Newsletter March 2002

"I’m not doing much sailing but I now make a killer Margarita."

We all have heard the old saying, ”you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. Well, I am living evidence, it’s not always true. Nan, of “Great Escape”, taught Jutta and I how to make a killer Margarita. We have been practicing as much as possible. Experience is the best teacher.
I’ve told most of the immediate family, so I might as well announce it on the newsletter. While in Tenacatita Bay, I proposed to Jutta on Valentine’s Day. For you hopeless romantics, I will tell you how this is done. We went to dinner at the Casa de los Piratas with three other couples. There were about fifty people in the restaurant, all cruisers. When I decided it was time, Duey of “The Great Escape” set his chair on the top of the table and I pulled mine out for a step. I very nicely asked Jutta to step up on my chair, stand on the table, and sit on the chair. Naturally, she refused and wanted to know what crazy stunt I was up to this time. I asked her a second time and she refused again. I finally demanded a third time, using words I got out of an old sailors dictionary which were new to me, and promised I would not embarrass her, which was a lie!!! After she sat down, I got the attention of the crowd by clinking two beer bottles together. I started my oration about Valentine’s Day, wives and lovers. I told the crowd about Jutta and I, and our two years of cruising together. I then turned to Jutta and asked her to marry me. Well, as you can guess, that brought a rousing cheer from the gathering. After quieting the crowd, I put a special ring on her finger. Jutta accepted, and a giant roar reverberated from the diners. She showed off her ring which was a new rubber ‘O’ ring from a head rebuilding kit. It just fit, and for those of you in need of a suitable ring, they are adjustable. There were many pictures taken, several of which will appear in different sailing magazines. Many toasts were made and to show you how cheap cruisers are, not one drink was bought for us by anyone! That’s not the end of the story. Three days later, I needed to rebuild the head and I had to ask Jutta to return the ‘O’ ring. I assured her that every time she used the head, she would be sitting on a diamond in the rough. I also got rid of the evidence, the ‘O’ ring can’t be used in court.
Back to the travels of “Pipe Dream”. On the ninth of March, over dinner and a few margaritas, we bid our farewells to Duey and Nan of “The Great Escape”. We built a very special friendship, buddy-boating for 2 ½ months. One of the joys of cruising is the wonderful friends you make. The hard part is saying goodbye.
On March tenth, Jutta and I caught the bus for an inland trip. Our first stop was Chilpancingo, a city in the mountains north of Acapulco. We spent the day and a night seeing the sights and “grazing” at taco stands. We then boarded our 10-wheel chariot and were off to Taxco. Taxco is very picturesque old silver mining town nestled on the side of a mountain. We spent two days playing in Taxco. Again, our chariot awaited us, and we departed for Mexico City, and a visit with Jutta’s uncle. There are so many things to see in this city of 30 million people, I can’t begin to tell you. Jutta’s uncle didn’t speak any English, my Spanish is rough, and I don’t speak a word of German. I spent the entire time nodding and smiling during our visit. Eight days later we boarded the bus again and traveled back to the boat with a brief stop in Cuernavaca.
We returned to Xtapa Marina and got Pipe Dream ready for the next leg of our journey. On Saturday, March 23, we sailed to Acapulco for Semana Santa, or Holy Week (Easter). Jutta’s cousin Trixi, her husband Peter, and daughter Marion joined us for a couple of days and we took them sailing on Acapulco Bay. After being tied to a mooring ball for a week we had to get the sailing manual out and refresh our memories on what to do with all the ropes and pulleys.
By the way, it is also Spring Break and Acapulco is rocking. Today is Easter Sunday and I am putting the final pen strokes to my newsletter. Jutta and I have had a wonderful week in Acapulco. Today the city will clear out and everyone will go back to reality. After making one final beer run, we will be completely provisioned for our next leg south to Huatulco. Pipe Dream is propelled by three sources of energy, diesel for our motor, the wind for the sails, and ice-cold beer for the crew.
Many memorable things have happened to me since the last newsletter, an inland trip, an engagement, my birthday (thirty nine and holding), spending time with new friends, and the highlight occurred in Mexico City. Jutta and I were eating a late afternoon lunch at a quaint and romantic Chinese restaurant in the city center. I had almost finished my lunch when I found a cockroach in my food. Although a small one, it was my first in 55 years. After a heated argument with the management by Jutta (she is fluent in Spanish), we agreed on a reduced price for our lunch. Just remember, finding an entire cockroach on your plate is a lot better than finding half a roach, any day. Shit happens. We are off to play on the high seas.
From the Decks of Pipe Dream.

Ferdy and Jutta