Underway again

We are two hours out of La Paz heading to Muertos where we will drop anchor for the night. Tomorrows crossing to Mazatlan looks picture perfect so you will have to stayed tuned in to find out how it actually turns out. We will be in Mazatlan for over a week so I will try to get all my pictures posted. More later

Oh, So Confused

As we left San Jauinco for Bonanza last Monday we had full intention to make the crossing to Mazatlan that evening around 2am.  It was a bit early in the morning for my liking but it would get us into Mazatlan late Wednesday just before dusk, a quick 40 hour crossing however a couple of things prompted us to change our mind.  First we did not have to be in Mazatlan until June 1st and it was only May 21st not May 28th.  We had another week before we had to make the crossing!  I am still not sure where we gained that week but we could be still at anchor in Aqua Verde if we had figured out the dates correctly but no, here we are in La Paz.  Secondly, there was a storm called Bud coming towards the coast that could potentially kick up the sea state just a bit.  However if we stayed in Bonanza for a could of days we could have internet and use up some of our excess provisions while we waited to see what was going to happen.




I decided it was a good time to clean out all the 10 pounds of sand that had collected in the bottom of the dingy.  There was no surf a Bonanza so I could just sit on the edge and clean to my hearts content.  Little did I know that by evening we would have 25 knots of wind out of the west and plenty on rock and roll on the boat.  Not a good condition for sleeping!

This bay is as large as it looks and the water was the most beautiful colors of blues that we had seen all season.  We arrived around 10 am and did not see another boat come into the anchorage till late afternoon.  We did get enjoy rays jumping out of the water and countless fish swimming by.  We also believe we saw three giant manta rays swim under the boat, that kept me out of the water for the rest of the day. There were bees but not so many that we couldn't enjoy the cockpit.  It was a wonderful way to end our season up the Sea if only the wind had not started blowing!

Rog took a hike to see if the little anchorage we had passed before entering Bonanza was large enough for the boat if the wind kicked but it didn't appear safe if we were to swing full circle overnight.  It was a good decision because by morning we had done a complete 360 degree swing.

The beach really did go on forever and consisted
 primarily of pebbles or shells, very little sand

Rog was fascinated by the one lone tree on the island.  You have to wonder where the bird picked up the seed that became this tree.  Why were the roots exposed?  Had the sand covering them blown away or been washed away by high tide?








After two very lovely days and one difficult night we woke up Wednesday morning to howling wind that just begged us to pull up anchor and head to La Paz.  A bit of time tied to a dock was sounding very good to both of us before making the passage to Mazatlan.  So we are now at Marina Palmera enjoying temperatures in the low 90s and very cool evenings.  There have been parties on the dock, large groups walking towards town for dinner and bicycle rides for provisions.  We are slowly getting back into civilization and it is feeling good.  Monday Sergio is working on our rod holders and I will do my last load of wash before we head south to Muertos Tuesday.  With any luck we will leave there on Wed and will be in Mazatlan in 32 hours where we haul the boat for bottom paint.  We will not be staying on the boat but rather at El Cid for a bit more R and R.

Isla Coronado

Most of the spots we are visiting this year are a repeat of last year and Isla Coronado was one of our favorites so here we are again.  We came south from San Juanico on Saturday with plans for provisioning in Loreto and maybe brunch at La Mision where we had eaten last year with John and Gilly on Destiny. The eggs Benedict did not disappoint however the vegetables at the local market left a great deal to be desired.  I will just have to adjust to cabbage and carrots instead of romaine lettuce and tomatoes for our salad until we get back to Mazatlan.





The water is so clear here that you can really enjoy walking along the waters edge.  We are only seven miles from Loreto but it feels like you are miles from any civilization.  Sea Gulls pierced the silence if we got anywhere near a nest and even began dive bombing us the further we went ashore.

The boats look very small on the horizon but they really aren't that far off.  There are eight boats here today but tomorrow could see an entire new group arrive.  This is a very favorite anchorage as there is internet and cell phone reception!

If you look closely you will see two baby sea gull chicks.  Mother had them well hidden under driftwood and behind the carcas of a dried out puffer fish.  We only spotted them after the gulls started dive bombing us so we knew something was close that we should not see.

We haven't seen a lot of crabs until our walk this morning and this one was so colorful that he just begged to have his picture taken.  He was actually fairly large too, his body was about 4 inches across.

Rog had to take precautions to make sure that the gulls did not make off with his hat.  

When all else failed they straiffed him!

 We posted a similar picture when we were here last year.  This area is called the "windows" in the Puerto Escondido anchorage. Roger manages to get up early enough every morning to check for the picture perfect sunrise and to put the coffee on.  I get up in time to check into the Sonrisa Ham Net at 7:30 unless we have no plans to raise the anchor and turn on the engine for a few days.  Tomorrow I will be getting up!

      "CONSERVE WATER DRINK TEQUILA"

The logo on Andy and Jenny's restaurant hat at the Agave Grill in the Cayman Islands is just as appropriate in Mexico as it is down there.  For the Loreto Fest it fit my mood and set a tone for the entire three days of fun.  A margarita was only one ticket so why choose anything else!  Rog had a black hat being the bad dude that he is and I had the white one.

Linda and I were able to hang out in the shade whenever we weren't off checking for emails.  The Internet  was a bit suspect with over 100 boats trying to log on at any given time but I figured out that with some planning I could get my blog done

 Orlando managed to keep us entertained with hilarious stories and fabulous wine.  He volunteered at both the food court and bar before going out to referee the over the line games.  A man of many talents.

Our new friends on Seychelles, John and Nicki, were deep in discussion as to when they should head back to La Paz for a quick trip home to Boston.  In fact, the general discussion during the Loreto Fest was about when the boats were either  heading over to Guaymas or back to La Paz.  There at least three other boats going clear back to Puerto Vallarta so we may get company on our passage back home.


Shade was provide everywhere as the daytime temperature was in the high 80s.  Not quite hot enough to fry an egg but warm never the less.  All the boaters were anxious to get out of the lagoon so the could get back in the water to cool off.

Roger could be found at the food court when not busy with the bocce ball tournament.  There was a daily sandwich special that just begged to be tried or better yet something cool to drink.

                                                           
                                                                Rog even got us water!

Rog had played a bit of bocce ball this spring on the beach at Tenacatita this spring so he signed us up for the tournament.

Beauty in the Desert

Last year we enjoyed the islands around Puerto Ensenada so much that we make quick work getting back to this area.  After a stop for fuel and fresh veggies we headed over to Honeymoon cove where we able to drop anchor in a small single cove that Rog had lusted after all year since our last visit.  Wasn't quite as fun as we expected as we were always adjusting our tension on the anchors when the tides changed.  Rog thought raising and lowering the level of "tension" on the boat great sport.  I was all for lowering the tension so by day two we had moved!  But I am glad to have been in this beautiful spot, the snorkeling and kayaking were the best so far this season.  

Our next stop was Ensenada de Candaleros where there is a very friendly Hotel/time share that opened just last year.  They welcome the cruisers ashore to use the Internet, enjoy a meal but best of all swim in the many pools.  The hot tub was limited to 44 people so their was always room for us after a dip in the cool pool.  The views of the very dry mountains behind the lush desert landscaping was breathtaking.

There was a total of six pools!  The upper pool is for the tots whose nice parents bring them to Mexico, not a lot of kids here though.  In fact we didn't see more than a dozen guests at the hotel!  Still too new for a full house.  The gardens around the grounds were planted with native grass and agave which created a contrast in color that was very pleasant on the eyes.


Although Di's Dream looks like she is way offshore she is still anchored in just 12 feet of water!  There was room for a dozen boats to swing with no chance of bumping which proved to be good the first night we were here.  We had gusts up to 28 knots that kept us up until 4am.  Actually, Rog slept through the blow and I stayed to to make sure we stayed put.  When the wind finally calmed and I went to bed the anchor alarm got me right back up.  The boat had sprung back forward on our anchor and had not drug  thank goodness.  The next night we were prepared for another blow but it layer down beautifully.  Rog was awake that night and I slept!