Too Early. Too Creepy.

Not one, but two hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific.
In June.
Yes, June.
Way, super early.This means I should be happy to be in SoCal.
Okay...
Happy to be in SoCal.
I'm working on that.

Flashbacks...

No I was too young in the 60's... no drug flashbacks.
Hurricane flashbacks.
This doesn't look so good.Hurricane Ick.
Really glad I am not sitting in La Paz in a slip right now.
Which brings me to where I am sitting in a slip.
Ventura.
Going to work.
Work really gets in the way of my blogging.
So behind...

Norbie 12:30 pm Update

The storm hurricane made landfall around Puerto Chale, which is in the Southern Bay of Mag Bay around 9:30 this morning as a category 2.
This was a more Southerly landfall than they expected, which brought the eye closer to La Paz.
In looking at the satellite pics, looks like the eye will cross over on the North end of Isla San Jose, about 50-60 miles from us.
We have had rain off an on, but not a lot.
But the wind!
Not scary stuff unless I am in the cockpit.
We have had a steady 30-40 mph wind, with some gusts LIKE RIGHT NOW up to 70 mph.
That was a STRONG one.
Ok, that one was even scary inside...
We have no electricity on the docks (using the laptop) and the marina workers are out checking docklines.
We have slammed the dock a few times and have seen white out on the water.
But all in all ok so far!
I even called my Mom on skype to let her know she doesn't have to worry about her favorite youngest!

Hmmmm ~ What To Do?

What to do, besides check weather constantly.
The boat is currently sitting on the rail at Berkovich Boatyard ~ #1.
Being in the boatyard means no waves, no slamming around (hopefully), no moving docks.
However, there are a lot of sketchy derelict boats surrounding us.
But, the workers here stay during the hurricane and check on the jackstands, chains etc.
And they tell us they have never lost a boat!
We are trying to get a slip at the inner harbor at Costa Baja ~ #2.
But trying to get a slip for a 49' x 24.6' boat is not always easy...We will know tomorrow morning if they can get us in.
Option 3 is to go back to our regular slip at Marina de La Paz.
The marina that got totally wiped out by Hurricane Marty.
But has been re-built with new taller pilings and breakwalls.So at least two choices, possibly three choices.
Check weather.
Think about our choices.
Check weather.
Think about our choices.
I know what we will be going tonight and tomorrow!

We Refuse to Get Our Asses Kicked by a "Norbert"

I stole that line from Kellie.
She doesn't know I stole it yet.
But look what is headed our way... A category 3 that is supposed to turn into a category 4.
Then downgrade to a 2 when it hits Baja.
We are hoping it stays to the North of us instead of hitting us directly.
The land between La Paz and the Todos Santos region does not have any mountains to slow or knock this thing down, so if it crosses to the South of the current "guess" we could get hit pretty hard.

"Meerkat" is sitting in the boatyard at the moment.
We may be able to be put back in the water on Friday.
But if we can't get into the inner harbor at Costa Baja, would we be safer just staying in the boatyard???
We are within 3" of the boat next to us and 2' of the one on the other side.

Hmmmmmmmmm...
I guess we will just have to keep checking weather every 5 seconds every few hours.

Not Good...

Not good for the 78 people who did not make it through Gustav.
Not good for Cuba.
Not good for Louisiana.
Just not good.

Official Hurricane Preparedness Week

Not.
Nothing forming either.But since I will be gone for a few weeks, do need to prepare the boat.

And we do have some clouds today YIPEE!Never thought I would love clouds so much.
Never thought I would want them to cool me off either...

We took the headsail off last week, and before I leave will take down the sunshade, the rest of the dodger and wrap the mainsail (maybe - if I can reach it).

But Jim never said anything about shrinkwrapping...
Do I need to do this? Where oh where am I going to find enough shrinkwrap...

On another "hurricane note", check out the list of Eastern Pacific hurricane names:There are some things about this list that bother me...
1) The only hurricane we "weathered" here was about 15 years ago. We didn't have a boat here and were in a hotel at the time, so it wasn't too bad. However, "IT" is on this year's list... "Hurricane Fausto". Not looking forward to the F hurricane this year...
2) Several years ago a hurricane wiped out the marina we are in. "Hurricane Marty". It's on the list for 2009. Couldn't they come up with another M name? I can think of a lot of M names... Miguel, Mary, Michael, Melissa. Anything but Marty.
3) The X, Y & Z names aren't very original.
4) Some of them just plain suck. Really "Octave"? "Cosme"? "Paine" - hurricanes are always a pain... "Kiko" and "Tico" in the same year - what did they have to pick some that rhymed?
5) And my main complaint, never a "Heather".