Nov 25, 2015
We are preparing for Hurricane Sandra
Sadly the title to this post is not a joke but a reality. Feel free to Goggle Hurricane Sandra. She is a pain in the butt…..well actually she is one of five hurricanes that has formed in this area after November 18th in many years. The computer model speculations keep changing, worry, don’t worry and really worry. I am doing this on the fly as we are in major prep mode and time is of the essence.
My hair is a mere expression of the humidity we are experiencing. 43C with the heat index. Off the charts for this time of year.
We have been watching the computer and with input from friends in the know ( gracias Michael ) we decided to be pro active. You can’t exactly get us moving on a dime or in five minutes so we decided that we have nothing but time. Yes we just finished setting up but caution is the word of the day. Better to be safe than sorry. We have gone thru dozens of options and plans and we have decided that we need to be ready to move.
So we are packing up in a fashion. We don’t have time to move things to our bodega/storage area but we have confiscated one of the 2 washrooms here for storage. Note Colin’s very wet shirt.
The car is loaded to the roof. Our plan is to store things that will ruin in the rain or blow away in the wind. We will leave the dust screen up well as the dog fence. One plan is to move to the back row however things keep changing and we may have to leave the area. Colin did put the tow bar back on the car today. It is like we are preparing to leave as we may have to. All that work in setting up only to be redone yet again. But better to be safe than sorry.
Things that can stay put are being left in place. The blue bins in the background have a case of heavy ice drink placed on top to keep the lid in place.
Looking empty around here.
Of course the gazebo canopy is gone, that would make a great sail in the winds to come. Those are our beach stairs to the left which we brought up as the water is going to come up over the wall and we don’t want them to drift away.
With an unpredictable El Nino we have no idea what the next few days will hold for us. Earlier today we were led to believe that rain showers were to start tonight so we hastened to pack things up before the rain. So far no precipitation plus a complete new scenario weather wise.
At 7AM this morning this was the direction we had and it changed a few times thru the day. We might be able to manage with winds at 55 km/h.
But at 5:20PM we were going to be dealing with winds between 80 – 110mph. The path of Sandra had shifted from Cabo San Lucas to us.
As of 7 PM a Category 3 hurricane was going to come ashore here as a Tropical Storm on Saturday. Earlier today it was coming ashore North of us. Things keep changing and we fell the need to be prepared. Everything can change in an instant and you can be sure that we are watching the computer images constantly.
Thanks to giving my Fitbit a huge workout we are ready for anything from staying put under a torrential rain to moving to the back row to just getting out of here. Of course if we leave the Isla there is a very great chance that we won’t get back here for up to two weeks as ‘the road’ is likely to become impassible for us to return to our home here.
So for the next 36 hours we wait and watch and play the deciding game hour after hour. What to do? No matter what, we know that we now have to do yet a second set up once all is said and done. But as Colin says, we have nothing but time and it is well worth the effort to protect us, our things and our RV. Still it is a waiting game. I will keep you posted as things progress. If you don’t hear from me after Friday, you can assume that our internet is out. As I no longer have my backup ( ATT locked my hot spot device out ) you will just have to hang in there till I reappear.
As of this moment it has all changed again. A few hours ago we were told that we would be getting rain showers starting tonight, now there is no rain in sight until 3AM Saturday but then we will be hit with winds up to 100 km/h as well as heavy rain. The computer models keep changing. It truly is a waiting game but we are ready to deal with it.
Certainly an adventure. Stay tuned for the next chapter.
Please forgive me for not proofing this post but it is almost 11PM, it has been a long day and who knows what tomorrow will bring.
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Better safe than sorry, good luck with Sandra.
Hoping all will be well for you, the people of Mazatlan and the Isla. You have prepared and now the rest is out of your hands. Prayers for safety always, especially these next few days.
I believe in being safe and I’m glad you are ready. Please be safe and let us know as soon as you can about your situation.
Oh my. Yes, absolutely safe is better than sorry. And look at it this way – you may come out with a good story to tell! What a lot of work and unrest. Still.
Will be thinking of you and praying all is well.
BTW – love the frames on you – I think these are the best frames you’ve had. : )
watching the weather with you. hopefully it will fizzle out and just be a rain storm when it hits.
Too bad about the extra work cutting into your beach time but better to be safe than sorry! Stay safe.
Oh, my…oh, my. I hadn’t been watching the news, and had no idea your peaceful beach time was about to be disrupted! Well, thank goodness for DC power so the vino stays chilled! 😉 I hope Sandra is a “non-event” that leaves only a few pink, puffy clouds in her wake for a gorgeous sunset…
Oh good heavens, my heart is going out to you two, and hope/praying for the best possible outcome to happen…. on this day of Thanks, hope all is sitting well with you and yours, Take Care and God Bless and know I am praying for it to bypass you to the best possible way…..
Praying that all will bypass you and no damage to anyone.
I was wondering if you were going to be effected by the hurricane. Stay safe!
Oh no! Better safe than sorry though. Sending prayers!!!!!!
Great planning on your part – it is far better to be prepared and not need to leave than to not plan and suffer what could be a terrible outcome. Our prayers are with you – above all be safe.
Very glad to hear that you are being proactive and ready to move out as needed. Take care, prayers are with you.