First off, Ann and I want to wish everyone the best on their Thanksgiving wherever they are having it. We  know in our families this year, that includes Scotland, Texas, Colorado and La Paz (that’s us, duh).  Down here, we’re having “dinner” (it’s at 3:30) with 250 of our closest friends.  Like so many other cruiser events, it’s a come one, come all, potluck.  Marina Palmira is cooking the Turkeys and everyone else brings the dressing, salads, side dishes and deserts (you have to remember to put your boat name on your serving ware so you’ll get it back after the chaos).  At this moment (0830), Ann is making a cabbage salad from a recipe her sister Joan gave us.  Cabbage is our new lettuce, since it lasts for weeks unrefrigerated whereas lettuce turns into a useless puddle of mush in short order.  Anyway, great recipe (thank
you Joan); cabbage, red bell pepper, scallions, sesame, oil grated ginger, rice wine vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and Ann’s addition; toasted pinenuts.  Yummy.

Lest everyone think we’re just goofing; we spent most of the
last two days doing boat work.  One of the things on our list (the never ending boat project lists-more on that below) that had to be done was varnishing (actually Cetol for those of you who know).  You just can’t wish that one away.  After about one year the stuff will just start peeling off.  The varnish waterproofs and protects the wood.
Charisma has a fair amount of wood trim.   But it’s not as easy as just getting out a brush and can of Cetol.  First you have to sand, then wash, then tape the surface to be varnished.  So, Tuesday we spent about six hours sanding, washing and taping.  Then Wednesday, I spent six hours straight, varnishing.  It’s a one person job so Ann spent the time on some of the other misc boat projects and then walked into town for groceries (that’s a two hour round trip, plus carrying the bags back-we get a lot of exercise by not having a car).  The six hours part is because once you dip the brush, you’re committed.  You can’t
stop until you’re ready to quit for the day since the brush will harden if you stop and don’t wash it in thinner.  OK, now all at once:  “Poor Bob!”.  Thank you.

That’s our new answer to; “what shall we do today”. Bob on Dos Leos uttered that when we were walking around town on another beautiful day wondering what to do first. It’s an embarrassment of riches. Go to the market and watch the vendors prepare their foods, get a delicious fish taco, walk the promenade down the wharf, stop in somewhere for a beer or just sit in the shade and people watch.