Hurray the Liebling crew is back in Beautiful Mexico!

Linda and Jim are finally back in Puerto Vallarta after a 2 ½  month visit to the NW.   While there Linda saw numerous doctors to determine what was causing her severe skin rashes that would not heal.  She even went to the University of Washington’s dermatology department.  At the university a panel of doctors saw her with much to do about the lesions that she had.  Biopsies’ and much blood work were done.  Needless to say she felt like she was the test subject for the doctors. Of course at the time all she wanted was to get a diagnosis and treatment and then be done with it.  The final diagnosis was not conclusive but they are sure that she does not have Lupus but does have some of the characteristics of it and a few other things.  She is now taking a drug that is used to help treat rheumatoid arthritis and the thought is that this will help to prevent the lesions from coming back.  We will see. She says she is feeling great and we are both looking forward to this next season of cruising. 

We have been back on the boat for one week and are anxious to leave the Marina.  The marina at Paradise Village in PV was great to leave the boat during hurricane season but we are anxious to get out on the hook (anchored) where it is cooler due to the winds off shore.  Just getting everything on the boat back to together is a several day chore unto itself.  We had to put the headsail back up, re-rig some of the lines and halyards, inflate the dingy, un-pickle the watermaker, change the fuel and oil filters on the engine and generator, re-assembly the main boat computer and monitors, take the kayak and other stuff out of storage, take food out of sealed plastic water and bug proofed containers, and restock the boat with other food that we had given away and a lot of other stuff.

After we leave the marina we will anchor out from LaCruz (about 10 miles north of PV) for a few days to visit friends and to install our new solar panel controller that we brought back from the states.  The old controller was over charging the batteries.  After that we will head southeast about 150 nautical miles (173 land miles) to Barra de Navidad where we will stay until about New Years.  After that we will head another 200 nautical miles southeast to Zihuatanejo and then possibly another 350 nautical miles southeast to Huatulco at the southern end of Mexico and then another who knows how many miles south east to Panama or not.  We have until about the end of April to make the Panama decision.   If not Panama will turn around and head north towards Puerto Vallarta or San Diego.

Hopefully we will stay healthy and the next blog entry will not take as long as this one.

Thinking of you all and we miss you.