In the dark early hours a couple of days back I set off with Ali’s dad for the road trip south to pick up the bus. It was about 270 miles away—too far to travel with the kids, in the cold, in an old motorhome—outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We … Read More
I Guess We Are Minimalists
I’m not sure if we’ve ever called ourselves minimalists. It always feels as if we have more of everything than we could ever need—be it food, clothing, or toys. And yet this pile of boxes is everything we own. Well, that’s not entirely true, we do have a surfboard and … Read More
In the States Again
We said goodbye to Mazatlan, a city that we’ve really grown to love these past few months. Ouest had her last day of school which I had been a little worried about, but she seemed almost not to care. I think that probably has more to do with her not … Read More
Hole in One
So here is the hole that has caused all of this drama the past few months. This speck of a hole, about the circumference of a piece of pencil lead, was enough to sideline us all this time. In the other picture the hole is just out of sight around … Read More
It’s a Hole
Found it! Finally. Yesterday the mechanics started tearing the engine down. After removing the fresh water pump at the front of the engine they could peek through the hole to the first cylinder, and there, just barely in view, was a small spot of corrosion that had worked its way … Read More
Four Years Old
Ouest turned four today. Ali mentioned how impossible it seems that it was four years ago that we were down in Puerto Vallarta walking across the street from our condo to the hospital to have her. Birthdays are kind of our thing. We don’t really go in for holidays, and … Read More
Missed Holidays and Engines
Today was the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and we completely missed it. Which is a bummer because the locals really got into it. The plaza and cathedral were packed solid full of parents with their young children dressed up in traditional Mexican garb (which is why it is … Read More
Solar Powered Up
Last night I wrapped up the solar panel installation, and I have to say that I’m pretty pleased with it. Not that it’s a difficult job. In fact I’d now rank solar panels as the number one easiest major update a do-it-yourselfer can make to a boat—and cheap too, compared … Read More
Weekend with Grammy
Engine update: Really all I know right now is that the head checked out all good. All the chambers were pressure tested—no cracks, no leaks. And it is 100% flat. So that’s good news. Now we’re waiting for the guy from the shop to come and test the block. He’s … Read More
All work and no play
I really don’t have a lot to say lately. I’ve been going out to the boat most mornings at six, Ali holds down the fort, and I return most afternoons around the time Ouest gets home from school. Exciting stuff. Lots of work going on around the boat at the … Read More
Bumfuzzle En Español
Bumfuzzle has gone international. Our book Bumfuzzle has been translated to Spanish and is now live for the 6.78 percent of the world who speaks it. So if Spanish is your first language and you really didn’t understand what a screecher or an MOB was when you read the story in … Read More