Monthly Archives: November 2011

Some Pictures at Cabo San Jose

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Just an update and Ann’s blog is coming soon.  A day late, but I’ll let her explain why.  In the mean time, here’s what we’ve been doing (other than winding down from the trip down from Berkeley and winding up into cruising mode.  What’s cruising mode?  It’s where it doesn’t matter what time you get up, when you leave, or when you get someplace.  I don’t know what day it is, so I guess I’m getting there…

Our spot at the dock includes a dozen other boats from the HaHa. Who's that in the hammock?

It’s Ann!!  Not only is she taking over the hammock, but she’s learned to use the VHF radio to call our friends and invite them over for cocktails.

Ann's gone native!

 

Evening view from the dock

 

Joan didn't believe we had an oven! (Note the temp gauge inside)

 

Joan's cookie recipe was a success. And very popular with our new friends.

 

The town square at Cabo San Jose.

 

Cabo San Jose

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We’re about 25 miles to the North of Cabo San Lucas on the Sea of Cortez side of Baja. Sailed, er, motor-sailed here today. Winds were 25-30 right on the nose (what else?), so a reefed main and engine were in order since we knew the “fleet” of Baja Ha Ha boats wouldn’t yet be disbursed enough to guarantee a slip if we didn’t get here early. Sure enough, about an hour after we got here, boats coming in had to settle for the more expensive slips since all the cheap ones were taken. There were probably ten boats behind us that had to settle for the expensive side of the marina. We also got to park with a big group of cruisers, so there was an evening pot luck/party and we got to socialize with folks who we’ll be seeing for the coming months. It’s fun, since we’re all tied up at a really long dock normally reserved for megayachts. It’s called “Battleship Row”. Instead of the megayachts, there’re about 20 of us 40 footers tied end to end down the dock.

On the way up here after the umpteenth wave crashed over the bow and spray covered the cockpit and a gust hit 30 knots, I remarked to Ann: “Hmmm, no worse than a Sunday sail in SF Bay”. Her response: “Oh, it’s much better because you don’t have to go to work tomorrow!” Oh, so true. So, we’re here through Thursday. Tomorrow (Wedesday) we’re going to take a bus into the old town. Cabo San Jose is the kind of town you expect from Mexico and a great antidote to Cabo San Lucas which is more like Las Vegas than Mexico.

Also, as we were sailing here today, I mentioned to Ann that we’d be getting in by around noon and we could spend some time working on the boat. “Boat day” as it were. Well we got here, made some lunch and then we both promptly fell asleep. I, in my hammock on the foredeck and Ann in the cabin. Later, Ann came up and took over the hammock. In remarking on how tired we were, we realize that we’ve been gone a month now and it’s been absolutely non-stop. Each day is full of things we have to get done and places we have to be. We’re looking forward to the pace slowing down. On Thursday, we’re leaving for Bahia Frailes (about 40 miles North of here) where we’ll anchor off a nice beach for a couple days of doing little more than snorkeling and visiting the other boats. Finally, no schedule.

OK, no pressure, but I’ve told Ann that tomorrow it’s her turn to blog. The title: “Reflections on a month gone cruising” So, stay tuned.

At Anchor off Cabo San Lucas

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We moved out of the marina today after some provisioning (mostly fresh vegetables since we won’t be near a store between here and La Paz) and a shower and are now anchored off the beach in front of the hotels. It’s actually nice and almost quiet out here. After the last few days in the Cabo marina, it’s a relief to get away from the noise. You have to experience Cabo to understand.

A pleasant dinner of tuna in soy/wasabe sauce on rice with a nice salad. Yum. We’ve been wanting Tuna the whole way down. (no we didn’t catch this one. A very nice young guy crewing on one of the sport fishing boats on the dock next to us gave us a huge filet that they caught)

Nice sunset, had the hammock up (finally) and just enjoying being back “outside”. Leaving tomorrow morning early to start making our way up to La Paz. First to Cabo San Jose if we can get a slip (it’s first come, first served, no guarantee) since we like the old town. Then Bahia Los Muertos, Bahia Frailes and several less known spots between here and La Paz along the Sea of Cortez. We’ll probably be out two weeks. I think there’s a little cell phone coverage in one of the bays, but other than that, it’s just this radio email for a while.

OK, cross fingers for good fishing and good winds and we’ll catch up in a day or so.

In the mean time a few pictures:

All smiles because we're leaving the Cabo Marina to anchor out. Peace and quiet.

 

Enjoying my hammock in the Bay off Cabo.

 

Twilight off Cabo

 

Bye, Bye, Cabo. It's been a little crazy and noisy but fun...

Bahia Santa Maria

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This post is a little out of order, but some pictures of the beautiful bay that was our second stop.  There’s nothing here but beach and water.

One of our neighbors at sunrise

A beach landing

Water is very clear

After a week on the boat, time for a hike

Beach Party at Turtle Bay

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Ann and I climbed the cliff for a view of the party.

We climbed up above the beach

You take your dinghy into the beach

Dinghies on the beach

 

Baja Ha Ha beach party photo op (Elan is in the right foreground

Here’s Elan claiming the beach for Charisma after coming in throught the surf.

"I claim this land in the name of the sailing vessel 'Charisma'"

One casualty of the party.  “Younger Girl” (the boat name) parked a little too close to the beach.  She got off at high tide, and won the award for dummest move of the event.

Younger Girl on the beach

 

We’re In Cabo San Lucas

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Late Post (It’s 1030 on Saturday the 5th):  Got in about 1900 on the 3rd (Diane’s, one of our crew from last year, birthday, .  “Happy Birthday” Diane!).  It’s been busy; getting organized, some sleep and finding a reliable Wi-Fi.  This Wi-Fi is at a restaurant just up from the boat.  Sitting here enjoying Huevos Rancheros and typing while enjoying the view of the Marina.  Pictures of the sailing now that we’re here to come a little later, but in the mean time some catch up:

Before an update about the last leg; I called Christine yesterday to wish her a happy birthday and asked her what she was doing for her birthday.  Her answer: ” I dissected a dog leg today”.   That’s a day in the life of a budding Vet Student.

OK, back to the boat.  Leg three was slow. Left at 0700 on Tuesday. “Fought” our way out of the bay with Ann “blasting” the other boats with her marshmellow gun.

Not much wind, but warm and clear. Mostly 6-8 knots wind occasionly up to 10-12.  Night watches were in shorts and tee-shirt with a warm breeze.  We went out about 50 miles before turning for the finish line.  Some attempts at fishing were unsuccessful.

This was the only leg we ended up motoring part of the way.  About six hours total in the early morning when the wind died down and the crew became concerned about missing the infamous party on Thursday night at Squid Roe (don’t ask).  We timed the motoring just right as we got in just in time for the party.  Quite an event and no doubt some big headaches on a few of the boats the next day.  The party is famous for some folks to cut loose after two weeks cooped up on a small vessel.  For example:  Elan, (while in complete control of himself) WAS caught dancing on a table when Ann and I showed up.  Sorry Elan, got to report the facts here  😉

Yesterday was the beach party day and we had a great afternoon where we had a table with half a dozen other cruisers who will be following our same route over the next month or so up to La Paz.  The table was on the sand with a view across the bay of the famous arch at the Southern most point of Baja.  Unlimited free food and a no host bar.  Bucketfulls of Margaritas added to a fun day.

Last night we had the best (authentic) Mexican food ever, at a place called Mi Casa in the older part of Cabo.  Amazing interior and the best mole (pronounced “molay”) I have ever tasted.  Elan and Danna hosted this as a “thank you” dinner and it was very much appreciated.  A big “Thank you” back to you guys for making the trip a great success.

Speaking of “the trip”.  It really starts in earnest for Ann and I who will as of tomorrow be on our own as Danna and Elan will be leaving.  We’re leaving our slip in Cabo at 1PM and moving out to the anchorage off the beach for a day or two.  A crazy place, there’s jetskis, water taxis, swimmers, parasailors and anchored boats, but would be really fun to experience.  For a day.  We’re also interested in having the view from our own island BACK at the beach at Cabo.  Also planning on swimming from the boat to the beach for a cocktail just for the experience.  We’ll see how that goes.

So, for now we’ll sign off and I’ll come back up in a while and posts photos of the trip thus far.