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2007 Log Book
December 17, 2007
We are enjoying a leisurely month of Holiday get togethers, boat projects, and a little bit of plain old work while sitting in La Paz.
Wishing you all a Feliz Navidad and a Prospero Ano Nuevo.
December 6, 2007
07:45 - We have moved into La Paz, capital of Baja California. We will stay here through the end of the year, spending time with friends, and getting some more thing off the never ending list of boat projects.
This will be the last update here until we start moving again in January. Look for a new page of photos and fun chronicling our travels this fall.
December 1, 2007
10:45 - Up anchor from San Everisto. We continue to run from the weather. Yesterday we sat out a strong blow from the south, tomorrow it is supposed to start a three day blow from the north. We are moving for better protection, and to get closer to La Paz.
17:00 - Anchor down at Partida Cove. This will be our last anchorage before we go into La Paz harbor for Christmas and New Years. We will sit out the Norther here and move on Wednesday or Thursday. That will give us plenty of time to polish the bottom before we go into the murky water of the harbor, and a couple other fun little tasks that have been stacking up.
November 29, 2007
07:45 - Up anchor from Bahia Agua Verde. We have a weather forecast that is encouraging us to get to a more sheltered spot. Today we will mostly motor along 50 miles in rainy, bumpy seas with not much wind. Blahh!
17:00 - Anchor down at San Everisto, where we have good protection from the strong winds predicted this afternoon and tonight. Stocked up on fresh tuna along the way too.
November 27, 2007
08:45 - Up anchor from Isla Danzante. We had a nice stay in what will probably be the smooth anchorage between here and La Paz.
15:00 - Anchor down at Bahia Agua Verde.
November 24, 2007
07:30 - Up anchor from Loretto roadstead. We moved here yesterday afternoon so we could go to the early morning vegetable market. They had artichokes! There is a great selection from all over Mexico and the US.
12:30 - Anchor down at Isla Danzante, after a boisterous morning sail.
November 21, 2007
10:00 - A southerly wind has come up so we are no longer protected here at Pulpito, pulling up the anchor.
12:30 - Just across a ten mile bay we are now at anchor in Ramada cove.
15:45 - Had a great snorkeling expedition. Great visibility, beautiful fish and corals, and scallops for dinner.
November 19, 2007
07:45 - Departing Conception Bay. A quick visit centered around contacting a local friend.
13:00 - Finally have the engine off. The wind is perfect for a slow sail.
14:30 - Caught two 15 pound tuna. We have two poles off the back of the boat, and we each reeled in one of these beauties. They hit the lures within seconds of each other.
15:45 - Anchor down at Punta Pulpito (it looks like a pulpit some say). We gave one of the tuna away to another boater, now to make some fresh sushi for dinner.
November 16, 2007
11:45 - Departing Punta Chivata. We had a slightly over social stay, with nightly visits to and from other boats.
16:00 - Anchor down at Play El Burro in Conception Bay. We have now closed a circle we started last spring when we went East to San Carlos to haul the boat for the summer. The northern Sea of Cortez has been experiencing a very mild fall season with temperatures well above normal, both air and water, and only one of the strong periods of north winds that make this place no fun at all through the winter. We still need to work another two hundred miles south in the next couple weeks, but it's hard to rush when it it so nice.
November 13, 2007
11:45 - Departing Santa Rosalia harbor. Paul made a quick trip up to San Diego, to do a little work, and to replenish the chocolate supply.
12:00 - Sailing in 15 - 20 knots of wind from astern. The boat is moving along well, and we are havong another great sailing day.
16:00 - Anchor down just south of Punta Chivata. A well protected spot where we will hang around for a day or two.
November 1, 2007
10:15 - Up anchor from Bahia San Francisquito, where a canyon hike revealed a pink sand-burrowing snake (a rubber boa, we think), bird nests nestled in cacti, a jackrabbit, and many coyote tracks and scat. The coyotes serenaded us at night.
Paul caught two groupers and a yellowtail, so we were feasting on fresh fish. We're happy to report a lack of insects, except a few bees. Yesterday we heard lots of gunfire--turns out the Mexican army does target practice around the corner.
16:00 - Another beautiful sail, on a broad reach. There's not much wind, but the current is pushing us south, where we want to go.
October 28, 2007
11:00 - Up anchor from Isla Salsipuedes. Our plans to stay for a couple days have been changed! The visibility in the water was about ten feet, and there were plenty of biting flies, and No-See-Ums. We did manage to get in a nice hike this morning.
12:30 - A beautiful sail, straight downwind. Making great speed, blue skies, lower 80's. Saw a pod of about a dozen Pilot Whales.
15:30 - Anchor down just south of Pt. Santa Teresa. Good protection from the 15-20 knot gusts that are coming through.
October 27, 2007
06:30 - Up anchor from Isla Partida. Out early to catch the tide. Currents in this area are more than half of our boat speed, so we have to pay attention or we'll be out a long time.
14:30 - Anchor down at Isla Salsipuedes. It means roughly "Leave if you can". Not a great anchorage, but probably our last clear water diving for this season. As we go farther south the water will be colder, and full of plankton, reducing visibility down to 10' or so. We plan to be here for three or four nights, but the weather could blow us out if it turns nasty.
October 25, 2007
08:00 - Up anchor from Puerto Don Juan.
11:30 - A Mexican Navy patrol boat came alongside to ask if we had seen a missing sailboat. When turning to leave the helmsman turned to sharply and put a nice gouge in our new bottom paint. Fortunately no structural damage, but I see mountains of paperwork in my near future.
14:30 - Anchor down at Isla Partida. Nope no party here, unless it's seagulls. The anchorage is a blown out cinder cone so we have nice protection almost all the way around. We'll only get a couple days here since the opening is to the north, and the winds will swing back that way soon.
October 24, 2007
08:00 - We're in Puerto Don Juan near Bahia Los Angeles, where we and a few other cruising boats rode out a couple days of high winds due to Santa Ana conditions. We had sustained winds of 35 m.p.h. and gusts of over 40. The wind brought reddish dust and sand with it, so now it's ground into every piece of canvas and collected in pools of filth on deck. Very pretty.
We plan to take advantage of the current calm conditions by leaving tomorrow to visit some remote islands south of here.
October 20, 2007
10:00 - Finally on the move again. Just a couple miles to Puerto Don Juan. This is the most protected harbor in the northern Sea of Cortez. We are hiding in here for the next couple days while strong northerly winds blow through. It is forecast to be blowing 30-35 knots for the next couple days.
We saw a Whale Shark on the way over here, it was pretty amazing, three foot wide head, and about twenty feet long! They are krill eaters like the Baleen whales. We got within about 50' and were able to see a remora stuck to the side of it's head.
October 14, 2007
16:00 - Paul's birthday has been good so far. We're in a small cove at Isla Ventana. After some strong winds last night tested our new anchor, today has been calm enough to snorkel a nearby spot, where we found enough scallops for dinner. Dessert is a chocolate Kahlua pecan pie--proof that we occasionally use the chips for things other than cookies. The best thing about this place is there are no no-see-um's!
October 12, 2007
10:00 - Esta Ton was amazing, the shelling and diving were he best we have seen so far. This morning on our last snorkel excursion we saw hundreds of big grouper, rays, angelfish, and a school of baracuda! Unfortunately the bugs were worse than Regugio, so we have cut our stay way short of what we wished.
12:00 - Having a boisterous sail in about 20 knots of wind. The wind just came up so there are only little waves, perfect sailing conditions. Erin got to practice all the sail handling she was feeling rusty on. Saw a pod of pilot whales.
14:30 - Anchor down at Bahia La Gringa. Not a very pretty spot, but it will do while the winds blow out.
October 11, 2007
10:00 - The bugs have driven us out of Puerto Refugio. Motoring toward the other end of Andel de la Guardia island.
12:00 - Caught a nice tuna, dinner will be yummy.
16:30 - Anchor down at Bahia Este Ton. Looks like a great spot. The water is so clear I can see the links of the chain at 15 feet deep. Unfortunately the same pesky no-see-ums are here too. We'll give it a day or two and see how bad they are.
October 10, 2007
10:00 - Still hanging out at Puerto Refugio. The first of the big Northerly winds of the season have had us pinned down on the boat for the last couple days. The motion hasn't been the most comfortable, the waves are wrapping around the corner of the anchorage, and we are taking them broadside. We are very safe, but feel like we have been shaken, not stirred, for the last couple days. We have been hoping to get in some more diving when the wind dies down, but this mornings forecast called for another two or three days. Maybe we'll have to start moving South.
October 8, 2007
12:00 - Still hanging out at Puerto Refugio. The first of the big Northerly winds of the season have had us pinned down on the boat for the last couple days. The motion hasn't been the most comfortable, the waves are wrapping around the corner of the anchorage, and we are taking them broadside. We are very safe, but feel like we have been shaken, not stirred, for the last couple days. We have been hoping to get in some more diving when the wind dies down, but this mornings forecast called for another two or three days. Maybe we'll have to start moving South.
October 4, 2007
12:00 - Still hanging out at Puerto Refugio. We have enjoyed some great snorkeling and diving. On one dive we brought up a couple scallop shells that housed six inch octopus. We had fun catching them in the bottom of the dinghy and returning them to their homes. The fishing has been wonderful. The weather is just about perfect.
Unfortunately there are these small biting flies called no-see-ums, which raise a bright red welt that lasts for days. The tactic so far is to stay inside behind our screens morning and night, and burn coil bug repellant through those hours. It only works to a degree, we both have an assortment of bites.
September 29, 2007
00:00 - New wind from the South, and clouds overhead.
01:00 - Wind is up in the high 20's and low 30's. Rough ride, but we are on course.
04:30 - The strong wind is already passing, but what a ride!
07:30 - Anchor down at Puerto Refugio, Isla Angel de la Guardia, one of the most remote spots in the Sea of Cortez. The dry Baja air is refreshing after the high humidity in San Carlos. We'll hang around here for as much as a couple weeks before we start heading South.
September 28, 2007
09:30 - Finally a little wind! The motor has been droning since midnight.
12:00 - Passing between some of the large islands in the middle of the Sea of Cortez. North of here the tides get extreme, up to 20 feet. This area is a squeeze point that all the water passes through. We got lucky and are on an incoming tide, we are getting almost double our boat speed push from the current.
18:00 - The wind is light and from a perfect angle, we just enjoyed a great sunset. The clouds that made it pretty may bring us some rain tonight.
September 27, 2007
08:00 - Departed Bahia San Pedro. Sailing right away, great wind, just from the wrong direction.
11:30 - Tacking into a 10 knot northerly, great sailing. Huge dolphin show this morning
18:00 - The wind is starting to die, so the motor will probably be on soon.
September 26, 2007
09:00 - Departed San Carlos Bay.
09:15 - Returned to San Carlos Bay with an overheating engine.
10:30 - Checked out all systems, and after bleeding some air from the system all works fine. Departed San Carlos Bay - again.
11:30 - Sailing into wind directly from our route. Going slow to keep the bumps a little softer.
17:00 - Anchor down at Bahia San Pedro. Just in time to get in a quick swim before making pizza for dinner.
September 22, 2007
08:00 - Still hanging out in San Carlos Bay. The critical projects are all done, we're waiting out the weather now. There is a hurricane that may threaten our area early next week, and this is the best place around to hide. It looks like we'll get moving Wednesday or Thursday.
September 7, 2007
12:00 - Arrived back in San Carlos. Our trusty Green Hornet (93' Honda Accord), brought us safely back, along with a thousand pounds of boat parts, wine, chocolate, and other treasures from the States. Hurricane Henriette made landfall here a couple days ago, so we were quite happy to find that there was no damage, and that a good deal of the desert sand has been washed away for us.
We now start a week of boat work. We will have to work early mornings, and late evenings, since the heat of the day is just to much to take.