Sailing Encore

Looking back on my posts for this adventure and reading my journals of my other adventures, I definitely see a trend where it took me a month or so to get comfortable living and traveling on the boat. I am finally more relaxed and enjoying the days without worrying so much. And even though Vernon told me to ‘Let it Go’, I reached out to all my old teams at Hoag. They all agreed with Vernon and said just enjoy and relax (or start drinking more). They are all fine. I call and talk with my mom and dad every few days. They are carrying on and enjoy reading about this adventure from a far. I am able to talk with my daughter- we have resumed our chats as she drives home from ER night shift. And my dog is happy and loved by her and her husband.  And I Facetime with my son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters regularly back in New York. And all that is such a joy.

We have been in Paradise Village Marina on Banderas Bay by Puerto Vallarta now for almost 4 weeks. We have visited the city and towns and sailed the Bay and have wanted to move on for over two weeks, BUT circumstances have prevented it- I will explain at the bottom of post. Before we leave I wanted to share some pictures of our time that were not included in my recent posts. They help show you how we spent our days in the marina.

In the early morning, before the sun has heated up the sky, we enjoy long walks on the beach.

We walk the marina and pick out our next boat.

And there are always plenty of boat projects or cleaning and re-cleaning.

We explore different markets for food and Mexican crafts. I have found most everything I looked for except ground Ginger (Jengibre especias). And I have yet to find a temperature gauge for my oven.

I did manage to measure the temp with the thermometer that wasn’t working from the outside in its position-I took it out and put it inside but for a little too long (yes it melted, duh). But it worked just long enough for me to figure out the correct setting and I made Snickerdoodles without burning them.

When the California storm finally made its way this far south we had a night of constant rain but mostly we saw color and rainbows.

In the evenings we sit and enjoy the views from our cockpit, listening to the birds in the mangrove trees and watching the local fishermen use their nets to catch bait. The Pelicans watch too and swoop in for whatever they can. And the other night we had a guest drop in.

And remember our search for crocodiles in the back water salty marshes? We have seen signs everywhere warning us not to feed the crocodiles or PELIGRO- crocodile zone, but we never saw them. We read about them and asked the locals what to look for and were told that they are 3-4 feet at most. Then the other day when we were walking just at the edge of Puerto Vallarta city we crossed a bridge over a river and on the bank about 14 feet below was this: A big crocodile about 12 feet long laying in the sun.

I decided the only crocodile I want to experience is the pool slide croc.

And I do:

So- why are we still here when we have been ready to go for a week?

Turns out I did have more than the flu. The fevers started reoccurring a few days after our San Sebastian visit. I continued, periodically, to have aches and painful muscles and joints, eye pain and headaches and even a rash. I drank lots of fluids for the 103-104 shiver fever episodes. Sometimes twice daily. I kept thinking I was ‘getting over it’ superwoman style.  Vernon finally gave me the choice- either I walked on my own into the local ED or he was bodily putting me on a plane back to California. We went to the ED (where my chief complaint was fever times 12 days and no one ever checked my temperature) After an exam, blood work and a small bill (compared to US standards) I was diagnosed with Dengue Fever. From a mosquito bite. My symptoms had been ongoing for 13 days. My platelets were low and on retesting the next day, dropped further. Vernon has read every article online about the disease- my eyes hurts and I can barely watch T.V. but I, too, am finally worried and agree that we should return to the U.S. for care. (Don’t even want to discuss worst case scenario).We flew home to Southern California Monday and went straight to Hoag ED. Were I was put in a room decorated with a picture of Cabo San Lucas- LOL.

They too confirmed diagnosis. I saw my primary care physician yesterday and will continue with testing to watch platelets and liver enzymes. And move through the stages hopefully with minimal side effects. Staying with my daughter and getting plenty of rest. Going to hang here till I am better. 🙂