Author: Neil Scheuerlein

I got up earlier than Renee’ this time, 6:47 am. She slept in a bit, something she doesn’t usually do. The water is fairly calm this morning, though there are some swells. We are planning to take the kayak ashore and do some snorkeling. We are also thinking about putting the dinghy down and hooking up the tow rope, as we want to snorkel on the other side of the small island that is slightly west of us, and that is further than I want to kayak in, snorkel, and kayak back.

Well, we kayaked into shore, and about half way there it got pretty shallow. As in two to three feet. When we got close to shore (we were still about 50 feet out) there was not enough water to float the kayak. So, we got out and pulled it a bit closer to shore. Then left it and walked ashore.

We did a bit of exploring (wandering around), and found a turtle shell and bones. We also found a fresh water lagoon, and a bunch of cactus. We did not walk too far, as we were in our water shoes. Mine go inside of my flippers, Renee’s are for walking in the water, neither are meant for walking in the desert, with cactus and sharp rocks.

After awhile, we sat down at the waters edge and ate our snacks, and looked out at the water, and talked. By this time the tide had gone out, and now the kayak was about a hundred feet from the edge of the water, so eventually we got up and went back to the kayak and hauled it back to the water, and then continued until the water was deep enough to float the kayak with us in it. We then proceeded to go back to our boat. A long way off shore, the water was still very shallow (see pictures). We got back to the boat, and had lunch and took a short nap. About this time another boat came in, which means we no longer have this little cove to ourselves. It is a large Beneteau Oceanus. Who (of course) dropped anchor right next to us.

Renee’ asked why that happens, there are only two boats in the cove, lots of places to anchor, why does the second boat always seem to park right next to the first one? I don’t know, but I have seen that question on every facebook group about sailing that I am in. The same thing happens when I drive my truck and park out at the end of the lot away from all the other cars, just so that I can avoid the door ding, (I am talking about our ‘54 GMC) someone always comes and parks right next to me, leaving the rest of the lot empty.

Early afternoon, we heard the Merry Lee calling us on the radio, they were going by and headed to Caleta Partida, the cove between the two islands Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida. We chatted for a bit, and watched them go by. The lost Pearl was behind them as well. They are planning on being there two days.

Anyway, in the afternoon, we got the dinghy down, and the outboard and put the whole thing together so that we could dinghy over to the little island to do some snorkeling. We got a couple of hundred yards, when the outboard quit. And would not restart. Coincidentally, a power boat came by at almost exactly that moment and asked if we wanted a tow. We accepted and got pulled back to our boat. Renee’ suggested that I review the manual and see if I could find any help for our issue. Nope. Engine is not starting, and I don’t know why.

After a couple of try’s, I gave up and we put the dinghy away.  Then the kayak as well. Tomorrow we will probably snorkel here at the boat or maybe not, then go out and make some water and go somewhere else. I really want to go to Caleta Partida, as the reviews are pretty good. I am not really happy to not have a dinghy to go ashore though.

As a reminder, you can see where we are physically at, and what our track has been since we left San Diego October 30, 2019 here:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

We did nothing today. We read our books, played some games, looked at the water and the islands and just relaxed. At 4, we started the generator and ran it for 3 hours to charge the batteries and get hot water. Later we watched the movie “The Big Sleep”, released in 1945.

As a reminder, you can see where we are physically at, and what our track has been since we left San Diego October 30, 2019 here:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

We got up, had breakfast, listened to the morning Net, then proceeded to get ready to leave. Things that we had to do include taking out the trash, filling the holding tank (to rinse the inside) and turning in our keys for the marina.

We finally got out around 10 am. The downsides to leaving that late, is the wind had come up by then, and it meant that our arrival would be that much later. As we were leaving we checked out with the Port Captain by radio, then a few minutes later the Port Captain came on the radio and put out the weather, we were to expect winds up to 25 knots from the North East with pretty good waves as well. This caused us to change out plans, we had originally planned to go to Playa Bonanza, which is on the South West side of the island, and is not very protected from North winds. 

We went out 3 miles from La Paz, to dump the holding tank. Then turned north to go to the island Espiritu Santo. On our way north, the wind was right on the nose, and pretty strong. We don’t know exactly, as our wind instrument, (which has been flaky for some time) decided today would be a day where it would not work at all. We also had some pretty strong waves, I would estimate that they were 4-6 feet. In any case we motored on, and discussed going back to La Paz if we needed to. Not a great option, as the route into La Paz is kind of tricky, but an option none the less.

We anchored In Ensenada de la Raza in about 25 feet of water. When we got here there was a motor yacht, a catamaran and a smaller sailboat. By about 4:30, the sailboat pulled their anchor and sailed off, leaving just the three of us. In this anchorage, there are periods of no wind, and gusts of 10 – 15 knots, the water is relatively calm and flat, and the anchor appears to be holding well. So, we are staying here. 

We had heard from Mike and Paula on Monarch (who we met in Ensenada and had dinner and drinks with the other day) that there were no-see-ums to worry about here. So, Renee’ got out the screens for the cockpit and we put them up. This is the first time we have done this since we got the boat. When we bought it three panels were up, which was enough to show what it looked like. In any case we put it up. The screens are in great shape, and Renee’ put some Vaseline on the snaps so that they would work better. She had previously lubricated the zippers. All in all, they went up very easily.

After the sun went down, the wind went away, and we have a pretty calm quiet anchorage. 

As a reminder, you can see where we are physically at, and what our track has been since we left San Diego October 30, 2019 here:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

 

We went to the same church as last week, different person delivered the message. Another woman, she delivered her message in Spanish, with a translator to English. This was her first time doing this and she did very well.

Before the service, we communicated with Doug and Esther and walked to the cruisers swap meet. Neither couple bought anything there, and then we walked to church.

After church Renee’ and I headed back to the boat planning to stop at a particular restaurant, Rancho Viejo as we had heard good things about it. But when we got there, they only had the breakfast menu out. We asked about lunch, they said they were cooking breakfast and lunch would be later. It was 12:15 when we were there. So, we headed back to the boat and stopped at another restaurant, and got the same answer about lunch.

We had lunch on the boat, then Renee’ took the laundry to the laundromat, I took a nap then cleaned strainers, Engine, Generator and shower. I do this every two weeks or so. It is a fairly simple task, and only takes about a half hour to get them all done. We have two showers, but since no one is using the forward one, I only clean it after someone uses it.

When Renee’ got back to the boat, we went out to dinner at Rancho Viejo, and it was as good as we had been led to believe. Also, not very expensive.

Some interesting tidbits of info about La Paz:

Capital of Baja California Sur (south), population in 2015 was 244,000, it has an international airport, and supposedly two ferries run from here to the mainland. We have not been able to find a schedule for those.

There is more information about La Paz here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Paz,_Baja_California_Sur

tomorrow we are going to leave La Paz and do some exploring, we will be out of Cell service, so no updates for a week or more.

We got up and ran the generator (as we do most mornings) charged the battery, made hot water and took showers, did our devotions and then walked to the street fair. On the walk, (long walk on a very long dock) we found a spot where the waves were being blown against the dock, occasionally spraying over the dock. A fish had apparently been in the wrong place at the wrong time and wound up on the dock. I saw that he was still alive when we were walking up to it, so I kicked it back in the water. After a couple of seconds it swam away. My one good deed for the day?

This street fair has a variety of things to buy, like wooden dishes, silver jewelry, fruits & veggies and tickets to the English speaking play that will be going on later this month. After going to the street fair we went back to the boat, stopping at the marina office to get our passes to the national parks. We have to have them before we go to the island on Monday. They are good at all of national parks that we might run into and cost 600 pesos (about $30) each, and are good for 12 months.

Back at the boat, we had lunch and then walked out to go to Walmart. We took the bus, it took us a few extra minutes to find where to catch the right bus, but eventually we were on the bus. It was a converted school bus (short bus), and cost 10 pesos apiece or about 50 cents.

When we got to Walmart we did our shopping. It is interesting what you can and can’t find here in Mexico. For example, Renee’ has been looking for lemon juice since we left San Diego. We are still looking for it. She has also been looking for kidney beans to make chili and refried beans out of. So, either dried or canned red beans. We asked today at Walmart. the only red beans were in the canned Hormel chili, and the lemon juice was in lemon/lime soda.

We have been looking for good beer here in Mexico. I know it sounds like we do everything for beer, but not really, and we typically don’t drink all that much. We do really like good beer though, and have been looking for a place to buy a craft beer. We found Baja Brewing makes a very good black beer, it is a local brewing company (from Cabo) called Ale Negra Escorpion we have only found it in the bars/pubs. Today we found it at Walmart, and stocked up. So, we have some good beer on board for a change.

I talked to my brother for awhile today, and realized that I have not put the link up to the site that has our location on it for a while, so here it is:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

We met someone on another boat sometime (I don’t know when or where) and we have connected via Facebook, and we will be joining them for dinner this evening at one of the local restaurants here in town. I will write about that tomorrow (if there is anything worth writing).