Category Archives: General

So as of December 4th here is whats happened. We didn’t get Stray Catz back in the water on the last trip like we thought we would before we had to make another trip back to the USA. It wasn’t until 10/30 that we made it back to Guaymas for final prep work and launch. On November 9th Stray Catz was loaded up on a trailer (the same one that pulled her out of the water) and lined up with the boat ramp for an early morning launch. Early morning turned into early afternoon, but she got launched. Then came the task of working out all the bugs.

And we still need a dinghy.

After fixing some things that were necessary to motor off, we headed across the bay to anchor in front of the marina that we had first stayed at when we arrived in Guaymas back in 2015. This is the place that 5 or 6 boats had sunk in the hurricane. It is unfortunate that happened, however with a few missing dock fingers, it made it possible for Stray Catz to pull along side and take on water and handle a few other things.

We met up with a young couple who were in the process of buying a boat to go cruising. We hit it off and have been spending a lot of time together. Both are SCUBA instructors with a ton of experience but limited experience with sailing/cruising. Needless to say there is a lot of brain picking both ways. Dee Dee is fluent in Spanish and has been a great help in hunting down parts for Stray Catz.

The plan is to ready S C for the sea and head out to go explore the Baja side of Mexico. We are hoping to be under way in a couple of weeks.

Feliz Navidad to all our friends family and followers.

The other day we had been working on the boat all day without the chance to get off the boat. So about 4pm we took a trip to a nearby shore and let Diva get some exercise. It was a low tide so there was lots of beach. Upon reaching shore Diva right away was running up and down the beach. Nearby there was a Great Blue Heron catching fish in the shallow water. These are very large and beautiful birds. They stand about 4 feet tall, long legs and have blueish gray feathers. Darker feathers on the crown of their heads and sometimes white and a dark blue-gray feathers on their wings. As Diva neared not paying any attention to the beautiful bird, the heron started to growl in a way only a heron can. For those who have never heard it, their squawk is very distinctive. A low gravelly rumble that sounds like it could be some land animal threatening an approaching foe. Since the growling wasn’t working the heron flew off. We continued our stroll down the beach.

About 10 minutes later we happened across this same heron again in it’s new location. Diva having a good time investigating the entire beach, wandered too close to the bird and again more squawking and growling to voice its displeasure before relenting and flying off. And we continued our stroll.

After an hour of walking we eventually made it back to our dinghy and wouldn’t you know it, the same heron was feeding near it’s original location. Of course you guessed it, Diva ended up causing it to fly off, squawking and growling madder now than ever. Probably wondering if he was ever going to get rid of the annoying people who kept disturbing all of his favorite feeding spots. It may also have been planning a way to get back at us.

Done with our walk we loaded up in the dinghy and headed back to Stray Catz at anchor. On the way out of the small river we had parked in, we passed a small sand bar where that same heron was standing on the far side giving us a very evil eye and watching us the entire way. Who knows for sure what was going through this bird’s mind. All I know is what happened later.

After returning to Stray Catz we were back to doing some of the little stuff that is always needing done on her. As I was standing in the salon door looking outside, the beautiful Great Blue Heron flew up and semi landed on the top of the sugar scoop. He saw me and I saw him. He sort of stood there for a few seconds voicing a few words before flying off. I thought at the time it was rather lucky encounter to be so close to this very large bird. In hind sight, I believe he just flew over to verify which boat we had returned to.

The next day we had business in town and we were off Stray Catz most of the day. When we returned in the afternoon we were greeted with a gift from the Great Blue Heron. One thing is for certain about very large birds. They have very large waste piles. And sure enough this bird must have seen us leave in the morning and spent the rest of the day relieving itself on our boat. Needless to say there was a mess to clean up. But I don’t think he was finished.

Later that evening we visited some friends on another boat. Upon exiting from the inside of their boat to return to the dinghy, there was that same heron perched on our dinghy. I am not sure what he was planning, but luckily we thwarted his plans. Our friends are now nervous because we’ve been spotted on their boat.

It’s been a few days now and we’ve had no more visits from Big Blue (my name for him). I can only hope he feels vindicated for all of our disturbances. I love all the wildlife we are blessed to see while out here, and I wouldn’t normally believe in wildlife conspiracy theories. However in this particular instance, it seemed pretty clear to me this bird had an agenda. We had disturbed his dinner. Similar to an obnoxious telemarketer, and he held a grudge. I have no hard feelings toward Big Blue. In fact I would love the opportunity to see him again. I just hope our next visit is on better terms.

P.S. No animals were harmed in the telling of this tale.

After a very long break from the water and losing half my crew, Anna and I made it back down to Guaymas, MX and started preparing for a re-launch. Little did we know that about the same time a disturbance forming a 1000 miles away was going to turn into a hurricane and head for the same spot. I’ve done a lot of traveling in my life and have seen many storms . But I will be the first to admit that I have been blessed to miss any major storms.

We booked a room on Airbnb knowing it would be hot and uncomfortable staying on Stray Catz, but what we didn’t know was how much safer it would be.   It had been raining all day and the wind was blowing, but nothing serious. Watching the news it looked like Newton was going to turn north and spare us, but I think it turned north and slapped Guaymas pretty hard.

At about 9 pm we lost power, so all we could do was sit in the dark and listen to the howling wind and vibrating roof. Of course a prayer was said. As we bedded down, I was prepared to wake up to the roof being ripped off the top of the house. We are in a decent house, but I’m not sure the codes are as strict here as they are in the USA. Every time I started to doze off a new round of clatter woke me up. Needless to say it was a long night.

When the sun finally  rose in the morning we were all able to see the mayhem right here in the yard. Even though the two houses fared quite well here the flora did not do so well. Six trees here all either tumbled or snapped.  Oranges, branches, flowers and yard debris everywhere.

A tree in front and one right behind our car toppled. Luckily a direction that kept the car safe.  Other places in town did not do so well. Power was out. A whole section of road about a mile long where every power pole had either  uprooted or actually snapped in half.  There were multiple house roofs laying in tangled messes here and there. Some entire homes destroyed. Remember the building codes.  We had to clear out trees before we could get our car out, but luckily our host offered her vehicle which was not trapped so we could go check on Stray Catz.

What a relief it was to see her right where we left her the day before and without any signs of damage. Other boats in the yard did not fare so well.

It wasn’t for a few days that I even thought about the boats in the water at the marina across the bay. You may recall, Stray Catz spent a month over there when we first got to town and before we could have her hauled out of the water.  Wow! how terrifying to see the boats there that had sunk. Some were trapped under the docks so they can’t be easily re-floated.  Those that didn’t sink suffered damage from the others that had come loose.    Needless to say, there are going to be some very sad boat owners when they come down to find what is left of their boats.

The amazing part is Newton was not even a hurricane when it made landfall here. According to the National Hurricane Center the maximum recorded gust in Guaymas was only 64 mph. I’m saying “only” because it’s not officially hurricane force. I don’t believe you’ll find anybody here in Guaymas who will say Newton was anything less than a hurricane.

These are amazing people here though. After just a few days, other than some traffic lights still being out, life has pretty much returned to normal. Even our favorite roadside diner has opened back up after having its roof ripped off.

Anna and I will be returning to the states shortly having done about all we can do for Stray Catz. Our re-launch was delayed for a couple of months to take care of some more business back north, but having spent this time on Stray Catz sure has made me miss her even more. And that’s working on her in 100 degree heat.