RV Show

Since Chris & I spend half of each year living in our “little” (27’) travel trailer we have begun to get interested in what else is out there. Not that we are in any big hurry to find new living quarters because we are quite happy with the “house” we have. As a matter of fact, just thinking about having to move everything from one place to another yet again gives me the willies. Twice a year is quite enough to suit me. We have, however, discovered some “issues” that we might find solutions for by looking at other rigs.

Yesterday Chris & I attended an RV show where we were able to look at lots of new and used travel trailers, 5th wheels and RV's. To say the least, it was pretty interesting. Most of them had pretty similar layouts but every so often we’d go into one that really stood out with some different innovations.

Chris would love to have an RV, and truth be told, I wouldn’t mind either but they are terribly expensive. Also, they seem to be pretty much all flash. Most of them have a ton of wasted space (big open spaces) in the living area but, by comparison, the bedrooms are somewhat cramped (I wonder if any of the, clearly men, designers have tried to make a bed while IN it) and the kitchens either have very little counter area or it is an un-usable design. One thing I found a bit disconcerting is that many of the big RV’s have the bathroom in the middle of the rig which means that it is pretty much in the kitchen. Ewww. In addition, they all seem to have two (sometimes three) built in televisions. Who in the world needs that many TV’s in a space of 35’? Of course, we have never had a TV in the bedroom and have no desire for that particular feature. We can find lots of other more fun things to do in that room.

I must admit there was one RV that really caught my eye. It wasn’t a brand new one…I believe it was a 2008 model…but it was very nicely laid out, the color scheme was pretty (instead of boring or garish) and it had some unique extras (think built in washer/dryer) that made it stand out.

Chris, being the guy that he is, was checking out all the outside storage as well as the whiz bangs and do dads on the “Starship Enterprise” like dashboard. His eyes lit right up with the backup cameras that they all have. :-) I’m sure that would be helpful but Chris can back up the travel trailer into impossible places with just me as his “backup camera” so I don’t see the need. Especially since an RV doesn’t turn in the middle. My favorite dashboard extra was the pull-out desk for the passenger (me). How convenient is that?

The gas powered RV’s are less than half the price of the diesels but that was no surprise. They get less mileage and the engines are much more complicated (thus…more things to break) so even though the price per gallon for diesel is higher, the diesels would be a better long-term choice.

RV’s are no different than any other high end purchase. The initial price is only the beginning. The diesels are built like semi trucks and one look at the tires made us shudder. Replacing those babies (and they don’t last forever) could easily involve taking out a loan on your life insurance. In addition, if the vehicle needs any sort of mechanical repair done and it is your primary residence you could end up spending several nights parked behind a shop somewhere.

Still, there was ONE diesel that we thought we could probably live quite comfortably in. The living area was very well thought out, it had a full sized, four door side-by-side refrigerator and there was even a garage in the back for the Smart Car so it wouldn't have to be towed. We'll take a hard look at that one when we win that lottery! In the meantime, if we do decide to upgrade someday we’ll probably go to a 5th wheel. They have much more user friendly layouts and some even have big picture windows in the back and fireplaces.

After our day of tromping through dozens of over the road houses I must admit to being a bit confused about one new trend. Since I live on a boat for half the year I am very cognizant of what happens to “stuff” when the house is moving. It seems that the new models of motorhomes now often come with a table and four chairs instead of the built in booth type dinette. Now where, exactly, do you think those chairs would end up after a few hours of rattling down I-5 in northern California???

Another cruising season at an end...sigh...

Seals pretending to be sharks.

The last leg of this season was a little melancholy for yours truly. We stayed in Puerto Escondido for a week after the end of Loreto Fest so the majority of the boats would be gone (and the weather calmer) in hopes of finding the anchorages to the north a bit less crowded. As we scooted up to Isla Coronados we were blessed (?) with flat seas and no wind so no sailing happened. The Log (and Chris) insisted that we had stayed there last year but neither Patty nor I could recall the anchorage. As soon as we began closing on the stunningly colored water and the long, sandy beach it all came back to us. Last year we’d only spent one night here and never left the boat…hence the memory lapse.

Pretty water at Isla Coronados

This time we took the dinghy to shore for a bit of exploration. Patty & I wandered the beach looking for shells but the only ones we found were fossils that were imbedded in rock. Chris did a little fishing but was only able to catch the occasional Puffer Fish which always presents a bit of a prickly problem when returning it to the sea.

Chris catchin' Puffer Fish

Still, he seems to enjoy the fishing almost more than the catching. Poor Abby was relegated to guard duty on the boat. All the islands in the Sea of Cortez are protected national park and dogs are not allowed on the land.

Abby "on watch"

Next morning we were up early and off to San Juanico…a breathtaking anchorage where I could happily spend weeks just hanging out. It is about a 4 hour sail…and sail we did! For once we had a nice breeze from a useable direction and we averaged 6-7 knots most of the trip.

Sails up! It doesn't get better than this!

I wish there had been another boat around to take a picture of us with both sails up but, as is normal, the only time you have an audience is when things go bad (think docking). Arriving in San Juanico we found that there were quite a few boats already there but we had no trouble finding a suitable spot to “park” in 20’ of gorgeous clear water.

Beautiful San Juanico

It was especially nice to see quite a few old and new friends in residence. Since this is on the Baja and not one of the islands, Abby got to go ashore to do some quality running, sniffing, digging and crab chasing. Chris & I made a foray to the Cruiser’s Shrine to up-date our contribution.

"Faith's" Cruiser's Shrine contribution

This is a bush on the beach that is covered with odd mementos from the many cruisers who have been here. Wine bottles with notes, flags of all sorts, hand painted shells and driftwood, and, my favorite, a single black shoe with no ID hung with fishing line grace the tree and the surrounding beach. It is somewhat reminiscent of a Christmas tree only much more fun.

The Cruiser's Shrine

Another windy front was expected from the north so most everyone stayed a couple days longer than planned but that is what cruising is about. No schedules. No timelines. No deadlines. People just used the extra time to do some hiking, read a good book or share a meal with another boat. One morning a radio announcement was made that there would be a potluck and bonfire on the beach that evening. Everyone attended and, even though most of us were low on food (using it up before we go home) there was plenty to eat and all of it was tasty.

Too soon, it was time to leave for a night in Santo Domingo, and then to Chivato and our last passage. What a nice surprise to arrive in Chivato and discover we were the only boat there…at least for a few hours. Our friends on Nautilas arrived in the afternoon and that evening the 5 of us had dinner at a restaurant we had discovered the year before. Chivato’s beach is a shell lover’s paradise and while we were waiting for Nautilas, Patty & I searched for something unique and unbroken while Chris took Abby for a run.

All alone at Punta Chivato

All of us had planned a 4am departure for the crossing but when Chris & I got up to raise anchor Nautilas was already on their way through the pass. OK…here’s the “rule”: Whenever any two sailboats are going in the same direction it is a race. Dang! They got the jump on us!

The day began with flat seas and no wind so we employed the iron Genny (Genoa: the sail that is on the front of the boat) to get us going. Chris was generous enough to take the first watch so I could get a couple more hours sleep and by the time I was up again he already had the fishing lines out. After the sun came up a bit of wind and some swell began to build in from the northwest. Up went some sail and we trucked along at 6-7 knots. We could see Nautilas had gone farther south and Chris thought they were making a tactical error that would allow us to catch or pass them. The weather came ‘round more northerly and the wind and seas built to the point where your safety-conscious Capitana required all on deck to don their life vest and tethers. It turned into a bit of a rolly ride with waves slapping the port side of the boat and causing things below to fly out of their normal cubby holes but it was a beautiful day and a fast ride. We caught 5 Dorado (Mahi Mahi) on the way but only kept three. One was too small and we lost one because it was too rough to go aft to pull it in, but the ones we kept were deee-licious!

As we closed in on the mainland we could see that Nautilas was way south and would have to beat back north to get into the anchorage so we thought we had a shot at getting there first. Alas…they are a faster boat and beat us by about 30 minutes. All having decided we had to have one more night at anchor Bahia Algodones (aka Catch 22 Beach) was our destination. The original “plan” was to dinghy to the beach for cerveza and dinner at the Soggy Peso but everyone was dog tired so we just BBQ’d on the boats and were rewarded with a beautiful sunset, full moon and calm night for sleeping. First thing the next morning…before the wind came up…we hustled around the corner and into our slip at Marina San Carlos where we would get the boat ready for another summer out of the water. Ken and Linde, from “Rosebud”, were waiting to catch docklines, Jeff & Janey on “Adagio” were already in the workyard and “Nautilas” came in right behind us so the whole gang was in town. It always takes the edge off all that hard work when friends are nearby to share the moans & groans, a cold beer at the end of the day or a dinner filled with laughs and sea stories.

It was the end of another wonderful winter in Mexico. We are happy/sad.