Newsletter November 2001

"The Second Season Begins"

(If you haven’t noticed, this newsletter is written in geriatric print for a lot of my friends that are older than dirt, you know who you are.)
Were Baaaaaaack! Yes, we are back and still together for a second season. This cruise should be a great one if the money holds out and we don’t run out of wine. As a lot of you know we put the boat to bed at Marina Seca, San Carlos (dry Dock) for the summer and got the hell out of Mexico and the heat. Jutta and I spent the summer on the beach in Imperial Beach. I tried to set a record on how much a retired sailor could spend on boat parts and new equipment during the summer. Unfortunately, there were no trophies given but I’m sure I’m up for honorable mention.
Jutta left for Germany on the 24 of September and I opted to stay in California, you can just spend so much money. On October 10 or there abouts, I headed for San Carlos Mexico to re-hydrate Pipe Dream. She got new radios, new radar, a life raft, a new inverter etc, etc. While I was installing all these new items and shaking the mothballs out of Pipe Dream, Jutta was playing “Princess” at her mother’s house in Germany.

On October 29, Pipe Dream hit the water and much to my surprise, she stayed on top. Jutta arrived on the 1st of November. Two days after she arrived, we boarded a bus and rode for five hours to Los Mochis. From there, we climbed on a train and took an 8 hour train ride through some of the most beautiful country I have ever witnessed. We went to Copper Canyon and spent five days. I will remember that side trip for a long time - or better, I hope, I will remember it for a long time. For those of you over fifty, you know what I mean! You will need to tune in to our web page for all the gory details and nude photos. Jutta is working on it now and it should be published soon. I’ll send you an email as soon as it’s on the website.

Website: http://pipedreamers.tripod.com

After our return from Copper Canyon, Jutta and I scrubbed and polished the boat and on November 19 we cut the dock lines and sailed south. It took three days to reach La Paz, at a cruiser’s pace, and we will be here for about a week. A cruiser’s pace is anchoring in beautiful bays for the night, swimming, barbecuing and watching breath taking sunsets on the Baja with a gin and tonic or a margarita. It isn’t easy being me! We caught two large Dorado on two of the three days we sailed. Jutta and I feasted on fresh Sushimi with Wasabi and Soy. For you meat and potato people, that is fresh Mahi Mahi sliced thin, eaten raw, with green horseradish, dipped in soy sauce. We also barbecued, sautéed and fried fish until all was gone.
Lately, I have been looking for a priest during our travels. Nope, it’s not what you are thinking, I need one who specializes in exorcism. We have an electrical demon on the boat who keeps haunting us as we travel from port to port. Luckily, EB Mike, our electrical shaman, will be by on Monday to perform the ceremony.
Nothing much has happened this summer that is very earth shattering. Jutta got her first magazine article published about our cruising voyage last year and she was so excited, I thought she would bust.
I examined my checkbook and I still had checks, so I must have money left. I will try to get newsletters out on a regular basis this year. Our travels will take us to Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, and thru the Canal.
Well, I guess this is goodbye to all of you working stiffs.
This Ferdy, signing off from Paradise.
Adios