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!

Engine is on

Rog is ready to cast off the lines after just two days in La Paz so the engine is already on!  Not sure of our destination but believe we will go to Partida today and then head up to Isla San Francisco tomorrow.  No internet for a couple of weeks while we slowly make our way up to Puerto Escondido where we will get more fuel and provisions.  Our goal is to get to Honeymoon Cove and just cool our heals for a bit

More on our journey when I find a connection but for not we are out to Sea.

The Passage of Friday the 13th

Sailing lore has always said to never leave port with bananas on board or on a Friday.  Leaving on a Friday the 13th is a double whammy of bad Ju Ju so what did we do last week?  Right we left on Friday the 13th along with our good friends Eric and Marilyn on Full Shell.  We escaped unscathed unlike our buddies on Full Shell who developed engine problems after just eight hours of sailing.  They headed back to Mazatlan under full sail knowing that is would be slow going.  What had taken eight hours under engine power ended up taking 23 hours to drift slowly back to port.

 Once Friday slipped into Saturday and the seas calmed I awoke to find Rog with his fishing poles in the water.  His watch had been from 4am to 7am and I was a little slow getting going with the morning coffee and light breakfast.  By 8:30 he was VERY ready to head down for a morning nap when we heard that unmistakable sound of FISH ON!  We always look around to see if we can see the fish as it begins his fight and this one was up and out of the water immediately so we knew we had something large on the line.  Luckily the wind was light so when we turned on the engine we could control the speed and direction in order to keep the fish directly behind us.  After an hour for fight we finally got him close enough to see what we had caught.

 Roger's goal was to lift him high enough to take pictures for our family Rob Roy Perfect Fishing Tournament in honor of my Father who passed away this passed Christmas.  This guy was too heavy for a straight lift so he decided to lay him across the swim step ladder instead.  

The swim ladder is 30 inches wide so you are looking at a wahoo that is at least 60 inches long and as time to release was of the essence to get him back in the water we will never know his exact measurement.  There is a tape measure in the fishing bag now.

 I was forced into service when two of our three lines started singing at the exact same moment, two fish on!  I was very surprised to find out how hard it was to reel in my fish when we were still underway at 5 knots.  I now understand why Rog is always asking for the boat to be slowed down, that and to try and not lose the fish because of a broken line.  I pulled in the first yellow fin tuna of this season, bigger than our one from last season.  Again it was a quick release so he could swim off.

I tried to take the hook out of his mouth but wisely decided to leave that job to Rog.  In calm seas the swim step has been a great spot for landing our fish.

Roger landed his yellow fin without much trouble.  The fish was worn out after being drug behind the boat while I took took the better part of 30 minutes to land mine.  He was quickly returned to the water.

This is the one that got away!  Our last catch of the day was a dorado that put up the biggest fight of the day.  He jumped and danced on the water when first caught and then dove to try and escape.  Close to an hour later we finally saw him again along with another fish that followed close behind.  Rog got him right to the stern of the boat and was about to use the gaff when the line broke.   With that our fantastic fishing day came to an end.  We were too tired to go for sail fish which was all we were missing from perfect day of fishing.

Our day came to an end with a beautiful  sunset that we thought would bring down the sea state.  We were wrong, the wind and seas picked back up to give us winds over 18 knots on the nose and seas around 4 to 6 feet.  By morning it was finally better and we had a delightful motor into La Paz

By Sunday 9am our trip that began on Friday the 13th had been completed with no major catastrophe.  We were very fortunate and will try not to temp fate anytime in the near future