As usual more eating and drinking on "C" dock and I do believe it was around Thanksgiving time. We wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving and wish we could all be together again. Today we are going to have a practice for tomorrow with some fried oysters and shrimp to make some New Orleans Po-boys and of course some bignets for desert. Tomorrow we will be at Mac and Consuelo's house for the big day and of course will take pictures.

Sucking Tail

You want old pics?
Pre-Mexico pics?
Jim and Ray sucking poor innocent crawfish's lives right out of their poor innocent crawfish bodies pics?
Ok.How about sweet little nephew (who is now almost 20 years old) and sweet little dog (who is in dog heaven eating snausages) pics?
Got those too.Ok, I feel better now.

It's been awhile since anyone posted so I thought it's time for another goodie. Just another rainy cold night in Ventura but nothing a little fire and a few glasses of wine can't cure!!

Kirby and Lee Heading South

I wasn't there for this picture so I hope that Kirby will fill in what was going on, when it was, who took the picture, etc. Kirby - tell us all!

Happy days aboard Thistle

As always, remembering the good times at "C" dock

The unknown guy is Tony and his girlfriend Nancy. They were boat guests of another couple and were delightful folks. Tony was real handy around the galley and helped Lucy with all the prep and cooking for the feast that day. Of course he took a real shine to Fritz and vice versa.

Thanksgiving Day 1995

We had such a great time that day with our friends at Tenacatita. One of the most beautiful anchorages in Mexico.

Lena

This was the last day on Lena. Kirby was getting the jib hanked on for her trip south. Believe it or not, she is still in Acapulco and in good shape. We have an open invitation to come visit and sail her anytime.
(By the way - I have not seen those good look'n legs in a long time!)

Barra Breakfast Club

Ok, name those people!Name their boats!
Name what they had for breakfast!

Mystery Picture No. 2

This picture was taken at Punta de Mita before it was developed. We took a bus out and enjoyed a day at the beach under the palapas. How things change.

This picture was taken in August of 1993. Where is it?
Vote on the right.
Where are all the votes??? Is this too hard for my Mexican Cruising Buddies? Let's see - a hint....OK, we have ALL anchored here at one time or another or maybe many times. Does that help?

Mystery Picture Revealed

We had one vote for Yelapa, one for Piedra Blanca and 2 for Chamela.

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS.....PIEDRA BLANCA ..... in Banderas Bay. This is where Kirby and I met but the picture was taken back in 1993. It is where I spent my first Christmas in Mexico (1992) right there at the palapa with the owners and their family. It is one of my best memories.

So, if you guessed Piedra Blanca - you won!

Us

Can someone tell me where we are in the picture? I am thinking Famar's in Bucerias. Loved that place. Great burgers!

Tenacatitia Jose

I wonder what has ever happened to Jose at Tenacatita. Here he is pictured with one of his 23 grandchildren. He was a really good grandpa - loved each one of them so much. His was not the cleanest or the nicest palapa on the beach but it was in the corner where we landed our dinghies (from the outer anchorage) and he had the best Mescal in the world! And he was always entertaining!

I hope others will add their memories of Jose!

Banderas Bay Regatta - 1997

The year was 1997. The place, Bahia de Banderas. Kirby and I had had just met in January and I was back down to Mexico in the spring for the regatta. Kirby's boat (Lena) was in Barra de Navidad and he had taken the bus up to PV for the event. We were staying in Nuevo with Jim and Jan "Picante". When I planned the trip I didn't know that I would be racing in the the regatta. And I sure didn't know that we would win! Kirby and I were invited to crew aboard "Starsong" with Steve who sailed his Morgan 41 to the championship with a crew of Kirby, Curly, myself and Galtitta - or Titters - the cat. My job was to stand in the companionway and hand up beers as needed. I loved hearing Steve bark out orders as we raced around the course. He was fantastic!

It was a great day and then that night we all went to the awards ceremony and Steve received his trophy. So many years ago and still such a wonderful memory. Congratulations on a great win, Steve!

Tenecatita Coco Loco - Chino, the Grand Champion

This is for Natalie, Chino's daughter.

Christmas Dinner 1998

I think this was Christmas 1998 in Nuevo Vallarta. Lee was down visiting from California. We did the turkey on Lena and took it to Pepinarae for our celebration dinner. While we were sitting in the cockpit having our meal, another "cruiser?" came by to tell us about some "bad guys" on the loose and hand out a flyer. She stayed and stayed and stayed and made us so mad! That pretty much ruined our dinner. But, we had each other and were happy!

Happy New Year's Eve!

In looking back at "Thistle's" New Year's Eves while cruising...
December 31, 1998 was spent at the Southern anchorage of Bahia Santiago.
According to the "stick figure book" we spent New Year's Eve doing the following:
Motored in to Manzanillo for diesel - smooth fueling.
John Francis was our boat bouy!
Back to Santiago - pillow blocks causing us problems.
Bus into "Commercihell" - 8 million people in the grocery store... Taxi back (this I believe was when the back seat of the taxi was wet and we asked the driver if some kid peed back there, but he said no, it was some people in wet bathingsuits)...
Meridian wine and BLT's were great!
100's of fireworks and firecrackers at midnight! YIKES!


"Libre", "Thistle" and "Pepina Rae" at anchor in Santiago.


Sunset in Santiago...

Ixcuintle Dogs ~ Just as Bad as the Cats

We weren't there for the shaved cat, but we did get to see a Mexican Ixcuintle hairless dog on a camping road trip with "Princess New York" and "Alana Marie" back in March of 1999.



The road trip is a whole other story...
Imagine camping with Ian, Anne, Carol and Curly.
Just imagine.

To Make Kirby Turn Purple

I found this picture in our collection. Not sure who these young "hottie"s" are or even where and when the picture was taken. I would welcome any information anyone can provide.