Bye to La Paz

April 27/13

After a short stint in La Paz we are heading north this morning.  It is a lovely morning and suggests a hot, sunny day to come.  The weather forecast is auspicious so we hope that we will have a good trip
Today we are only going about 25 nm so by this afternoon we should be in a bay on an island called Espiritu Santo.  Bob went there last year so we will revisit his stop.  After that we plan to go to Isla San Francisco and then over to a small village in a bay on the Baja..San Eviristo.  After that we have no speciifc plans other than to be in Puerto Escondido  around May 10.
During the next while we will not have internet access so no blogs until we get to Puerto Escondido (Loreto) area.

La Paz Day 3

Day 3 in La Paz

What a relaxing pleasant time we have been having.  Days are hot but the breeze makes a big difference, and the nights are chilly.  Great sleeping conditions.


Yes there was a full moon (and the above photo does not do it justice).  On such a clear night as we had,  the water dances in the sparkles.
The only glitch so far on this trip, happened when I pulled the stopper out of the sink and the housing  came with it.  Whoops!  Can you say rust?  Bob was crawling into the "Black Hole' in order to shut off the through hull valve.   That is so the boat does not fill with water.  Water outside not inside!!
In the hardware stores near the marina, Bob was only able to find a plastic replacement, and when he installed it, it just leaked!!  So off we went to Home Depot and there we found the exact replica of the old one.  Then Bob was curled up in a tiny space in the galley trying to remove the leaking fixture which seemed to object to being removed even though it leaked.  After some swearing and stuff, the job did get done and it seems we are good to go.
Our days here have involved going out for breakfast, shopping, walking and lazing on the boat.
While we eat breakfast we can watch all the people come in to the dock.  Large dogs seem to be common on boats here....including a Great Dane that has legs longer than mine!!
Speaking of short legs, our new dinghy is deeper than the old one and I am having lots of trouble getting in and out.....it makes me feel so old as I crawl onto the dock.  Bob of course is silently or not, showing his disbelief at my lack of agility...yoga or  tai chi is in order so that I may leap with alacrity!
Or something?
Last night we had another windy night..not excessive but it did feel a little damp below this morning. 
This evening we are going to a restaurant for drinks and a meal, so we can view the sunset from a different vantage point.  I shall report on the food tomorrow.

Not our boat, but view from our boat

La Paz

Crossing the Sea

On Saturday, April 20, 2013, we left Dock 6 heading for the Baja.  By 7 am we were through the channel and truly underway.  The weather forecasts were auspicious, but then again who believes forecasts.  This time the forecasts turned out to be quite reliable.  The winds were less than expected, but in a better direction than was predicted.  The seas were fine and they were as predicted…less than 2 m and at about 12 sec…a bit bumpy but pleasant enough.  As evening approached the winds diminished to nothing and we slowed down.  Because of that situation, Bob changed our first port of call to Muertos rather than La Paz.  If we had continued to La Paz we would have arrived late in the evening…dark!!   Entering the La Paz Bay is a daytime endeavor in my estimation.

The AIS certainly earns its keep.  We were able to see ships that were in our vicinity long before we had to deal with them.  One crossed in front of us and a ferry overtook us but we knew they  were there.

This was my first trip to the Baja by sailboat., and that meant a number of other firsts which included no long lines and shrimp boats. Along the coast we were caught twice in the long lines and of course the shrimp boats are always around but at night they sometimes heave to and have no lights.  That means you are sometimes a little close for comfort.

We arrived at Muertos about 4:30 pm Sunday,  with a gentle south wind helping us.  Muertos is supposedly not good in a south wind, but really there was no wind at all.  We were a tired pair even though I had had at least 6 hr sleep and Bob about 4.  But, it was an easy trip so we were not fatigued from stress.

Sunrise at Los Muertos

This was my first trip without Patches and I did and do miss him.  During the trip I began to realize how much work he is on the boat.  As this trip did not have any high winds or seas he would have been calm, but he wants to be in the cockpit so one of us always has to care for him there.  It is rare that he will stay below and sleep.

Bob and I celebrated our crossing with a nice meal and ‘some wine’.  It was an early night and we both slept very well.  6 am   arrived earlier than usual ..I thought.

By 7 am we were out of Muertos and on to La Paz.  I am writing this underway…it is so calm that the seas are flat.  I can remember about 2 times in the past 3 yr that we have had such flat seas.  It is nice but it means that we are motoring and not sailing.

Calm seas on the way to La Paz

Monday afternoon saw us anchoring in La Paz...we had a lovely trip.  Shortly after anchoring winds hit...totally unforecasted, and they blew quite hard (25 knots) for a few hours and then dropped but continued to blow all night.  By 10 am all was calm again.

Our flag got a good workout

Now we are  into Tuesday.  This morning we went shopping for groceries.  On Thursday we will finish stocking up which means if I have missed something I can go on Friday to do the last minute stuff.

It is hot here...about 30C.  Of course yesterday evening it cooled dramatically and this morning we needed a sweater, but again by 10 am it was heating up for the day.

I am looking forward to wandering the streets of La Paz and checking out all the little shops.  It is good to be off the boat and walk when one can.

Waiting for better winds...once more

Here it is April 17, and we have been in Mazatlan since Monday.  We had hoped to depart for La Paz, on the Baja, tomorrow but that is on hold.  The winds are predicted to be 'screaming' out of the north for 2 days.  If the forecast holds we will leave on Saturday.
Bob has been working on the boat, and I have been organizing, shopping, and watching the weather.
As some of you may know, I was planning on flying to La Paz and Bob would cross the sea on his own (which he did last year), but as we left Patches with friends, I have decided to make the crossing with Bob.  Is this a wise decision?  Well I will find out.
The weather in Maz has been lovely..not too hot and not too humid.  This morning was the first time we had cloud and therefore humidity .The sun came out and we are back to pleasant breezes and low humidity.   All  in all comfortable in the boat, and for walking.
Bob is delighted as he finally got a compressor so now he can clean the bottom of the boat much more easily, and if he feels like exploring the sea floor when we are anchored he will be able to do that.  Apparently I could do this with him if I so desire.  More about that if and when we are in a perfectly calm bay!
This is the first time that I have been away from Patches for more than 4 days, and it is strange.  In some ways it is nice to have the freedom, but he is a fixture in my life so I am surprised on occasion when he is not where I expect him.
I will write another blog when I know that we are leaving the marina.

Off to the Baja

Bob celebrating his 65th birthday.

April 10, 2013

It seems like only yesterday that we returned to Patzcuaro, but of course it has been 10 weeks.
The big event during this time was a party to celebrate Bob's 65th birthday and our friends 25th anniversary.
The party went well thanks to our discovery of the "Taco Cart".  Instead of lasagna, chicken, Caesar salad, etc, we hired the 'taco cart man' who came with everything involved with tacos.  Instead of  cooking a meal, it came ready made and all we did was make some  appetizers, and of course there was a  birthday cake and an anniversary cake.  When the festivities were over, we had enough food and booze to serve another 50 people....54 people attended the party.

Before the guests arrived

Gemma and JP just about ready to say their vows.

And, now for the vows!!

The Anniversary Cake

The Birthday Cake

Cutting the Cake

And this is what was left!

Emiliano ..youngest guest

And now for the sailing plans.     Our plan was to leave for Mazatlan on April 14 but the compressor that Bob ordered from the USA will not arrive until Monday so we will leave on Tuesday.
Patches will be staying with friends for the month.  Life will be different on the boat without the dog...it will be strange not having to get to shore for toilet breaks for Patches.
Bob will be crossing the sea without me as I plan to fly from Mazatlan to La Paz.  Years ago we were in La Paz and enjoyed the place so I am looking forward to spending some time there again. 
When Bob arrives in La Paz we will stock up and head north with no plans to be anywhere on any date.  I will spend a month on the boat and return to Patzcuaro while Bob sails the boat back to Mazatlan.
Sounds like a plan!!