San Quintin - Road Trip

For the past three years, we have driven down through Tucson, Nogales and Hermosillo to re-commission the boat and put her in the water. Marv did that before Thanksgiving, "sailed" Odyssey across to Santa Rosalia with Steve Terzian, flew back to San Carlos, then drove back to San Diego to join the family for the festivities.

So this year, we drove from San Diego, south on Mexican highway #1 on the Baja peninsula to pick up the boat in Santa Rosalia. The road was good, except for lots of bridge-building and construction south of Ensenada, and the (typical) narrow-to-non-existent shoulder the rest of the way.

We broke up the trip and spent the first night at El Molino Viejo (The Old Mill) in San Quintin. The motel is off the main highway, a couple of wash-board kilometers toward the ocean, but well worth the trip. Comfortable, welcoming, historically of note, we enjoyed our stay. Though we don't have photos, a performance of Christmas carols sung by a man with a wonderful tenor voice (and, when he asked, the audience sang with him) in the restaurant was a nice addition.

You can bring your boat all the way in from the Pacific, though most people who anchor in San Quintin do so outside this shallow tidal bay.

Flight back to San Carlos

Takeoff

Stephen Terzian helped take Odyssey across the Sea...an uneventful trip...flat water. Coming back, we opted for a quick flight rather than the ferry.

Isla Tortuga

From the air, you can understand why they named it Isla Tortuga.

Isla San Marcos

Stephen

 Tetas de Cabras

Back in the Water

Marv left San Diego and drove to San Carlos on his own. Ardy stayed back to play with the kids (and work on the book). The boat survived the summer well, a little dirt on deck, but clean and intact down below. Marina Seca San Carlos is a good place to store her. Marv moved her around the corner (really a 10-mile trip) to Marina Real for a few days to get ready for the crossing to Santa Rosalia. A 11 hour motorboat trip from San Carlos.

 

Play Ground Time

Near Miles and Claire's house is Froggy Park, aptly named for the dozens of concrete, ceramic, and brass frogs that live there. Claire's favorite spot is the swings..."Do you want to go up?" elicits a frantic stomping dance...a clear "yes!" in one-year-old Claire-speak.

Claire

Miles

Miles loves to climb and explore...and the playground is a great place to do that!

Start of the Baja Ha Ha

 No, we didn't take part. We just watched the start!

We're back in San Diego for a time with family and friends. Thanksgiving coming up, seeing the Bahaha-ers off on their journey, enjoying a few days of clouds or low marine moisture in the mornings, clearing to sunny afternoons. Even enough rain to warrant buying new boots for Miles...puddles need splashing in in San Diego, too.

Portland summer

Summer in Portland (well, Ridgefield, Washington in this case) cannot be beat. We drove north across the Columbia River to share a potluck with good friends Pete and Roseann Thomsen, Patsy Verhooven, Carolyn Martin, Susan Coulson and Tim Morris. Pete and Roseann have a small spread, part of an old homestead on rolling hills west of the Cascades. The view of four peaks (St. Helen's, Adams, Hood, and Jefferson), the menagerie of goats, chickens, cats, a dog and pony (er...horse), and ambling tortoise make for an idyllic place.

The tortoise tries to escape.

Foolish tortoise.


p.s. many thanks to Patsy for the photo!

Megan and Malcolm's Wedding

Malcolm and Megan at Mill Creek Gardens, Mill Creek bordered with wildflowers in the background.


Weddings in general are happy events. Megan and Malcolm's July 1st-4th wedding was spectacular! The "wedding" took place on July 3rd, but the celebrating went on for days! Guests started arriving Thursday July 1st, settling in and enjoying the ambiance of rural, stately Walla Walla, Washington, where wheat fields, wineries and Whitman College are standout attractions. Thursday and Friday were days of preparation: getting flowers, making pies, pruning and trimming lawns, even deciding what to wear to the big event!

There were lots of children and young families.

A few handstands from the Lincoln High School and Carleton College contingent.

A good deal of hugging went on.


As well as lots and lots of eating, talking, nodding off, laughing, and more eating. Did I mention eating?

The pies were a big hit...as someone said, serving up their third piece, "No one ever goes back for wedding cake!"



Formal thanks from the bride and groom to all who attended...and warm thoughts for those who couldn't make it but were there in spirit.