It has been just about a year ago that I was very busy getting Jesse's Girl ready for the Baja HaHa. We had to close out the storage unit in Alameda CA. Move some junk from the storage unit to Missoula MT. Drive back to San Diego twice. Once with frozen New Mexico green chili's. Install a watermaker. Install dinghy davits. Install 4 X 135 solar panels. Remove the 3X 8-D batteries from under the galley. Move and install 8 AGM batteries to give us 1200 amp hours under the aft berth. Install a series 31 starting battery.I went around Jesse's Girl checking everything above the waterline. I check this and tighten that from Bow to Stern. I visited West Marine, and Downwind Marine almost daily the purchase extras of screws, bolts, 60# Manson Supreme anchor and anchor chain and rode. Extra water pump and macerator pump. Extra hoses and clamps. The list goes on and on, but this will give you an idea of the planning that we put in for our trip.We drove to Alameda in time to do the gate 11 swap meet. Sold lots of stuff at bargan prices. Took clothes to goodwill. Loaded the pickup with everything not sold or given away and drove to Missoula MT. Drove to Salt Lake City spent the night, even though I could have used the extra day to get the boat ready. Drove from Salt Lake to San Diego and restarted preparing the boat.I would show pictures if I had them, but all photo's went to Montana.
Our crew and good friends Michael and Judy and I were talking every few days as we were in the count down. Judy and I voted for Michael to make "The famous Green Chili" I asked for about 3 gallons so a to have extra. Also Shepard's Pie as I thought that hot meals every day would make for a happy crew As usual Michael made meals fit for Captain and Crew.
Nerves were frayed at each passing day. The excitment also built at each passing day.
I write this because I have a number of friends facing the same frayed nerves and excitement that are signed up for the 2010 Baja HaHa. Most are currently on the water sailing down to San Diego. A few are currently at Catalina Island. Others are spread out between Catalina Island and Long Beach. I expect the first boat to start showing up any day.
Looking back over the last year. My trip was made up of very high, highs and very low, lows. We made new and lasting friends at every anchorage. The beauty of Mexico, land, water and people is a memory that I still vist in my mind.The memory of each high and each low will stay with me forever. Both the good days and the bad are still just a part of life.
That is a year of "That's my window on the World"
