Almost ready

Puerto Chiapas, Chiapas, Mexico

Final preparation are underway for leaving Mexico behind.

After two years of enjoying Mexico's west coast, it is time to move on.  It may sound strange but we have started to think of Mexico as home now - we are finding it hard to imagine leaving.  As with any place you spend a large amount of time, you do start to get "dug in".  It is not hard to understand the large number of cruisers and non-cruisers that we have met who have settled down here for good.

This last week has been filled with boat projects and provisioning.

I have installed the new Balmar alternator along with its new temperature sensor.  Running the engine for about an hour as a test, showed that it does not put out quite as much current as the old alternator, likely due to the slightly larger pulley on the new unit, and a tendency for the ARS-4 regulator to regularly shut the current down to a trickle, most likely due to the installation of the new temperature sensor - I assume this is an effort to keep the alternator from overheating and should prevent another meltdown like we had with the old one.  The final test will come when we make the next passage and see how it all works on a long haul.

My big project was tackling the ailing watermaker.  I used a tried and true troubleshooting technique that I learned years ago as an amateur computer technician - I took the whole thing apart and put it back together again.  Along the way, I did replace all of the O-rings and cleaned and greased everything up with the recommended silicone grease.  When I was done, and the unit was re-installed, it actually appears to be working, although it will again take a longer prolonged test at sea to prove it one way or the other.  Note:  At no time during this process did I spot anything that looked suspicious - no obvious broken or damaged O-rings or leaks which means I am not really sure that I fixed anything at all.

I installed a new manual galley pump in the bathroom - a 10-minute job.  Works great now.

I topped up our diesel, with help from Enrique with a pick-up truck and a lot of jerry cans.  Cost of diesel here was about 94 cents Canadian a liter.  The gas station was a short 10-minute drive away.

Sue and I gave the boat a complete wash down outside, finally getting most of the salt residue and dirt off of the decks and fittings - should last until our next passage.  We also took about 150 feet of chain out of the locker and laid it out on the dock so we could give it a good wash, in an attempt to get rid of the smelly muck that we had acquired in Zihuatanejo.  While we had the chain on the dock, I used the opportunity to again touch up our painted marks.

We have made two separate trips into Tapachula to buy provisions.  Each time we took a collectivo van to the store (Chedraui on the first trip and Walmart on the second), then paid a taxi to take us back to the marina with our purchases.  This 30 km trip costs 16 pesos each via the collectivo and 300 pesos for a taxi.  Before putting more stuff in the freezer, I defrosted it - this takes about 10 minutes with the Engel freezer, by just taking everything out and then hauling the unit out into the noonday sun.  Temperatures are running around the mid-30s during the day right now.

Now that we have our own supplies again, Sue is back to creating her wonderful gourmet meals, although we have eaten out at the marina restaurant a couple more times.  It is still not officially open but they make a great club sandwich.  We have had an opportunity to give them some input as to what we think they should have on their menu and how it should be presented.  Overall, we think the restaurant should do well - it is a great location.  The only real problem we saw was that the bugs come out at night.  If there is no wind, as soon as the sun goes down, the no-see-ums come out in force.  You literally cannot see them and they are merciless.  They especially like the ankles.  As usual with such biting insects, I seem to be particularly vulnerable.  I rarely feel them biting and I always get quite a reaction from the bites.  And bites they are too - these are not insects that sting - they actually take a chunk out of you.  Although many people call them no-see-ums, one cruiser we heard call them "flying teeth" which is much closer to the mark.  Oh well, in a few days this too shall pass.

Our current plan is to check out of Mexico tomorrow (requires a trip to the airport to do some paperwork and get our exit stamps from immigration), then leave as early as possible on Tuesday morning.  Apparently we have to wait for an inspection by the Navy before we can leave and I am not sure what time they are available in the mornings.  If all goes well, we will be at, or near, Bahia del Sol in El Salvador by Thursday morning, hopefully in time for the high tide at 9:20AM.  If we miss this high tide, we will most likely have to wait till Friday morning to cross the bar into the lagoon.