Sailing Encore

Saturday May 6th, the day we loaded the boat onto the freighter in Manzanillo, was so long and hot. We motored out of our slip at Las Hadas at 7am and crossed the bay to the industrial port. We queued up behind the other 3 boats that were loading on to the freighter HLL ELBE for transport. But then the progress stopped as we were told we needed to wait till after 10 am for Mexican customs to board. We motored in place for 4 plus hours and finally it was our turn to be inspected.

We were boarded by 4 army personnel in fatigues with rifles. And a young German Shepard dog. Once they determined we had no hidden drugs or humans on board, we were allowed to motor to the ship and queue up again for lift. There we waited and waited while they lifted and secured the other boats.

It was a roasting 99 + degrees in the sun and we had some water and a couple PB &J sandwiches as we waited out the day.

Finally at 7 pm (Yes we waited all f*ing day long -I was sweating on top of my sweat) they lowered the sling straps for our lift. They had issues with where to place the straps and may have lifted briefly with pressure on our prop (gotta hope not) but after a lot of yelling back and forth with diver in the water and Load Master coming down from the ship to our boat, we were lifted.

They lifted us slowly- stopping briefly to allow Vernon and me to climb off. There we stood and watched her rise in the air.

Once on board, Encore was braced to secure it for the 3000 mile trip south, through the Panama Canal and East to Florida. There were over ten boats on board including a Swan from Alamitos Bay, Long Beach.

With the boat secured, we climbed off the freighter onto the dock as the sunset and drove to a hotel. What a day.

The next morning we boarded a taxi, took one last drive through Manzinillo to the airport. It was Sunday morning and the city was clean and cool and very quiet as we drove. It was a bittersweet drive. Mexico has been an adventure filled with wonderful people and some beautiful scenery and wild life. The spectacular whales, mantra rays, and, of course, my seal swimming experience, to name just a few. And some bad experiences too- I hope to never get as sick as I was in Puerto Vallarta with Dengue Fever or have to sail through the long cold dark nights of the Baja passage.

We have spent the last 10 days visiting with family in So Cal and flying up to do our second favorite thing -wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma. We had some wonderful bubbles on Mother’s Day at Mumm’s. Then again on the deck at Domaine Chandon and again in the Caves at Schramsberg. Life is better with bubbles…

And we enjoyed Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and big Cabs across the valley. Patz & Hall, Alpha Omega, B cellars to name a few.

We also visited Raymond and I think Nurse P needs to consider a job there- they have good reds and are into the animal prints and the uniforms looked fun.

We had picnics (my favorite meal) with fresh bread, Humbolt Fog cheese, fruit, olives, and nuts. And fresh oatmeal cookies or brownies for dessert. And of course, a nice cool Chardonnay or Pinot.

Then after a nap, we would head out for some enjoyable rich food and a little more wine. Just a little more.

These last few days cost more than all four months of fresh fish tacos and cold cerveza in Mexico.

With amazing US internet connections, via a website, we have been watching the ELBE travel East and it is scheduled to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale late today, so we have flown out to meet it.

Encore is scheduled to unload on Friday and we will go in a marina to clean, load and re-provision and then start the next part of our adventure!