We have been on the mooring ball in Puerto Escondido for the Loreto Fest for several days now. The L-Fest is now concluded and the wind has come up to trap us on the boat for a few extra days. The sail across from Mazatlán was exceptionally calm and enjoyable with our guest, Julie taking a watch. At two hours per watch we had 4 hours off watch to catch a bit of sleep or just relax. It was just about perfect… until the last three or so hours. A near to full moon helped when it came up around midnight making for a fine night time watch. Before the last three hours we had to slow the boat down so that we would get in at daybreak. That was when the wind piped up and the seas got a little crazy. Overall though we had fine time crossing to the Baja side and skipped La Paz, opting instead for connecting at Isla San Francisco about fifty miles north of La Paz.
It was during this passage that Abby, the boat dog, became much more the boat dog. She now knows all the signs of our getting ready to travel. She notices when we tighten the dingy down, check the lines holding the jerry cans of fuel to the board on the side, putting things away below decks and generally checking everything. She starts to act a bit more subdued and is watching us very, very carefully. Her favorite place when we are underway is the corner of the settee, which just so happens is THE place aboard that has the easiest motion. She discovered this all on her own during the first passage this season. When it is pleasant sailing she is tolerant of our activity but when things get a bit stirred up she starts shaking and is fairly pissed, irritated, annoyed and just plain cranky. When she is in the cockpit she is clipped onto her line and does not venture out on deck. She, unlike so many dogs we know, does not have problem using her baño pad or just taking care of business otherwise in the cockpit. For some this may seem like an inconvenience but for us it is preferable and keeps Abby healthier.
Another issue we have faced with Abby is her nearly boundless puppy energy! We throw all manner of stuff in the boat for her to chase. It is not always practical to take her to shore to run this off. She has what we now call, “crazy dog” times. We open the doors below decks and then encourage her to run from the settee to the aft berth and back as many times as she wants. Being fast and agile she takes to this activity like a wild greyhound. Round and round she goes!! Her leaping ability is complicating some aspects of life aboard too. There is not too much that is inaccessible for her… this includes counter tops. When we come back to Faith after a trip ashore that did not include Abby we open the hatch wondering what she has gotten into. A recent problem was when she ate about half an avocado and some chocolate while we were off the boat. Mostly this resulted in a wired dag keeping us awake much of the night. She knows the counter top is off limits but still goes there sometimes and has to be reminded.
When in port, she is confident of herself to the point that she will do perimeter checks every so often around the deck and this also lets us know when someone is coming down the dock. Even so she does not bark as much as many dogs and has had an occasional “conversation” with passing dogs wherein she growls in an extended way more than barks. Gradually Abby is socializing with dogs and such… she is already quite social with people and wants to be in the middle of every conversation aboard. Taking this pup from Ashland, Oregon’s shelter has turned out to be one of the best forms of entertainment aboard Faith and I will continue to be glad that we rescued her.
