Buenos Dias Now In Ensenada

After a light wind sail arrived in Ensenada this morning. Left San Diego at 2pm with the tide and a light afternoon breeze to help us along. Mostly sailed with a bit of motoring during night and some again in the morning. Called the marina operator on the vhf and he said he would be down on the dock in a minute. We were not sure which dock to dock at and then somebody whistles and waves us over to a slip which did not seem quite right, as we head over the real dock guy waves us over to the other dock, ah Mexico, we just had our first scam tried on us.
Turns out today, Monday is a holiday, so alot of things closed including customs. Our dock guy, Roger, says we can do it tomorrow. Hope he is right. $30 dollars for a marina slip, including showers and wi fi. Bought some Stugeron for Dorothy to try, although she has been pretty good latley with seasickness. Will stay here 2 nights, and then a longer haul to turtle bay, about 260 miles. May be up to 3 weeks before can up date here as I dont think there is any Internet until La Paz. Its about 800 miles to La Paz and will make 2 stops of 2 or 3 days each on the way to La Paz.
Got Customs and Immigration done on Tuesday Nov 17. It took three and a half hours, missed my morning coffee break and bun. But it was an interesting expierience.
Info:
This is being added a year later so relying on log book and memory. In Ensenada We used Marina Baha Naval and from what we heard later it is your best choice or it was back then. Roger was great took carry of everything and helped with customs. Had good showers and wifi. I believe you can only anchor out if the marinas are full.
Customs and immigration, the whole lot was in one big office and you go in a circle to get it all done, easy, just takes 3 hours, had to goto to room next door to photo copy several things for customs, all part of the show. We did not get a fishing license as am allergic to fish. Was never hassled about it. We did not get Mexican boat insurance. We did have a copy of my 3rd party boat insurance from Vancouver. Boat is not insured Every marina in Mexico asked to see this boat insurance form. They just copied it never looked at it. Never was hassled about Mexican boat insurance. We did pay the$40 for boat import permit which was asked for at every marina.
When checking in at a Mexican marina bring all your customs, passports all paper work to its office.

Channel islands

Our other transportation

Mexico next stop

After 11 days here we are anxious to get on the move. Bought a few toys here and got a few projects done and played tourist some. Visited the San Diego zoo. The bikes have really been useful to visit all the stores as it is a long walk otherewise. Our 10 days are up to stay at the police dock, so moved out to the weekend anchorage at La Playa (10 minutes by boat) and dinghyed ashore for email and some last minute provisioning. Hope to leave Sunday for Ensenada. The Fubar power boat Ba Ha Ha Ha leaves Saturday, so we want to miss that.
Uploaded a video of dolphins swimming under the bow, this happened several times coming down the California coast, they seem to be drawn to the boat like a magnet.

Dolpins under bow

San Diego, Mexico next stop.

Our 2nd last night at Cat Island a big blow came through and we gave our 55lb Rocna anchor its first good test, It was forecast to gust to 35, but many gusts to 45 were measured do to local conditions. A big ketch dragged across the bay before they got their engine going. and a couple of other boats went to mooring buoys.
Left Catalina island bright and early at 4am ato get to Oceanside as a NE wind was forecast, but a N wind came up and we made Dana Point which was closer. Arrived around 3:30 pm and anchored in a tiny anchorage. A navy helicopter anb Coast guard plane collided that morning about 30 miles from us and 9 people killed.
Next day headed down to Mission Bay and anchored in a beatiful bay lots of room and beaches all around. Big grocery store 25 min walk away, with a great walk down seawall, where you could watch the surfers or shop in many small shops. After 3 days left Monday morning Nov 2 to arrive at Shelter Island in San Diego. They sent out a welcoming commettee of 2 submarines and a aircraft carrier as we were coming up the channel. But then we had to get out of channel to let them by, and their security boats buzzed around us to make sure we did not attack them.
We heard a group of whales attacked and sank a J120 a few days ago off the Baha coast they hit the spade rudder and the water came up through the shaft hole and it sank in 5 minutes, crew was rescued ok. Going to hangout here for about 10 days. No interenet near by so cant do to many emails.