From: Ruth Arras [rutharras@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 10:39 AM To: jbarbie11@yahoo.com Subject: Still In Cabo He guys, On Friday we decided we would leave for Mazatlan on saturday which still required getting port exit papers. I had no idea the paperwork was so exhaustive. Plus forget about getting aything done on a Saturday. INstead of getting stamped at the local immigration office we had to go to the airport ( in the local bus to save $50). Fortunately Spot was allowed on board the bus and we spent one hour viewing the resorts on the coast line only to be dropped off 1 mile from the airport. We were barely given our stamp but with a little sweet talk in spanish we were able to return to Cabo and to our boat. We actually didn´t get clearance from the POrt CAptain but we were so exasperated we decided to leave on Satuday afternoon and were exiting the marina (after 2 well deserved showers) at 4:30pm. The sea was easy going until 6pm when the wind picked up and we decided to sail on reef alone. The sun went down and the winds kept picking up. A practical gale later and plowing into waves on the bow and captain Ruth made her second desicion to return to cabo until the seas were more favorable. As it turns out, Mazatlan is now closed to small vessels because of the NW winds and waves. WE are now anchored in the bay near other sailboats. WE´ve met several fellow sailors who are on the same paceless route we are. Since Cabo now costs nothing and since I am buddies with the harbor captains and the meixcan FBI, we think we´´ll stay until the weather dies down. Maybe we´´ll even buddy with another boat (also toting a dog). You´´d never know it was howling out there by the sheltered weather of the marina. We went to a another sailboat for dinner last night and sure enough discovered our boat is actually quite comfortable and roomy. John and I are content to work on the boat, read, meet other sailors and drink beer since our timeline is flexible. Spot and I both took our first accidental plunges while getting on the dinghy. Spot tried getting off the dinghy and onto the boat with 2 paws on each until the dinghy slipped away. John saved him (our 3rd time now). I was just clumsy. We hope you are doing well. Maybe well be here for new years. Regards, Ruth __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/