Ixtapa with family

Kellie Comments-- It's 90 degrees, 78% humidity, clear skies and not much wind. We're some of many tourists flocking to the beaches and resorts here in Ixtapa this Easter week. My parents and Pete's cousins are here visiting. The hotels are booked solid and the beaches full, as Mexico takes it's spring holiday this week. The kids are enjoying the pool and waterslide with my parents. They have stayed overnight a few times at the hotel to give Pete and I a break. We took the boat out to Isla Grande today for a change of scenery. Sea turtles were the highlight of the trip. They are a bit boat shy, but the water was clear and we could see them even as they dove away. We enjoyed the cool evening back in the marina and BBQ'd hamburgers. Tomorrow will be another pool day, with maybe a bit of shopping in the afternoon. Mom and Dad fly home on Friday. Pete's cousin Kathie flies home on Sunday and then the countdown is on for the trip across the Pacific.

Just to confuse everyone, our crew, who is Pete's cousin by marriage, is also named Peter. Here after I'll refer to him as Peter V. He seems excited to join us and we are relieved to have the help. The excitement is building to reach the South Pacific, but so is my anxiety. The kids would rather fly.

Our plan is to leave on Tuesday or shortly after to head south west. The Marquesas are the first island group in French Polynesia. It is a 2800 mile trip and we hope to be there by early May. Anywhere from 100-150 miles per day average will be our goal. After that we'll island hop through the Tuomotos on our way to Tahiti. We expect to be there by about early June. We'll cross the equator on this trip and celebrate becoming shellbacks. There are many traditional rites of passage involved, but we'll try to keep them appropriate to our crew.

I have still to do more grocery shopping, laundry and cleaning. I'm feeling pretty organized, but some things have to be done at the last minute. Peter is using our time in the marina to finish up a few "dockside" projects done. We will move over into the bay of Zihuatenajo on Saturday, where we will be closer to shopping and get better ham radio reception. Weather reports will be critical to us as we plan our departure and in the marina we have very limited reception.

Happy Easter to you all. Your prayers and letters are much appreciated.