Most of Jangada's electrics are still not working. We managed to scavenge a depth sounder and a VHF radio, but still have no autopilot, wind instruments or refrigerator. But we'd had enough of hanging out in 'Paradise Village' ('they paved paradise, and put up a parking lot'...) so we cast off the mooring lines and took our lightning-damaged craft on a little jaunt up the coast to La Cruz. As we left Nuevo Vallarta a whale spouted and showed off his huge tail fluke a few hundred feet away. Birds flew in single line formation low over the waves. The sun shone. It felt good to be out on the water. This is, after all, what we came here for, not to spend day after day messing around with melted marine electronics.
|
Comments [0]
Today was my ocean rowboat Sedna's anticipated arrival date in Miami. I rang the handling agents to find out if she had indeed arrived.
The first time I tried the entire department was out to lunch. The second time I tried I got through to someone who didn't know how to use her computer screen. The third time I found someone who could tell me something, although not necessarily the thing I wanted to hear...
Sedna is still gadding about in the Caribbean, most likely Trinidad, although who knows. Her ETA in Miami is now 11th December. I am so glad that circumstances conspired to prevent me being there waiting for her. She is already 4 weeks overdue, and 10 days still to go. At least. I would have been going crazy. And broke.
Why does EVERYTHING involving boats take so much longer than expected? Speaking of which, we went into town to try and buy replacements for Jangada's lightning-fried electronics today. But it's some random Mexican bank holiday, that happens once every six years, to hand over the reins of power to the new president. Great.
[Photo: the last time I saw Sedna, in Hugh Bailey's boatyard in Antigua]
Previous Posts on Sedna's Caribbean Tour:
Sedna Still Holidaying in Caribbean - 27 Nov
The Strange Voyage of Sedna Solo
|
Steve Roberts sent me this story today - a container-load of Doritos washed up on a beach in North Carolina. Two thoughts occur to me:
1. I am glad that these plastics washed up on shore before they could kill any marine life. There is far too much plastic contaminating the world's oceans already.
2. I am hoping that the container carrying Sedna did not suffer a similar fate...
|
Thanks for all the fantastic messages I've received over the Leander issue - both in comments on the blog, and in personal emails.
It's been humbling to hear from people who enjoy reading about my ocean rowing exploits past and future, and has given me much-needed encouragement as I go through this tricky stage in my preparations for the Pacific, when shipping bills are so near and sponsorship seems so far...
Thank you.
|
