Well, we got up had breakfast and did our devotions, thought about kayaking over to the little island and snorkeling, decided it was too cold and elected instead to move to Partida Cove (the spot between Isla Partida and Isla Espiritu Santo) and to spend some time just filling the water tank. So, straight out once we were a couple of miles out, we started the generator and the water maker. Then slowly motored (NO wind) across the bay. Around noon we turned around and motored back across. We ran the watermaker for about 4 hours, made 80 gallons of water, then dumped the holding tank. Came into Ensenada de la Partida, found a spot and anchored. All in all a pretty quiet day, again no schedule and we are sticking to it!
The night started off very calm, with a very flat sea. About midnight we started to get some wind from the west. The wind was not bad, but the sea got rolly. Again not really uncomfortable, but still not as quiet as we would have liked.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
Two beers, Fajitas, and fish tacos. 330 pesos or $18.86
