New Years Party

The New Years party this year was less than what I expected. For start, I had a split-head headache and a fever. Mom sent me to sleep when the kids arrived. I spent the duration of my nap listening to the sound of laughter and the splashing of water. I decided the heck with it and jumped in to the water. Effectively, my headache disappeared when I hit the water. I spent the next hour being knocked off our blow-up island and swimming with the other kids. The water was cold then moderately cool. 

We tried to knock each other off the island which resulted in lots of yelling. The island was so slippery. You could just slide off it at any time. It became a mighty feat to stay on for more than a minute. After swimming, the grown-ups shoved us in the salon with a movie and resumed talking. We watched Monsters Inc and Holes. Anyway, the younger kids went home after the movies. The party was supposed to go on to 12:00 o'clock, but I conked out at 10:00. No fireworks for me. The reason I conked out was because of my demon from hell of a headache which chose that moment to appear again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mera Conger

s/v Don Quixote

The Rolling Waves

I went outside the boat with no other intention than to enjoy the scenery. We were sailing from Marina de La Paz to the islands for the weekend. The waves were deep blue and steeper than I expected. My sisters came out and then Jaime got a brilliant idea. At the bows of our boat, a metal bar about a foot and a half wide runs the length of the boat. There was another much thinner, rope-looking bar above it that slanted like an upside down V. We sat on the bar, jack-lined as we were to the boat. Holding on to the above bar, we tried to soak our feet in the water. As we went farther out, the waves got steeper. Sometimes, our entire legs up to the knees went under water. It got so we were counting the times our feet touched the water. "Ten! I got ten! No, wait, eeeleven!

What do you mean you got twelve? Hold a moment, thirrrrr....... teen!" We got bored when we hit a hundred so we switched to singing as many camp songs as we could remember. By this time, I was soaked up to my thighs. The waves were steep enough so Jaime hurt her bum bouncing up and down. She was the first to leave the water ride. Then Aeron, she was soaked everywhere, said she was freezing. I, me, the wuss in the family, prevailed. Naturally, I fell asleep afterwards. One day, I'm gonna do that again. 

Mera Conger

s/v Don Quixote

In La Paz

When I stepped on the dock to La Paz, my thoughts were all focused on what I'd do. Armed with my purse and laundry, I caught glimpses of restaurants, people, bathrooms, then the laundry.

The laundry required tokens which you can get at the  Dock restaurant. There are a lot of times I wish that I could speak Spanish. This is one of them.

The next week was a whirl of chores, parties, and people. The most memorable was the party at Victory Cat. Earlier, I volunteered to help Victory Cat. I did dishes, looked for ingredients, vacuumed the floor, brought up appetizers, set table, and helped to lift up her door. Ruth, first mate on Victory Cat and the only one on the boat till her husband got back, made a heavenly meat mixture.

Since the grownups talked about boring stuff. We watched the movies, Shrek 1 and Atlantis.

More updates on In La Paz coming soon.      

Mera Conger

s/v Don Quixote

The Crew, Clean, Chop Sickness

There is nothing worse than being on a catamaran in close-together chop. Every time you go on a wave, your boat and stomach pitch and roll. When you also have a cranky mother who is making noise about school work, it's nothing short of a nightmare. I'm sitting on a seat in front of our computer in said chop having second thoughts about my tuna sandwich. It's a sunny day with a beautiful, cooperative, breeze. And I want to barf. 

The only remedy to Chop Sickness is sleep. Instantly, the rolling, bucking, ship becomes the most vigorous cradle you've ever been in. Of course, if you are a light sleeper, you may need to employ the help of Melatonin to knock you out. Sadly, I can't go to sleep because I have to do............... School work. 

Being crew is a step up from swab, which is a step up from passenger. But, when you're crew, you have to do all these tiresome things called work. When I became Crew, I was doing watch with mom. The wind was good so we decided to put up the spinnaker. This would be the first time both of us would try to raise the spinnaker without Dad. Naturally, things didn't go as well as we hoped but it was alright. Mom proclaimed me crew as soon as it was up. I didn't feel like crew. My nose was running, and I was tired enough to consider sleeping on the trampoline. 

Unlike what some magazines might suggest, cruising isn't all fun and roses. I figured this out when I saw the pile of dishes I had to dry. Coming back to that general topic, having a clean boat is important. It's essential for my mother's happiness which is essential to our happiness. So remember kids, whenever you think the Goddess of the kitchen is being unfair, remember who keeps your belly round.

Mera Conger

s/v Don Quixote

Baja bored swimming

It is amazing what you can think and do when you are hot and bored. The boat was going very slow, I was very hot, and very bored. So were my sisters. We decided to do something about cooling off.

Swimming was always the first answer. But, since we were moving, we couldn't  swim. Unless ............................... We put on lifelines. My sisters and I strapped on to the transoms and plunged in to the cool/warm water. It is the most wonderful feeling. We were going 1/2 a knot and were being gently dragged forward by the boat. Of course, there was barely room for three girls on one bar so I was kicked to the other side.

I was fortunate enough to have the longest line. I tried twisting my leg around the line like the people in an acrobatic show and ended up face first in the water. I wasn't flexible enough.

Pretty soon, I heard Jaime scream. There were shouts of, "Shark, shark!" and a lots of splashing. 

When I cleared the water out of my eyes, I saw Jaime was screaming about a butchered looking seaweed. Poor thing.

When my lips were blue, I finally got out of the water and did my best to rinse off. No use, I was up to my hair in salt.I didn't sleep very comfortable that night I can tell you.

Mera Conger

s/v Don Quixote

The Baja sailing race

Today, we are going into Turtle Bay after 3 days and nights of motoring and sailing. I had my second taste of night watch. It was exactly like I thought it was, boring. Unless your on helm, there's nothing much to do except watch movies and prepare tea. If your on helm, all you do is look at the radar and contemplate your navel. In other words, sit and do nothing.

I prefer the helping watch. My favorite is when the sun comes up and turns the sky gold and pink. There's a freshness to the air that you can't get at sunset.

Before the race began, there was a Halloween party. We won 4th place in the Unique division. We went as signal flags that spelled, ADIOS on the front and SEEYA on the back. There were about 7 kids there. Naturally, we all split in to a kid pack, away from the adults. There's something special about being in a kid pack at an adult party. Just as we can't drink beer and say nasty jokes, they can't race around the parking lot playing ball with people they never met. We get to be free and open without committing to friendship. Its instant and unquestionable, the kids in one group.

And thats very special, belonging anywhere.

Mera Conger

s/v Don Quixote

The Wild Wild Life

My wildlife expierences have been sooooo satisfactory. Let me give
you a list:
I've walked by bears,
Ridden past a million sea lions,
And seals.
Not to mention more seals.

I've had 2 orca whales go under my boat,
And 2 humpbacks go alongside it.
Plus, a humpback jumped straight out of the
water right in front of us!

I've seen 500 pelicans dive around us.

But the most incredible experience besides
the whale is when dolphins rode for
half an hour in front of our boat,
under our boat, and along our boat.
A whole pod!

Yet with all this stuff in the sea,
We have only caught 2 fish.

Whats up with that?

Anyway, speaking of eating,
Mom's sourdough bread is getting better.
She says, 'That's wildlife! Yeast is a really nice beast.'

As we're heading to Mexico,
it's getting hotter and I'm getting
my first taste of night watch.
What you do is stuff yourself full
of sweet stuff and tell your parents
it's because you have to stay awake.

Other than that it is boring. It is not a wild wild life.

~ Mera #2 sailing kid on s/v Don Quixote