February 8th, 2025 Puerto Vallarta Saturday (La Cruz Marina)

We were up around 7:30 or so, we contacted Edgar to come out at his convenience and untie our stern tie. Then proceeded to have breakfast, do our reading and put things away on the boat.
Edgar came out about 10:30 and took almost a minute to untie the stern tie. We would have to have put down the kayak and coordinate removing the tie from the back then go to the other end and untie, so about a half hour. We were ready about 11:30 and removed the front tie and left Yelapa (probably our last time here).
We motored about 1/2 way across to La Cruz with maybe 1 or 2 knots of wind. I figured out why the speed through the water wasn’t working, it turned out to be a setting on the chart ploter. Now the true wind speed works and the speed through the water etc. we dumped the holding tank and put out the staysail (so that we could roll it back up tighter) and found that the wind was coming up, so then we put out the main and the jib. We sailed in approximately the correct direction for an hour or so, then turned and sailed straight downwind and sailed wing on wing for about a half hour. This put us almost exactly at the entrance to the marina. We put the sails away as the wind came up to about 20-25 knots.
We saw quite a few whales, several that came to the surface right in front of the boat, even a couple that flipped their tails at us.
Then into the marina and into our slip. The security guy met as at the dock and helped with lines and then paperwork.
We got the power on and the air conditioners running (outside air temp was 100 degrees. We stayed inside and finished our game of May I? (A rummy card game).
At about 6 we walked to the Italian restaurant for dinner and music, then back to the boat and walked to the showers.

on the way into La Cruz
the sights
in a slip
Just another sunset
Look how smooth
the dinghy dock
our entertainment for dinner
the sign for the marina
the four of us
two boats we saw
Dinner

February 7th, 2025 Puerto Vallarta Friday (Yalapa)

Up at 7ish. We hung out on the boat after breakfast and bible reading. Then about 11am, David and I took the dinghy and went around the point to the east to a good/great snorkeling location. We watched the tour companies for awhile, I don’t want to interfere, this is how they make the money that pays the bills and puts food on the table. When there were no more paying customers we went in and David went in the water. This was really his first time. He saw lots of fish, I figured out how to drop my anchor (I forgot to tie off the loose end) and I threw some crackers in which attracted a bunch of fish. About that time, some more tour companies showed up, they suggested that I chain up or anchor and I explained that I had dropped my anchor. They could have laughed at me, but they dove down and found our anchor and brought it back to me. By this time we were ready to head back to the boat.
We had lunch on board then took the dinghy into the beach and walked to the nearby waterfall, and a walk through the town. Then dinghy back to the boat rest then BBQ steak for dinner. 7,000 steps for the day. This is a steep trail, but not as long. Tonight we will play a game.

Neil at the Nav Station
Reneé in the Galley
the Pirate ship
Yelapa
the four of us
David and Susan
the pelican is in charge!
in the dinghy headed to shore
Susan
Neil BBQing
Yelapa
Susan and David
Reneé and Neil
David and Susan
The four of us

February 6th, 2025 Puerto Vallarta Thursday (Yalapa)

We were a little late getting off the boat. So, we had to contact the water taxi and tell them 930, instead of 9. I think the guy was here before he got the message. We started walking as soon as we were ashore and walked to the jungle garden first (about 1/2 way to the waterfall). Then finished our walk, we ate our lunch looking over the waterfall, then David and I went down and swam and took pictures and finally climbed back up to the ladies. We got organized and looked at the time (it was after 2 pm, and we had to be back in time for the water taxi, with the last run being at 4:30).
We made it and had time for chips and guacamole at the restaurant on the beach. Then back to the boat, we bbq’d sausages, veggies, and potatoes.
After dinner showers were the order of the evening. Then we all sat around doing nothing, (Susan was writing her trip notes, Reneé and David are reading books, I am writing the blog). Today, we saw dogs and cats, cows and chickens and a bunch of birds. We had drinks at the Jungle garden, not overly expensive, we had heard they were “ridiculous” but we did not consider 60 pesos (about $3) for a mineral water at a sit down restaurant that expensive. Especially when you consider that to get that beverage, it was delivered to the city by water taxi and then carted up on a quad or by a donkey. In fact I think it was a bargain!
We swam in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall, and had lunch at an overlook. Dinner was excellent and, we were all pretty tired, we walked 15,900 steps today! That compares to the last two days of 56 and 50 (we did not leave the boat).
The plan for tomorrow, is to go ashore a bit later, and walk to the closer waterfall, then two or three of us will take the dinghy around the point to do some snorkeling. Susan is not that interested, and Reneé is dealing with a sore mouth from the dental work.
David has expressed an interest, so I will take him.

Close up of the snake
there is a snake in this picture
on the trail to the waterfall
David and Neil at the waterfall
the four of us
the four of us
On the bridge
The school that we focused on as we walked past the bridge
The last chance resort
On the bridge
David and Susan

 

February 5th, 2025 Puerto Vallarta Wednesday (La Cruz anchorage)

Reneé was up at 6 to start breakfast. The rest of us got up by 7:30.
We got the water toys out, two paddle boards, the tandem kayak and the dinghy. We tested the ladder for the dinghy to get into it from the water, it works! Then we took the other stuff for a tour of the Anchorage. Then back to the boat, lunch and underway for Yelapa.
We motored some and sailed some and finally at the end of the back to the motor and then coordinated a mooring ball and parked for the night. I am not sure why, but the alternator is not charging the house bank, so we ran the generator and had dinner on deck.
Today we saw a bunch of whales, some when we were kayaking, some when we were having lunch and some when we were motoring and some when we were sailing. Some of them were breeching, some were spanking the water with fins and tails, some were adults and some were babies.

David helping with the lines
Learning how to snorkel
Paddleboarding
Bible reading
David and Reneé
Whales!
Kayaking
the Light House
Susan at the wheel
The Edgar at Yelapa
Yelapa by day
Yelapa by night

 

February 4th, 2025 Puerto Vallarta Tuesday (La Cruz anchorage)

Up at 6:30, breakfast, the net, bible study, some went to the market and then out into the bay. This morning on the net, there was a report of an attempted outboard theft.
David, Susan and Reneé went to the market, I cleaned up the mess under the engine. It was a very small amount of oil, and mostly sea water. The most likely source of water will be the raw water pump, the impeller was changed, so after it’s warmed up I will look for it. I added coolant (very red antifreeze) this is to be expected, as the heat exchangers were just rodded out, so the coolant was changed. Then took out the trash.
After everybody was back we left the marina and sailed for a few hours. Had lunch on the boat, dumped the holding tank, then when the wind died down we motored into the anchorage and dropped anchor.
We swam and bbq’d. After dinner we played some Mexican train.

David and Susan
Reneé at the wheel
David and Neil
the Market
Neil & Reneé
David and Susan
Lunch
Birds
Susan
Just drifting along
just another sunset