Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Ixtapa: Back for Leg 2

I just returned to Intermezzo after a professionally productive but personally tumultuous month on land. I was welcomed aboard by Roy, who has been dutifully looking after the boat, and Alex, who runs day charters for tourists on his nearby trimaran Mas Tequila. Alex came bearing cold cervezas, very welcome after 11 hours of traveling.

Intermezzo is in good shape. Roy had to battle an invasion of biscuit beetles for two weeks, but they seem to be all gone now. I brought with me lots of Racor fuel filters, a filet knife, a sharpening stone, fishing lures, caulk to reseal the forward portlights, some food “delicacies” from Costco, a fancy new aerator for the galley sink, and sundry other items. Unpacking my suitcase was like opening Christmas presents for the boat.  Roy seemed quite excited by it all. (Perhaps he’s been alone for a bit too long.)

The weather here is sunny and warm, quite a change from the chilly, rainy, damp weather of Northern California. I’m glad to be back in shorts and out of shoes.

I think we’ll leave the marina tomorrow afternoon after topping off the diesel tanks and anchor out in Bahia Zihuatanejo. We need to replace the prop zincs and scrub the bottom before setting sail and it will be nice to be able to swim off the back of the boat again. Their are saltwater crocodiles here in the marina and lots of signs prohibiting swimming and feeding them, which would appear to be potentially two related activities.