Viva Mexico

I did do a bit of a blog on our last visit to Isla Mujeres on the Yucatan Peninsula but this time was completely different. The only trip we did was to Tulum , down the coast a bit ,where a bunch of Mayan warriors captured Gail. Of course I fearlessly went to rescue her but she just said " It's OK  , I'll see you tomorrow ". Not one to argue I carried on looking round the place ,which was one of the last places the Mayans managed to hold out against the Conquistadors 'til they got them with the old trick of giving them some European diseases .

We were joined on the trip by our sailing companions at the time ...Bob of course and Eddie and Valma Offord.Eddie is a famous record producer. He produced Yes and Emmerson Lake and Palmer as well as a couple of things for Mr and Mrs Lennon .One does meet all sorts of riff-raff out here. Anyway we got Gail back , none the worse for wear , and basically hung out at Isla Mujeres for the next month 'til it looked like the wind would finally get us back to the USA.




While hanging about I was lucky with the music yet again .I did duo gigs with an expat American ,John , who is a hot rock/jazz guitarist and some band gigs with a father and son team Miguel ( Dad ) and Sebastian. Sebastian 's a hot rocker from Mexico City and Miguel lives on the island and is a great bass player as well as guitarist / singer.On Sunday nights we all combined for a good rockin' night at another bar which doubled as a tongue firmly in cheek....Performing Arts Center

     Before  we left , thank goodness , we managed to stick our heads through one of these.
           Our ambition is to travel the world looking for things to stick our heads through.

The wind came up with a bit of south in the east and about 6 boats took off north aiming for Key West ,Miami or somewhere in the US. Of course the wind let us down ,after we'd sailed through a massive 'herd ' of Manta Rays . It didn't drop , it just turned against us and pumped up somewhat.
We were south of the Dry Tortugas  and 3 boats decided to take the easier option and sail on to the west coast of Florida but we , and Navy Blue ( Eddie and Valma ) battled on to the Dry Tortugas ,which sounds like some islands or at least 'an 'island. Well there is a bit of land there but it's pretty much covered with a huge fort......just sitting out there in the ocean....quite strange.

Nevertheless it was good to be able to anchor for the night and Hallebloodyluliah we were back in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Well at least we were only a days sail from the rest of it!

Incidentally it didn't do that well as a fort , I mean there's plenty of room to sail around it ,but did end up being a prison most famous for incarcerating the doctor who helped John Wilkes Booth  after he assassinated President Lincoln .

Dr. Samuel Mudd.

Apparently the expression about 'your name being mud (mudd ) comes from him too.

But.....I'm rambling again.