Daze of our Lives (in a boatyard!)

Our days pass quickly:  boat projects, talking to cruisers, walking to the mercado for vegetables, enjoying the view of the hills at sunset.   We have been challenged by a very wonky internet and so my desire to keep the blog current has been hampered by technical difficulties.  But here are the highlights of our week.

I have a brand new galley -- and it features 1 large rectangular stainless sink instead of 3 smaller and rounder sinks.  With that change Alan also installed new laminate counter tops and back splash.   The sink connection was a bit of a challenge for the handyman -- 4 trips to local shops for bits and parts.  But when the drain fitting was tightened -- we were back in the cooking business.  What do you think of this new look?

And we have our boat name finally applied!  MAGIC it is!

Captain Ron (the previous owner of Shea La Vie) arrived on Wednesday.  He will be with us for several weeks with the final preparations for going in the water and helping us on our maiden cruise to La Paz.  Ron was also to bring 2 packages of engine bits -- but alas, due to the crappy weather all across the US this week, only 1 package arrived.  So our splash will be a bit delayed.  We have sorted with another cruiser (Dick) who is going to Tucson for materials for his boat to join forces.  So Alan and Dick will do a marathon drive up and back to Tucson.  This trip may be the end of next week or early the following week.

The scary moment of the week occurred yesterday late in the afternoon.   We were down below taking a break and there was a loud BOOM and we could feel the compression of an explosion.  I am a bit hyper about the noises on the boat still so I quick ran to the cockpit and looked to my left -- at the fuel dock about 100 yards away -- a small runabout was in flames!!  FIRE on a boat is a very scary and dangerous situation.  The yard employees tried to douse the flames with extinguishers but they were no match for the highly flammable gasoline and fiberglass on the boat.  Soon the whole boat was engulfed.   After just a few minutes the boat was cut loose from the docks and with a favorable off shore breeze drifted out into the bay.  Within minutes there was a marine fire boat (Navy) as well as land based fire trucks (they bring the water in huge heavy trucks) and ambulance.  It took only 20 minutes for the boat to burn to the water line and sank.  Apparently several people suffered minor burns and concussion.  It spooked us; this is the second boat fire we are aware of this season, the other being a large catamaran  in Turtle Bay that exploded and burned within an hour.

What is next for us?  We hope that the deck and hull work is finished this weekend; we hope the engine work is mostly done (except for a few wayward gauges) by midweek; we hope to get the boat rigged soon; we hope to be in the water at the docks; we hope the trip to Tucson goes well.  Lots of hoping at this end.   And then we will be looking at weather windows to head south!!