Podcasts Culture Sailing a Sailboat From Seattle Washington to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with Captain Kirk and Heidi

Sailing a Sailboat From Seattle Washington to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with Captain Kirk and Heidi

Published: May 9, 2018, 10:05 p.m.

Have you Ever Thought it Would be Fun to Sail a Sailboat from the West Coast of The United States to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? I interview two Adventurers, Captain Kirk and Heidi Hackler who with Their Two cats, Sailed to Marina Vallarta and now Live Aboard Their Sailboat, Due West, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

[caption id="attachment_3049" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Sailing a Sailboat From Seattle Washington to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with Captain Kirk and Heidi[/caption]

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Hello fellow travelers, welcome this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico. That music you were just listening to is [caption id="attachment_2017" align="alignright" width="300"] Vista Grill on The Beach Romantic Dinner[/caption] performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are La Palapa, The El Dorado Restaurant, and at night for dinner The El Dorado transforms into the ever so romantic Vista Grill with those dramatic views of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors. Of course, at La Palapa you can enjoy that same view of the Los Muertos Pier all day long for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with your toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so Puerto Vallarta my friends! This week I have a couple of adventurers who sailed their sailboat from Seattle Washington to Puerto Vallarta, and are now living in Marina Vallarta, but first, let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta, the 9th of May, 2018.  

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Down Vallarta BMX Bike Race

This podcast is coming to you from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where I am sitting in an Airbnb that is way up the mountainside, right above downtown Vallarta. The views from this condo are amazing, but you have to be part Mountain goat if you want to stay here. Luckily, I’m one of those goats, wait, that doesn’t sound right. Okay let me rephrase that. Never mind, you get it.

I don’t mind stairs too much but there are 51 steps, straight up to the condo. It’s on a street called Arroyo Del Pedregoso, it’s a street that’s too narrow for a taxi to make it up more than 100 feet up it. Then I walk up the street, which at night can be a little spooky, but the neighborhood is

 

actually very nice, and it’s right below the cross, that famous cross on the mount above Vallarta. And yes, the Down Vallarta BMX Bike Race,

[caption id="attachment_3080" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Rooftop Sunset in Puerto Vallarta From the Airbnb[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3079" align="alignright" width="225"] Arroyo del Pedregoso[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3071" align="alignright" width="225"] 51 Steps Up To The Airbnb[/caption]

exhibition is going to go right past the condo, and I’m going to film the goings on so I will bring you that to you next week, and have them in the blogpost and in the show notes for this show. I will have pictures of the Airbnb in the show notes for this episode of the show, Pics from the rooftop of the condo, and of that hike I take up and down those steps from the street, up to my condo. Have a look and tell me that you wouldn’t have a time hauling your luggage up them. Kinda makes you think twice about that, honey I’m just going to run down to the corner tienda for beer and ice. Then, next week my lovely wife will come into town and join me for a whole 4 days to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary a little early and I’m definitely going to find a different place, so I don’t get blamed for wrecking her knees, wearing her out, being cheap, like $32 a night cheap, and I’m pretty sure she would be a little creeped out walking up that narrow alley late at night, so I’ll let you guys know where I land. I’ll take pics of course and give you a full review of the place I’m in right now, next week so stay tuned!

[caption id="attachment_3074" align="alignright" width="300"] Top of The Steps, Nice Place[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3076" align="alignnone" width="225"] Inside the Airbnb Bathroom[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3077" align="alignleft" width="300"] Inside the Airbnb[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3073" align="alignleft" width="225"] 51 Steps Up To The Airbnb[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_3075" align="alignright" width="300"] Inside the Airbnb[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3081" align="alignleft" width="225"] Arroyo del Pedregoso[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3087" align="alignright" width="225"] Arroyo del Pedregoso[/caption]

The Weather is Warming Up

The weather is warming up, and the humidity is beginning to ramp up, but I’m a Southern Californian, and I can take the heat. Not bad really.

Great Meet and Greet at Kelly's Pour Favor Saloon and Cookhouse!

Yesterday we had the Meet and Greet at Kelly’s Pour Favor Saloon and Cookhouse, and we had quite a group there as well as some great [caption id="attachment_2942" align="alignright" width="300"] Meet and Greet May 8th[/caption] interviews on the rooftop patio at Kelly’s while the band Tequila Rush, played downstairs. That’s my friend, and friend of the show Steven Tenny’s band. I have an episode featuring Steven in the catalog, so google his name, and Puerto Vallarta, you will find it. So I’ll be bringing you those interviews next week, so again, stay tuned.

Date of the Open Microphone at Cuates y Cuetes  has Been Changed

Tomorrow is May the 10 and in Mexico, it’s Mother’s Day, and guess what, they are closing for Mother’s Day at Cuates y Cuetes, so we need to change the day for the open Microphone from Thursday the 10th, to Friday the 11th. So Open Microphone at Cuates y Cuetes, Friday, not Thursday from 2 till 4. Come join me for some beer, chips, guacamole and tell me what the heck you are doing in paradise. So, you if you’re in town. Stop on by! It’s going to be a busy week for me. I have lots of great interviews to do, and I’ve already gotten some real gems for you, so I want to get to the interview right away this week.

The Story of Captain Kirk and Heidi and Sailing Vessel Due West

Last January, I wandered down to the Marina Vallarta on a Thursday evening to experience the Evening Farmer’s Market, and wow its [caption id="attachment_3054" align="alignright" width="214"] Kirk & Heidi Leaving Seattle-Aug 2015[/caption] huge. The vendors line the marina on both sides of the walkway. There must have been, well, hundreds of vendors there. Some of them were the usual stuff you see in Mexico, and then there were the extremely unusual vendors, and I talked with a bunch of those people, recorded the and I’m going to bring you those interviews later in the year, when the Marina Vallarta Farmers market ramps up again in high season, but while I was walking around with my microphone, I ran into a couple who wanted to know what I was doing, and when I told them, they told me that they live on their sailboat that they sailed down from Seattle Washington, and I said hold on, we need to talk. I love sailing, and at home, I belong to a sailing club, The Fairwind Yacht Club, and we sail out of Channel Islands Harbor, in Port Hueneme where we are fortunate in Southern California, there is the Channel Island Marine National Park, an archipelago, a chain of islands just 11 miles off the coast. It’s so cool there, lots of dolphins and whales almost all year round. So yes, I have to admit, I have a soft spot for sailors, wait, that doesn’t sound right either does it? Well, I have lways wondered what it would be like to sail down to Puerto Vallarta from the States, haven’t you?  So, we arranged to meet on their sailboat the following Sunday evening to do the interview and bring you their story. [caption id="attachment_3055" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Sailing Adventures of Sailing Vessel Due West[/caption] So without any further to do, let’s meet these two adventurers and their two cats. By the way, throughout the interview you will hear the tinkle [caption id="attachment_3056" align="alignright" width="300"] Tosh & Tikka, Boat Cats[/caption] of a bell, that’s the cat. So, let’s go right now to Marina Vallarta, and go below deck into the cozy cabin aboard the Sailing Vessel, Due West ad chat with Captain Kirk & Heidi Hackler and cats Tosh & Tikka.

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    Weren’t they a great couple? I’m so glad they stopped me on the Marina that Thursday night. What a story. So you may be wondering if Captain Kirk and Heidi have sailed on to their next port right? Let me read to you from their latest blogpost…. Dated May 1, 2018 OK, we're getting a little gun-shy about making plans! As you've heard us say before, our plans are written in sand at low tide. But it seems that as soon as we write down any so-called plans, things start to go sideways on us. And this spring was no different. If you read our last post, we were planning to race Due West in Banderas Bay Regatta, and then head back up to the Sea of Cortez for a few months this spring. But the week before the regatta, just as MEXORC (another regatta) was happening here in the bay, Kirk found himself back in the hospital again due to an intestinal infection combined with electrolyte imbalance. No bueno! While it was a significant ordeal at the time, thankfully he's made another full recovery and we've learned a LOT about our own physiology, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the meantime. We've also learned about the MTHFR gene mutation (that may have played a part in causing Kirk's stroke last year), and that as we age the body doesn't always absorb all the nutrients it used to. Add to it all, that as soils become depleted of minerals many foods are much less nutrient rich than they used to be. Heidi wrote about all this on her Happy Well Lifestyle blog, which you can read here: Vitamin & Mineral Deficiency: Are You Deficient? If a holistic health coach and Capitán Kirk can be deficient, anyone can be. So we hope our experience and this article can help some of you. As you'll learn from Heidi's recent articles, we found that we're both deficient in several key nutrients--vitamins and minerals, plus protein. So along with taking supplements to help get our nutrient numbers back up more quickly we've had to become omnivores again. This dietary change hasn't been easy on us after being vegetarian/vegan for 30 years (Heidi) and 45 years (Kirk). Happily Kirk is thriving on eating meat and says he feels 10-years younger in just a few weeks! The jury is still out for Heidi, but she's sticking with it for now. As Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world", and we have a lot of change left to affect in this lifetime. So although we both became vegetarians for ethical reasons, if we need to eat some meat to help us get healthy again, then that's what we'll do...for now. These health setbacks along with continued engine issues has meant we won't be making another trip to the Sea of Cortez this spring after all. After the new timing belt was installed, and the freshwater and saltwater pumps were rebuilt and re-installed, the engine started right up. Yay!!.... Oh, wait... there's no water coming out of the exhaust?! Uh oh... And so when Kirk and our trusty engine mechanic Omar (and his assistant Tosh!) took another look, they found that our camshaft was broken--in three places!?! Something as strong as a camshaft should not break, especially not into three pieces! There is evidence to suggest that it was a faulty casting and was likely bad from the get-go, 28 years ago! So we're now working with Perkins UK, on getting a new camshaft. Until that happens, Due West is sitting in her slip, Jonesing to get out sailing again soon!! Thankfully Puerto Vallarta isn't such a bad place to be stuck... So, the adventurers are still in Puerto Vallarta. Huummm. That’s okay, I’d try to do the same thing on purpose. Link to Kirk and Heidi's Blog SV Due West

Captain Kirk and Heidi's Favorite Restaurants

Breakfast

Lunch and Dinner

  [caption id="attachment_3053" align="alignright" width="300"] Due West-Sail[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3052" align="alignright" width="300"] Due West-Sail[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3051" align="alignright" width="300"] Bashing[/caption] You can read the entire post in their blog it’s called Due West Adventures, and you will find pictures of the great places they talked about in the Sea of Cortez, all along the and all along the journey. It’s really quite good. So, check them out. I have pictures of Captain Kirk and Heidi and links to their blog in the show notes, so check them out! Follow along and see if they can escape from the grip of Puerto Vallarta. It’s pretty strong, but hey, these adventurers need their next adventure, so best wishes to both of them, and my sincere wish, is for them to be able to finally hoist anchor and set sail to their next chapter in their adventure. [caption id="attachment_3061" align="alignleft" width="300"] Due West hauled Out Post Hurricane[/caption] Okay, that should do it for this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. [caption id="attachment_3069" align="alignright" width="300"] Sea Of Cortez fishing camp & pelican[/caption] Next week, stay tuned for more on the ground reports from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with travel tips, great restaurant and excursion ideas and more.  Until then, remember, this is an interactive show where I depend on your questions and suggestions about all things Puerto Vallarta. If you think of something I should be talking about, please reach out to me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending us your message. And remember, if you are considering booking any type of tour while you are in Puerto Vallarta, you [caption id="attachment_3059" align="alignleft" width="300"] Due West Anchored San Carlos[/caption] must go to Vallartainfo.com, JR’s website and reserve your tour through him, right from his website. Remember the value for value proposition. His experience and on the ground knowledge of everything Puerto Vallarta in exchange for your making a purchase of a tour that you would do anyway, you’re just doing it through him as a way of saying thank you. It costs no more than if you were to use someone else so do it. Really. And when you do take one of these tours, email me about your experiences. Maybe you can come on-board and share with others what you liked or didn’t like about the tour. Again, contact me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending off a message. Don’t forget his maps, his DIY tours and his revitalized Happy Hour Board. I have links to all of those in the show notes. [caption id="attachment_3058" align="alignright" width="300"] Beauty-at-Sea[/caption] And once again, if you like this podcast, please take the time and subscribe and give me a good review on iTunes if you would. That way we can get the word out to more and more people about the magic of this place. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Remember I made it easy for you to do just that with each episode I create. But if you haven't been to my website, you really need to have a look there.  I have the links to the places we talk about, interesting pictures and the more all right there in my blog-posts and show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven't already all-right? All right. [caption id="attachment_3067" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Sail-cats-on-deck[/caption] So, thanks  Captain Kirk & Heidi Hackler, Don’t miss the pictures and the links in the show notes subscribe to their blog and follow their adventures, and hey, thanks to all of you for listening all the way through this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is Barry Kessler signing off with a wish for you all to slow down, be kind and live the Vallarta lifestyle. Nos Vemos amigos!

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