LINDSEY will tell you about happenings on land

August 30, 2007 - Log 26

Avoiding potential hurricanes, I ran away to Palm Desert, California, last summer (2006).  This summer (2007) I am hiding out in Salome, Arizona, also low desert.  My favorite thing about being in the desert in the summer is that most normal people want to be anywhere else.  So I get to enjoy the gorgeous scenery I love without the hoards of snowbirds (that is, folks from the north country trying to find warmth in the winter months).   

While I was in Palm Desert I got to spend time with several friends, like Linda & Al Stoddart, Ron & Barbara (m/v Isla Bonita), Debbie Schroeder, Eileen Hall, and Phyllis Keys.  Willy and Tigger even drove over for a visit while I was there.  In September I went to Mariposa for a visit with my cousins Phyllis and Becky.  We went to the County Fair over Labor Day weekend.  I hadn't been to their fair since I was in college.  It was a fun visit.  In October Phyllis came over to the ranch and we drove to Pacific Grove for a visit with my brother Ed and his family.  My younger brother Mark also came over and we had a lovely time.  

After a fairly brief stay at the Hewitson's ranch early last Fall, I made my way back to La Paz.  Before the holiday season began, my Aunt CJ flew down to be with me at El Moro while Mike was out boating on the east coast of the US.  Soon we were joined by her daughter Roberta.  Mike spent Thanksgiving in Ohio with family, while in La Paz we had a group of girls (CJ, Roberta, friend Judi, and me) chaperoned by Eldon (formerly of s/v Black Rabbit) for a traditional turkey dinner bayside at Club Marlin.

Mike returned from the east in time to fly up to San Diego and drive south with our friend Willy (m/v Artemis).  She had sold her condo at Marina Palmira and needed to drive down so she could take her stuff back to California.  

Chris, Mike's cousin Denise's son, decided he wanted to propose to his girlfriend Dawn while on a snorkeling trip in La Paz.  So they arrived at El Moro mid-December for a very brief visit.  The whole planning and set-up was such fun.  On their way back in from the dive trip they encountered a whale shark in the bay.  It's the largest living fish species!  Not many people ever get to see one.  I do think that Dawn was still more excited about the diamond ring though.  They are wonderful young people and we hope they will come back to La Paz, maybe for their honeymoon or anniversary???

From Christmastime through Carnaval, we enjoyed a lot of food, fun and friends.  Since La Otra was basically "under construction" we did all of our holiday entertaining in our suite at El Moro.  Many evenings were spent sharing meals and conversation with a core group.  Eldon was also staying at El Moro for the winter.  Willy was packing up her condo.  Richard (m/v Maverick) was having boat work done before Suzy came down to join him.  

The trip I planned back to California in March took on a completely different focus when, the day after my arrival, my niece called to tell me that my older brother Ed had just passed away.  Within that same week my cousin Becky's husband Dude, and our friend Mike from s/v Kindred Spirit had also passed away, all three with cancer as the cause.  I was pretty much devastated.  I went on to Salome, AZ, to be with my mom for the week before we drove up to Pacific Grove for the memorial service for my brother.  My Aunt CJ flew down from Seattle for the service and afterwards she and I drove north to her home in Woodinville, WA.  Mama & Ryder drove back to Arizona.

I had already planned on spending the month of April with CJ, at her place.  Our plan was to sort through a lot of her stuff.  We did get to do some fun things while I was there.  My cousin Roberta came up for Easter and we spent one day at the beautiful Kubota Japanese Gardens.  Another weekend Maureen, one of CJ's other nieces, joined us for a trip up to La Conner, WA, for the Tulip Festival.  CJ & I spent one lovely and rare sunny day visiting Laurie, a friend of hers who lives on Whidbey Island.  For Cinco de Mayo, we celebrated with Maureen, her daughter Aubry, and Cheryl a friend of CJ's, at a nice Mexican restaurant in Kirkland.  Woodinville is home to MANY wonderful wineries and I did a little wine-tasting while I was there too.  Then it was time for me to head south.

Our good friend Tonya (s/v Amazing Grace) also lost her two-year battle with cancer while I was in Washington.  We will certainly miss her vibrant personality and great sense of humor.  Her husband, Mike, is now in the process of opening a boat brokerage in La Paz.  We think he'll do really well with that.

Fortunately, I had company for the long drive back to the ranch.  CJ ended up driving back with me as far as Roberta's place in San Jose.  We stopped in Winchester Bay, Oregon, to take a look at the Westsail 32 that my brother Ed was refinishing.  Mike & I are now handling the advertising for the sale of "Kibitka", Ed's boat.  While we were there we went to Coos Bay for a visit with my nephew Pancho (Francisco), his wife Melissa and daughters Kyndal and Makena.  

From there we drove to Colusa, CA, to see Trudy, a friend of mine from elementary and high school.  I hadn't seen her since she moved away from La Selva Beach in 1969!  She and her husband Art graciously hosted us for the night.  We were honored to share some of the wonderful International Award-winning wine that Art makes.  Plus we had a lovely breakfast with Trudy and her mom Marie the next morning (...late). 

Then it was on to San Jose for a few fun days with Roberta and her furry family.  She lives with two rabbits and three cats!  While there I went to see another childhood friend, Kathy Gordon, and her mom Kitty.  When I was in elementary school Kathy and I were like twin sisters, we did everything together.  Her family included me in every camping trip they took all over the State of California.  It was great to catch up on 40 or so years of life since I'd seen them last.  

After leaving CJ, I went to La Selva Beach for an overnight visit with friends Roy & Gail Johnston.  Roy and Ed have been best friends since about 1961, and it was like being with family.  I found out what all my old friends have been up to and just basically rested up for the last leg of my trip.  On Mother's Day I went back to Pacific Grove to spend the next week with my sister-in-law, Elizabeth, and nephew Guy.  My niece Claudia and her husband Eric also live in Pacific Grove, and have been working very hard to help Elizabeth get her house in Pacific Grove ready to sell, so she & Guy can move to Coos Bay, OR.

 I had a very brief stopover at the ranch in Avenal before Richard, Suzy and I drove back down to La Paz in June.  Mike & I stayed at El Moro again, but this time in a new unit.  It's much smaller so entertaining wasn't easy.  But, since it's summer, not too many folks are around.  Plus, we had a few wonderful trips out with Richard & Suzy on Maverick, and the time went too quickly.  

We did have a chance to visit with our friends Bill & Jean (s/v Mita Kuuluu) who the last time we had seen were on their way to Hawaii from La Cruz.  That was in April 2006, when we were on the mainland of Mexico on Maverick.  They were in La Paz for a short time before heading up in the Sea for the summer.  Rene & Dorie (s/v Morning Star) also made a quick trip to La Paz to move their boat from the boat yard at Palmira to the one in town, Abaroa's.  Mike helped with the move and we got to have a nice visit.  Other friends who are now living full time in La Paz were fun to get together with.  Folks like Dick & Judi (s/v Corazon), Gene & Aggie (s/v Wanderlust), and Pat (formerly, s/v Victory of Wight).

August always brings threats of hurricanes.  Fortunately they don't often occur, but as the summer ripens travel gets more questionable, so I made plans to leave La Paz.  Before I left, Mike & I celebrated our 10th Anniversary with a drive around what is called the East Cape.  The first hour or so is on paved roads, but the last 6 hours are on horrible dirt roads!  It is a beautiful drive though.  

Mama & Ryder have been house & pet-sitting for friends this summer.  In July they took care of Eldon's house and cats in Caldwell, Idaho, and now they are in Libby, Montana, taking care of a friend's dog, and house.  I am currently taking advantage of their empty home in Salome, AZ.  I've also been able to catch up with friends here too.  I've had lunch with Linda Patent in Prescott, Nancy Wilson in Phoenix, and Don & Judie (formerly s/v Orioco) in Yarnell!  It's very quiet and hot, but the air conditioning works well, and there's a pool across the street, so I'm quite comfy here until I return to California for a couple of months.

Hopefully this past year has found you all in good health and in the happy company of people you love. 

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