Photo courtesy s/v Eagle.

We have been sitting at the dock for a week now and it's time to get back out on the hook.  It seems that most cruisers feel the same after awhile and must head out to an anchorage.  Chores need to get done and it is a lot easier doing while at the dock, everything still seems to take time.  A quick update of the week;

Saturday:  Arrived at Marina Palmira and got checked in.  Landing rums and visiting took the rest of the afternoon and continued into the evening.

Sunday:  Visiting took up the morning.  Dock party in the afternoon and then up to the Shack for a pig roast and the traditional wall signing.

Monday:  Removed windlass motor.

Tuesday:  Washed boat, did laundry and hunted down a windlass mechanic.

Wednesday:  Banking and grocery shop.

Thursday:  Walmart shop.

Friday:  Re-install windlass motor.
  

Saturday:  In search of nights like this on the hook.

We will again be out of touch for a few weeks as we explore the Islands.  Rumor has it that there are beaches that need to be walked, diving that has to be done in the warm waters of the anchorage, exploring bays and coves by dingy, snorkeling and lets not forget the fishing.

When we are back in La Paz in a few days we will update again.  After another day of grocery shopping we will be heading further north for more exploring.







      s/v Eagle captured this photo on
      Wednesday evening on their way
       back to the dock.       "Pirate"

It has been 15 months since our send off to s/v Eagle.  Shortly after the dock lines were secure here comes Tom with a huge greeting smile and hugs to match (Renaye got two).  Shortly after our check-in Jeanne snuck up with her hugs ( I got two).
Here we sit at the Marina Palmira for at least a week getting boat chores done and getting caught up with friends.  Terry & Diane from s/v Harmony left this morning for the mainland, Kelly & John from s/v Emerald Lady are two boats down, John greeted us when we docked and we will catch up with Kelly later. 

This is our dock neighbor.  A 116'  Azumit. Still trying to get an invite for cocktails but it's tough to get by the security guards.  I think the owners are coming soon because they have had a crew of about 6 scrubbing and cleaning.
We also have a lot of boats that we have met along the way sitting at one marina or the other here in La Paz.
Dock party at 4:00 and pig roast at 7:00 with $1.50 Margaritas.  Welcome to La Paz.

What a great end to another beautiful day.  We got to sail the whole way in 15 kt winds.  After only two tacks the next 6 hrs was at 7 kts of boat speed without another adjustment to direction or sails.  The cap rail was even dipped a few times.  This picture was our sunset while relaxing after dinner with a bottle of wine.  We were the only boat in this quaint little anchorage.  Tomorrow, La Paz.

From Los Frailes to Los Muertos an uneventful motor sail in 5 kts of wind on the nose.  This has got to be the best anchorage yet.  We are here for a few days enjoying the walks along the beach in 28* weather and the crystal blue water that we can see our anchor set 30' below.

After a 7 hr pounding into waves called Buffalo's we pulled into the anchorage of Punta Los Frailes.  Landing Rums were had and an early dinner.  Bedtime was early that night  and we arose with the sun and got the dingy ready for a day  of exercise.  We noticed that on the boat next to us there was a guy lifting weights and doing a routine of sorts, so I called over and asked what it would cost to join his gym.  I was quoted $200 US, but this is Mexico so negotiations began.  After some time the price was set.  Seeing that we are the first and so far the only members we got an introductory free lifetime membership to Gym Kia Ora.  Our fitness instructors Ken & Julie had us hiking up sand dunes and walking along the beach for hours.  Back at gym Kia Ora a nutritious lunch of pasta salad and beer was served.  Dinner and cocktails would be on Euphoria.  Rum punches and taco's. What a great day, spent with great people. Ken & Julie from s/v Kia Ora are off to the mainland but are returning later in the season.  We look forward to catching up when we meet again.

After leaving Cabo we made a jump into San Jose Del Cabo.  No place to anchor and the sun was going down so we pulled up to the dock, checked in and YIKES !  $116.00 US per night.  Still in search of cheap Mexico.  We did meet a couple from the Seattle area and had a lovely dinner up at a beach bar.  Janet & Peter have a beautiful 48' cat called 'TAJ'.  They were heading over to the mainland so we may not see them for awhile but I do hope we run into these lovely people again for another bottle of wine.

Cabo San Lucas, we have arrived to the tip of the Baja and captured the famous picture that Cabo is known for.  Still trying to figure out this spotty wifi connections stuff.  Sorry for the delay in updates but we have been offshore for  6 days.  We left Ensenada on Sunday Nov. 11th and were heading for Turtle Bay but as we were arriving at 6:00 pm it was very dark so we decided to just keep going on to Mag Bay.  Well, we were to arrive there at 9:00 pm, even darker.  The decision was made to just carry on and stop at Cabo.  The winds were great and we got to sail 80% of the time and motored very little.  Arriving at Cabo at 7:45 am in daylight.  Earlier as the sun was rising and the beaches were in sight the timing was on our side again as the song Another Tequila Sunrise had just come on the ipod.  So an idea was born, let's have a Tequila Sunrise.  For some reason these tasted like the best sunrises we have ever made.  We found our spot just off the beach and set the hook.  OK, we have landed, break out the rum for the traditional landing rums (or maybe two).  You sure notice that this is a holiday place as the music was blasting from the beach side bars and there were seadoos everywhere with people screaming with enjoyment.  A few hours later para sailing, paddle boarding, boats pulling those banana things full of people, glass bottom boat tours, catamaran sail tours, swimmers  and sand castles being constructed.  Yes, a lot of people vacation here and whether for a week or maybe two they seem to make the best of every minute of their precious vacation time.  While relaxing on the back deck people on paddle boards or jet skis would come over and say "Hey Canada where you from ? "  We talked with a few from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.  Small world as we chatted with the people from Edmonton who grew up in the west end, we actually knew some of the same people.  Off to shore we went for a walkabout in the heat and then a few Margaritas, you see we are in search of the more than perfect Margarita that will out do the already perfect Margaritas that come out of Euphoria's bar.  They were good but we will keep searching.

Beautiful sunsets every night.

It's just another Tequila Sunrise.

Arriving in Mexico and clearing into the Country was no where near as bad as the stories we were told.  First and foremost check in at the Cruiseport Village Marina and sit down with Jonathan.  He will make your jaw drop when checking you in by telling you their daily rates.  $80.00 US. " Are you kidding me"?  We are supposed to be in Mexico not the Med.  But wait a minute, he starts to explain that we don't have to leave until early Sunday morning and it's only Friday.  Ok well, I think that's 2 nights but we agree.  Then he starts to fill out all kinds of paperwork for check-in, leaves his desk for a moment and says "ok we are ready, follow me".  Out to the parking lot and into his car, he drives us over to the  CTS Building and proceeds to walk us over to the various windows handing in paper work in quadruplicate while we just signed and handed over money.  $50.00 for this $25.00 for that, another $50.00 for the other thing and less than an hour later we were driven back to the marina.  In no time we were back on board having our traditional Landing Rum all checked in and checked out with all permits in hand. Welcome to Mexico.   So now about that $80.00 US per night, not so bad considering all that was included.  Thank-You Jonathan you were amazing. 

Renaye's first whale sighting of the trip south.  I was sleeping so it was a good thing that she was able to take this picture as proof.  

Sitting here at the Southwestern Yacht Club,  what a great facility with super friendly people all around.  Getting some chores done today and tomorrow it will be a hike to pick up some parts for the windlass, a few other minor parts and then some groceries.  We will be stocking up on some of our favorite items that we will not be able to find in Mexico.  We will also be getting our Mexican fishing licenses and some of our paper work done for exiting and then entering a new country.
Most of the trip from Avalon we had to motor sail however the wind did pick up for the last 3 hrs so we had a great sail cruising along at 6.5 kts in 15 kts of wind and as usual on most of the sailing days just when we arrive at the entrance to the harbor the wind pipes up to 20 kts as we are dousing the sails.  It was a long 90 minute motor down the channel and over to the marina,  so it will be another early get up for our 65 nm trip to Ensenada .  Renaye is excited to get our American courtesy flag down and the Mexican one hoisted.  Our good friends Doug & Ruth had given us a Mexican courtesy flag as a gift when we left the Pacific Northwest and it has been sitting in our flag cupboard waiting for its turn to fly.  A celebration picture will be taken of course.

Palm trees, beaches, golf cart city, and a few traffic circles.  Meeting up with fellow cruisers that you have met earlier on your trip is always fun.  First we walked the town with sv Letitgo from Vancouver and today it was beers with sv Seabear V from Campbell River.  We are all leaving Avalon at different times but will soon meet up again further south. The fun tickets have been used up in Avalon and it is time to move on.  So with tears in our eyes we bid a fond farewell to you sweet Avalon, until we meet again.

Avalon has a mooring field that when you pull up you pick up a pole and pull it up until you reach a loop which you attach to your forward cleat.  Then you pull on the line and walk to the stern of the boat and attach another loop onto the stern cleat.  Very cool set up that allows a lot of boats into the anchorage all in nice rows.  The harbor patrol comes to your boat to collect the fees and after paying for two nights you get the next five nights free.  
We are off to bed early tonight for a 4:00 am get up to make the 67nm trip to San Diego tomorrow.  Probably 2 or 3 nights and then it will be off to Mexico.