Today we are both finally feeling better after trying some pills that kills stomach bugs, that a fellow cruiser gave us. We took a bus ride for 8 pesos (13 pesos=$1) to a big Mega grocery store about 8 miles up the highway and got as much groceries as we could carry. The bus ride was fun seeing all the different places along the highway.
We are still hearing lots of storys about the Hurricane force weather bomb that came through here 3 days before we got here. There was a number of shredded fore-sails. Apparently the wind would get under the rolled up part higher up the forestay, and then as it got a better purchase would roll out a bit more until it shredded the sail. Lots of damaged canvas work on the boats at docks. Out in the anchorage most boats dragged slowly towards the beach but luckily by the time several had touched the beach the wind changed direction and blew them back off.
A number of the boats ran into each other trying to stay off the beach as they could not see a thing.
We will probably do a short trip South maybe as far as Manzinillo in a few days and then come back here for a month. Dorothy is flying back to Toronto for a week on March 14 to see her father.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Puerto Vallarta
We left San Blas for Chalaca about 22 miles further South. It was an uneventful trip with only a few whales off in the distance. We anchored off a small gringo resort beach and went ashore at the Panga dock to avoid the surf on the beach. It was a tiny village with narrow streets cobbled with rocks and a super sand beach out front. The next morning I found I had the same flu bug Dorothy had got 2 days ago. I christioned the side of our boat by tossing my cookies over the side for the first time ever. We decided to go straight through to PV rather than stop at the next anchorage since we were both feeling so weak.
We got into the La Cruz marina about 8 miles North of PV about 4:30pm and after tying up and checking in we both crashed without dinner as we had no appetites. There was a potluck that night for the puddle jump crowd (those thinking of going to the South Pacific) in the marina but we were not up to attending which was dissapointing for me.
We got into the La Cruz marina about 8 miles North of PV about 4:30pm and after tying up and checking in we both crashed without dinner as we had no appetites. There was a potluck that night for the puddle jump crowd (those thinking of going to the South Pacific) in the marina but we were not up to attending which was dissapointing for me.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
San Blas
We left Isla Isablea Island at dawn to get to San Blas 42 miles away at a decent time. Had no wind, sailed only 2 or 3 miles. Winds generally alot lighter down here. Arrived off entrance channel to the estuary and marina at low tide with a big swell running and saw large swells right across entrance almost breaking and there is no chart and we had no info on entrance so we kept going another 2 miles and anchored in Mantanchen Bay about a mile offshore in 15 feet of water. Even out here a few no-see-ums found us and were biting. We are far enough south to be geting real heat now during the days. The Baja had perfect air temperatures but the water was a bit chilly. The water temp down here is now up to 79 degrees so it makes my nightly dip off the stern (when at anchor) more pleasant.
The next morning we were suprised to here a cruisers 8am morning net on chan 22 so we got some info on entering the channel and some waypoints. Charlies Charts for Mexico, which has been our main cruising guide, had a waypoint for San Blas but it was not anywhere near the entrance so was not help for navigating channel and it did not mention you can anchor inside or that there was a cruisers net. So we headed back for the entrance just before high tide and cruised right in on calm seas, no problemo. We are now at the dock which is very cheap here and they even threw in a free night. Dorothy is happy, we got fantastic showers here compared to Mazatlan, internet and easy access to fresh veggies.
In the evening had to put bug screens on windows as this is the first buggy place we have been.
Last night we had some excitment as about 1030pm an unforcast blow of about 40 to 50 knots come through along with heavy rain. My wind vane shaft got bent before I could get the vane off. Apparently this was a big unforecast blow that was right up and down the coast and Puerto Vallarta got 70 knots.
People in are marina recorded 45 to 50 knots. Every one was out tighting up dock lines and tieing down loose gear. It rained for almost 2 days straight some times very heavy so we did not get all the sight seeing done we wanted to and missed out on the jungle tour.
Plan to head down to Puerto Vallarta over next few days with one or two stops in between.
The next morning we were suprised to here a cruisers 8am morning net on chan 22 so we got some info on entering the channel and some waypoints. Charlies Charts for Mexico, which has been our main cruising guide, had a waypoint for San Blas but it was not anywhere near the entrance so was not help for navigating channel and it did not mention you can anchor inside or that there was a cruisers net. So we headed back for the entrance just before high tide and cruised right in on calm seas, no problemo. We are now at the dock which is very cheap here and they even threw in a free night. Dorothy is happy, we got fantastic showers here compared to Mazatlan, internet and easy access to fresh veggies.
In the evening had to put bug screens on windows as this is the first buggy place we have been.
Last night we had some excitment as about 1030pm an unforcast blow of about 40 to 50 knots come through along with heavy rain. My wind vane shaft got bent before I could get the vane off. Apparently this was a big unforecast blow that was right up and down the coast and Puerto Vallarta got 70 knots.
People in are marina recorded 45 to 50 knots. Every one was out tighting up dock lines and tieing down loose gear. It rained for almost 2 days straight some times very heavy so we did not get all the sight seeing done we wanted to and missed out on the jungle tour.
Plan to head down to Puerto Vallarta over next few days with one or two stops in between.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Isla Isabela
We left Mazatlan around 1030am to do the 85 miles to Iala Isabela a tiny island about 15 miles offshore from the mainland. We planned it so that we would arrive first thing in the morning.
After motoring about 15 miles a light North wind filled in and we started sailing at about 3knots and then up to 5 knots and this went on all night. We had a full moon all night, it rose exactly the same time the sun set 180 opposite on the horizen and the planet Mars followed the moon around the sky. This was probably our best night sail of the trip, gently seas nice easy sailing, no boat traffic to worry about, fantastic.
The wind died near morning and we motored the last few miles to anchor at the South end of the island with only one other sailboat there.
After a short nap, we rowed ashore in the dinghy to the beach where there were a number of fishermen shacks on the beach. We hiked up a trail to the top of the hill where a small light house stood. This turned out to be one of our most incredible walks ever. Almost every tree was filled with nesting Frigate birds and their chicks which had already hatched and had there heads sticking out of their nests. The trail took you so close to the birds nests which were in the trees that were only 5 to 8 feet tall, you could almost reach out and touch them if you desired. The birds seemed totally comfortable with humans around. We saw our first Blue Footed Boobys (see pictures) here and you could walk right up to them. We also walked another trail along some stunning cliffs and saw more of the same birds nesting. I dont know how the ecosystem here can support such a large population , the sky is teaming with birds. Also saw lots off whales around island.
We left the following morning for San Blas about 42 miles away.
After motoring about 15 miles a light North wind filled in and we started sailing at about 3knots and then up to 5 knots and this went on all night. We had a full moon all night, it rose exactly the same time the sun set 180 opposite on the horizen and the planet Mars followed the moon around the sky. This was probably our best night sail of the trip, gently seas nice easy sailing, no boat traffic to worry about, fantastic.
The wind died near morning and we motored the last few miles to anchor at the South end of the island with only one other sailboat there.
After a short nap, we rowed ashore in the dinghy to the beach where there were a number of fishermen shacks on the beach. We hiked up a trail to the top of the hill where a small light house stood. This turned out to be one of our most incredible walks ever. Almost every tree was filled with nesting Frigate birds and their chicks which had already hatched and had there heads sticking out of their nests. The trail took you so close to the birds nests which were in the trees that were only 5 to 8 feet tall, you could almost reach out and touch them if you desired. The birds seemed totally comfortable with humans around. We saw our first Blue Footed Boobys (see pictures) here and you could walk right up to them. We also walked another trail along some stunning cliffs and saw more of the same birds nesting. I dont know how the ecosystem here can support such a large population , the sky is teaming with birds. Also saw lots off whales around island.
We left the following morning for San Blas about 42 miles away.
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