Monday, July 25, 2011

The Bungee cord tied to the dock finally broke! I'm outta there!

Reward


Well, I finally fired the folks I hired to fix my instruments!  When I called them
I had everything but GPS.  By the time they
left the only thing I had was depth, and GPS.
No more AIS, wind and radar.  I think there
are other things that went "away" too but
I can't remember them now.  Just glad there
is no fog here and I am not usually traveling
at night (radar)!
   Art and Jaye just happened to be heading out for a few days as well so we took of for Isla Partida and
Calita Partida.  Partida is one of Jay and Art's favorite places.  There is a bay on one side and
a "river" separating Ispiritu Santos and Isla Partida.
The bottom is sand with good holding and there
are turtles that live there.  So we hung for a bit
and decided to have hamburgers on Arione.
Jaye cooked and Art sat waiting not so patiently
for his burger.  Great dinner, great wine, great place and of course great company!
      The next evening I put my beach chair on
the bow, got myself a Bombay and tonic and
watched and waited for the wild life to appear.
It is great to have the time to just sit and
watch and wait.  it is actually hard to do at
first.  Believe it or not it takes practice.....at least
for some of us!.  My reward was watching a
Mama sea turtle and her offspring cruise around the
bay for several hours.  I finally got a picture of
Mom's head.  Difficult critters to capture on
camera.
 
    The next day we headed to Isla San Francisco. ISF happens to be one of my favorite places here.
It was a bit crowded as I guess it gets at this time
of year. Probably due to it's close proximity to
La Paz. Also I keep forgetting but it is
summer and the kids are out of school so they are
everywhere!.  ISF
is still beautiful even if
there are other boats
there.I got my kayak out again
and went exploring along the
rocks and shore all around the bay.
It was amazing. The rocks and shallows are
teeming with life.  There were these amazing
colorful crabs EVERYWHERE scurrying
on the rocks when I cam close. Boy can
they scurry. Name: Sally light foot.  I do
believe I can say they came by their name
honestly.  At one point I was staring at the
rocks right under my kayak at something
green.  I couldn't quite make it out. I tried
to position the kayak so I could get
a better look and as I did so a big green
Moray Eel came out and swam under the
Kayak. That was what I was looking at
but couldn't quite tell what it was
until then. Of course my camera was
in it's zip lock!


     
   




  Art and Jaye came by as they were out
for a row around the Bay.  I swear they
looked like something out of Pride
and Prejudice! I told Jay she must
find a Parasol for the next time!
   Their dinghy is a sailing/rowing dinghy.  I haven't
tried it yet but hope to sometime in the future.
It really looks like a hoot to sail and Art has
a wonderful time when he goes.






    It seems like Jasdip and I just travel
through all of this life. They hardly even
give us a second look and sometimes
we don't even get a first!  This guy was
clearly nonplussed by our proximity.
   " Art ,could you row a bit faster I want to
water ski!"

Oh the Life
Needs a Parasol OR a Bull Horn


Stroke. Stroke. Stroke. Stroke Stroke!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Big Sister Comes to Visit

A Cold One at Cafe Triumpho
   Well they made it to Mexico and I made it
to San Jose Del Cabo on time even! So we jumped in the car and took off heading for La Paz.
It was a pretty nice drive over some mountains with a quick stop in Triumpho!
   A very quaint, cute town and a great half way point for a servesa.  Made it to La Paz in time
for sundowners on the boat and planned the next day.
     Decided to keep the car for a couple of days
and the next day we went touring the town and
had to check out the best margaritas.  La Costa
restaurant good drinks,good food and on the
beach.
Outside the Mercado Bravo







   Another stop was the Mercado Bravo
where one can get great produce,wonderful
seafood, just butchered chicken
with the feet and lunch for almost nothing.
These are places one must see when
in Mexico.  That was enough for one day
Inside Chedraui (provisions)
so back to the Marina we went to hit the pool.
I for one
 was very overheated!  It was
almost too hot.  I actually wasn't sure
I was going to make it.  One can't really
just use the hose by the boat cause
the water is very hot in the pipes and a hot
shower is NOT what one is looking for.
   Since we were planning to take the boat
out into the islands it was necessary to
head to the local super market and provision.
We got lots of great stuff and I was looking
forward to the food.  On the way home from
Chedraui we made one stop to check for
Requisite shopping for the girls Ron, entertaining himself
really cool shirts.  We didn't know
whether they would be open or not but
since they were we headed in.  Pea got a real
cool shirt ( and I mean that literally and
figuratively).  Ron found a great belt but he
had trouble finding his size.
    The next day we headed out into the
Sea.  First stop was Caleta Partida. A bay between Ilsa Ispiritu Santos and Isla Partida.  I have now
been there quite a few times because it
is very close to La Paz and quite pretty.
We had borrowed a kayak from
Art and Jaye for Pea and Ron and Diane
used mine.  Definitly not as sleek as those guys
Happy hour at Isla Partida
have at home but it was the only game in town
and they had fun.
   One of my neighbors, Dave, on Free Spirit
decided to come out with us.  That night we got together for a great happy hour and dinner.
Then it hit and all of a sudden it was "cruisers
midnight" (9:00 pm).
    The next stop was Ensanada Grande.  It was very
quiet and peaceful but not quite as clear
as it had been the last time.  We hung at the
beach then took a dinghy ride to the next cove to view the blue footed boobies.  They were very
sparse this time.  The young had all hatched
and flown the coop and we only saw one.
   The next stop was Isla San Francisco!
That has to be one of my favorite places
even now after I have been to several more
farther north.  Thanks to Dave, we planned
a dinghy trip around the island and to
the near by Island of San Jose where
there is a beautiful lagoon and lots of
mangroves.  This was one of the bays
and there was a kayaking excursion
hanging out there at tie time.  We visited
and of course we had a couple of cold ones
and some wine (can't leave home without
it).  Back to the anchorage for another
splendid dinner and a long nap like a baby.
Diane Posing at the Bow
     I am really sorry I just didn't take
very many pictures.  I am trying to get better
and am succeeding now but at the time
I just didn't think about it.  I think we were
pretty busy.
    Pea,Ron,Diane and Dave all went for a hike
up to the top of the Northern end of San Francisco.
I had put a hole in the bottom of my foot
with one of those blasted "push the dot" canvass
fittings and could hardly walk.  Plus I wanted to
make water and just sit for a moment.  I always
feel so very responsible when others are on the
Diane, Pea and I had Bloody Mary's on the Bow
boat.  (Since returning from up in the Sea by myself
I am feeling even more confident and I think
that each visitor from now on will benefit from
that experience).     





  It was a very wonderful time with Ron and 
Pea and a great time getting to know Diane
better.  

















My Beautiful Happy Sis


Leaving the Lagoon at San Jose
Pea with the Escape from the Lagoon in the background


Isla Coyote

Back to the Marina and  great Margarita at La Panga

  On the last day we wound up at a truly
good Mexican Restaurant!  Everybody
got something different and we all tasted.
It was a lovely place and the food was GREAT!
Ron was very happy and we all stuffed
ourselves.  Sad to be back in La Paz but probably
those guys were ready to leave.
A Happy Ron!
  Those sweet guys took me to Chedraui
and got me some more provisions before
they left.  They insisted!  I have never heard
of guests provisioning before they leave!
Only in my family!  That is just how they are.
Diane left me with the ultimate comment
every host loves to hear! "This was the best
vacation I have ever had!!!" Boy was I happy!
Hopefully they will return and each week,
month etc., I am getting better and better at this
so that I can make the experience even
better next time!  If that is possible!

A Happy Diane!