I'm in Rancho Cucamonga, but just for the evening! Ha.
Hearkening back to my early mead days, I've done both. Mostly out of paranoia. Racking with mesh over the cane tip is frustrating because you have to pause frequently to clear the mesh so fluid will flow again, then restart the siphon...it makes you want to nibble on a gun barrel.
In your situation, I would pour. I would set up a clean sanitary bucket (a bottling bucket with a spigot is best), and get a friend who can help hold the bucket at an angle so you can pour down the inside of the bucket, and minimize splashing. Then I would get the biggest funnel you can find (I got mine from the auto parts store, oil change funnel), put a wire mesh basket/strainer in the funnel, and if you like, layer that with one or two ply of cheese cloth. Then slowly pour your mead through the cheese cloth, strainer and funnel, into the bucket. It takes several hands to accomplish, but when you're done (a) you'll like the result and (b) you'll never want to do it again! Lol.
Then of course you can hook a clear clean hose to your spigot and drain your mead quietly back into your carboy to clear.
Cheers and good luck!
