After having left SD on April 2 we motor over to and anchor at the Coronado Islands, which are 4 miles, south of the Mexican border. The islands are a Wildlife Refuge, so no exploring trips for us. Though a rolling anchorage we get a fairly good night sleep before we continue to head out. I’m still taking the Steurgeon to keep the seasickness at bay and Al is feeling great. All my navigation studies help me understand about the course we let the computer plot for us (I do it on a chart sometimes but the software is the last word). The winds and waves are higher than expected; thank goodness we’re going south instead of the other direction. Winds are from the NW at about 25 knots so the 24 plus hours are grueling. This pattern is repeated for the next few legs of the trip, going to San Quintin, then Cedro’s Island, and onto Abreojos.
After a day and night and part of the next day we arrive at San Quintin, anchor but never go ashore, then onto Cedro’s Island. We rowed (Al did the rowing) the dingy to the main village of Cedro’s Island, checked in with the Port Captain, Isaac; very nice, gave us a glimpse of the offshore weather forecast for the next few days and gave us a ride to one of the very few restaurants in the village. We both enjoyed the food, both of us having fish dishes, of course. This volcanic island is dry, dusty not much greenery, though a few houses had some plants around. The sun was bright and made me think it would be so very hot come mid summer. On the other side of the island at Morro Redondo there is a salting depot and in town you can’t help but notice the odoriferous fish fertilizer plant.
Once back on the boat we settle in for the night and prepare for our next leg to Turtle Bay. The wind is really howling once we sail into Turtle Bay; a change in plans, we push on towards Abreojos.
4-26-07 We’ve been in Cabo for about a week, haven taken a wild bus ride to Todo Santos to see crafts and the Hotel California, took the dingy over to Lover’s Beach and played in the water. We’ve now gone to the supermarket and bought provisions for the next leg on the way to La Paz.
After 4-26-07 We continued over to the East Cape, staying over one night at Las Frailes. Calm winds had us motoring to Bahia de los Muertos; a beautiful beach that we took the dinghy and to eat at the sole Giggling Marlin restaurant. Here the volcanic remote hills are hugged by, what I think to be, retirement dream homes of baby boomer expats. Now to La Paz and meet up with the folks on Gallatea and the Crows on their beautiful velero (sailboat in Spanish)Tabu.
5-5-07 CInco de Mayo, not much of a holiday here in Baja, it’s only the day their rid themselves of the French. (Mexican independence Day is Sept. 16). We’ve been here for about 5 or 6 days, depends what day it is today. Anyway…we’ve hit it lucky, they are celebrating the 472 Anniversary of the founding of La Paz: the town is abuzz with entertainment at the Queen’s Pier, everything from talent contests to Eugenia Leon, a beloved Mexican singer, who did everything from jazz to folk. We stayed out until 3 the other night shaking it up to an amazing young group from Cuba, they didn’t stop moving their hips while singing for hours…The celebrations continue through the month and we’ll be taking it all in as long as we are here. We have met up with friends so there have been several group meals and of course many happy hours spent sipping cold drinks and dipping chips in all manners of salsa.
I think I’ll let the photos do the talking now….
