like that. Its funny to think about that now because the answers just seem so obvious. When we left with the Baja HaHa it really hit me that living on a boat was my new life. Definitely while we were on the Baja HaHa it didn't give me that "I really want to do this" feeling. I think it was because of the weather we encountered and because of the places we stopped at. But once the Baja HaHa finished and we went on our own at our own pace things started getting much better. Especially when we got to La Cruz where there were lots of kids. At first I didn't want to socialize with any of the kids because I was very shy but after I met Nina from sv Shawnigan I regretted not talking to them sooner. I think that the boat kids I became friends with made my boat experience 100 times better.

In La Cruz, one of the things I did with my friends that I enjoyed was releasing baby turtles, that was probably one of the highlights on our trip, we got to hold and name them and then wish them luck for their upcoming journey. They were so precious I still can't get over them! What I also liked in La Cruz was just how many activities there were to do, especially for the kids. For example we ran a restaurant (which was a lot of fun), had a talent show and a sleepover on the beach that I would hands down do again. La Cruz also has a market that happens every Sunday which we went to each week. It has a wide variety of items from food and really yummy drinks to jewelry and clothes. Its a good way to spend your Sunday. I also enjoyed going to the nearby beaches for surfing and swimming.

Currently life is kinda lonely since Empyrean is in a yard in Puerto Peñasco for hurricane season. She has been under some construction for the last couple of months and now is almost ready to go in the water. We have changed the cabinetry in the galley and added a bookshelf
and she has gotten a makeover in the galley, dinette and in the forward head. She looks so good I'm really impressed on how she turned out. Next we we will get a fresh coat of bottom paint and then it will be time to splash her.  Once we put her in the water we will travel through the Sea of Cortez, heading to La Paz for Christmas. In the Spring we are planning to Puddle Jump to French Polynesia. I really am looking forward to meeting up with more boat kids soon.