Is it a hint when you walk in to your office and see moving boxes? Everyone asked about how it was to be back at work, and I guess it wasn't as much of a shock as we thought. But it sure takes a lot of the day, doesn't it! The moving boxes were really unrelated to our trip -- there was a relatively insignificant reorganization within our division, and my office will be moving to another building a few hundred yards south.
Our last journey started early on June 12. You know you have made good friends when they are there to take you to the ferry landing at 6:30 in the morning. The ferry departs from Guaymas, about 20 km east of San Carlos. The ride from there to Santa Rosalia took until about 3 pm, with a late departure. We played cards, walked between decks inside and out, and generally had a very different passage than we do on our vessel
Our next leg of the journey was a bus ride that left Santa Rosalia at 5 pm, and arrived Tijuana around 8 am. Good thing we got tickets when we did, as not everyone had assigned seats. From the Tijuana bus station, we took a cab to the border, and walked across at San Ysidro 175 days after we had left the USA. Our Mexican visas were only 5 days from expiring. The next step was about an hour ride on the San Diego Trolley up to Old Town, where Tom's parents met us, and took us out to breakfast at Kono's.
Kaukoe managed to report in this morning, without the benefit of salt water for a ground system (I'm assuming they are on land) and with a makeshift antenna, the signal was very weak. They are on schedule was heard and the mast is down. So they will spend one more night in San Carlos before leaving tomorrow on the ferry to Santa Rosalia.
This is it! The final day of the voyage that started in December 1997. They sailed to the Marina San Carlos yesterday and washed down the boat for the last time. This morning, at about 3AM, it began raining, complete with thunder and lightning. The rain just stopped about an hour ago. They should be starting to pull the boat out in about another hour. As mentioned, we might hear from them again via other Hams in the area, either relaying messages or using their radio.
Kaukoe continues to be prepared for hauling out on Wednesday morning. Yesterday was work and not much play as they cleaned, washed, and dried items in preparation for a month of storage.
Their trip home will begin when they catch the ferry from San Carlos to Santa Rosalia on Friday afternoon. They better not be late as the next ferry is Tuesday the 16th! Once in Santa Rosalia, they catch the 6PM bus for Tijuana, which takes 15 HOURS arriving at 9AM on Saturday. Then, onto another bus to the border. Then onto the Trolley which takes them to Old Town where we'll be waiting.
Their pride and joy, Ptarmigan (their yellow lab) will arrive on the 19th when Pat and Gary come to SD from Grand Junction CO. If all connections are made Friday and Saturday they will be back to reality and work on Tuesday the 16th.
They will return to San Carlos on the 6th of July and drive along with the trailer as Kaukoe makes her way to Tucson. In Tucson, she will be moved to a second trailer and truck for the journey to San Diego on the 7th. She will be loaded onto a skid at Shelter Island Marine for a much needed hull conditioning and painting before slipping back into the cool waters of San Diego Bay where she last was on 21 December 1997.
Kaukoe is docked at Marina Real 6 miles down the coast called. It's not their first choice, but a good docksite. Tom and Tracy walked the 2 miles to town, did a little diving and sightseeing and picked up food and supplies.
This morning they are washing off the sails and drying them before storing them for the next month. Lots of salt water to wash off before Kaukoe becomes land based. They will be busy the next several days. They met up again with Wandering Star, a boat whose radio they used back in Puerto Escondido.
Tom had already run in this morning when we talked a 8AM PDST. They're back on Mountain time, 1 hour later.
Quite by accident, we were both listening to the Baja Net. Our contact was not 100% as Kaukoe is in a cove surrounded by hills. They are just a few hundred yards from the dock and will use the VHF radio to contact the Port for entrance to a slip. They will do maintenance and spend time ashore in this their last port before heading home.
The boat will be hauled out Wednesday morning and they plan to catch the ferry across to Santa Rosalia, Baja on Friday the 12th.
My thanks to all that have commented on how much they have enjoyed the daily news. I will miss not making the contact and sending out the news.
John Moore will be running his first full Marathon in two weeks. That's 26 miles, 385 yards for those unfamiliar with the distance. Sounds like he's well trained as he ran two half Marathons in consecutive days recently (just for fun!). Best of luck!
Kaukoe has left Isla Tiburon and is heading for an unnamed island about 50 miles away on a heading of 115*. The island is just a mile or so from the mainland and is approximately 30-40 miles north of San Carlos, their final destination.
Of the four lobsters, they ate three last night, the fourth didn't look good. Matt on "Crazy for Popcorn" struck his own deal with the lobster fisherman so he had four as well. Tom and Matt fished yesterday; Tom from shore, Matt in the dinghy. Matt landed a beautiful golden grouper. It was a brilliant yellow color. So pretty in fact, he tossed it back. Tom caught some smaller fish, but none seemed to compliment the lobster so they too were returned to the sea.
Kaukoe arrived from Isla San Esteban yesterday along with "Crazy for Pancakes". They anchored and a small boat approached with Lobsters. They wanted some cigarettes. Having none, they fishermen gave them 2 lobsters. Later, they came back and Tom traded 2 t-shirts for 4 lobsters.
Originally, they pulled into the East side of the Island but found it a little choppy so they moved to the south end and anchored for the night. Tiburon is the largest island in Baja and is inhabited by the Seri Indians. Patty found a few paragraphs about them in one of her books and read some details to Tom and Tracy.
More QSL (confirmation) cards arrived for Tom yesterday bringing his number of confirmed states to 24. All contacts must be confirmed by a card before the WAS award can be issued.
They are very close to San Carlos and will be there in a day or two. Six more days and Kaukoe is out of the water and will rest a month before she makes the trip to Tucson and then back to San Diego. She will get her bottom scraped and a fresh new coat of paint at Shelter Island Boat before dipping once again into the warm blue Pacific. That should put a smile on her hull after the long trip which she endured and served so well.
Kaukoe is sailing SE from La Guarda. Winds are light so as we finishedour contact Tom was heading on deck to raise the jib. A close look at this area and you will see a chain of Islands so the crossing can be done by island hopping. Today's sail will take them to Isla Estanque, tomorrow on to Isla Tiburon and then probably to the Mexican coast north of San Carlos. When they arrived yesterday, they were the only boat anchored near the Island. Tracy paddled on the surfboard and Tom swam ashore where they explored the island by walking 2 miles.
Returning to Kaukoe, a small boat came over to ask for aspirin. Other than that short visit, they haven't seen any other vessels.
Winds picked up last night to 20-25k from the West.
Tom's OTL (over the line) team mate David Green has been getting more than his share of publicity for playing this rowdy San Diego originated game. Dave and his wife, Kathy, have both been called and interviewed for an article to appear in the program (along with some always steamy photos). Once again the team name cannot be sent over email as it would create a glitch many times greater than a virus.
1 June 1998 Monday – En route to Isla ngel de la GuardaKaukoe is motoring south for the first time since 14 February when theyarrived in Manzanillo. Seas are calm with a slight breeze from the north. Tom got a chance to talk to Angela and Jeremy visiting from Germany. They arrived here last night and are spending the week with us. Angela is Tom's cousin.
At 2301Z yesterday, Tom worked a station in Massachusetts for his 50th state. Over the weekend he talked to Iowa and Rhode Island so his goal of Working All States during the trip has been accomplished.
Their trip today will be an easy sail for 22 miles.
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Last changed on 16 July 98