Ken's Birthday Celebration


Los Cabos area is blessed with near perfect weather. Near perfect, because in the summer it gets a little warm by some folks standards. Those who live in the desert southwest, consider it cool. Those from the northwest or mountain states probably consider it hot. If your from the east or south you will welcome the dry heat. They do get some storms during the summer. The tropical storms and hurricanes hardly ever hit directly (they do, but not very often). They usually pass by, to the south. They can get some rain (sometimes a lot of rain) when these storms pass by, but it never rains for very long. The whole time we were here it was hot.
During the week that Ken was gone we went into town daily. We ate way to many meals out. The costs here are fairly expensive as it is a tourist town made up of Canadians and Americans.
Wendy and Wayne made dentist appointments to have their teeth cleaned and a bridge repaired. Total cost $85.00. Have that done in Canada. Me I avoided the dentist. I guess I’ll be the person that has the heart attack because I have bad teeth! Actually I plan on having some major work done in Mexico City by a friends Mom.
We decided to do our laundry which meant paying to have it done. The women told us it would be done at 5:00pm so we said that we would pick it up the next day. Now our Spanish is not good so when we went to pick it up the following day it was not finished. I am not quite sure if they put us off or thought we asked them to do it the next day.
As we walked down the main street Wayne thought he recognized this gentlemen as his cousin Dave. Sure enough it was. He and his wife Kim were having a drink at a cantina. They invited us to their place to use their pool and to have diner. We returned the favour by having them to the boat for dinner the following night.
Wayne and Wendy are excellent musicians and we were entertained by guitar pretty much every night, as was the anchorages and marinas.
On the Sunday for something to do we decided to take a tour of the development. For a mere few Million dollars we could own a fabulous home. Ken is getting an inheritance but I think we will pass on this one.
We ate out most meals which was far to extravagant but hey, you only live once. We will stay out on the hook for a while and make up for the expenditure.
Pam email to inform me that Ken had changed his flight and was getting in a day early so I got rid of Juan a day early. Other boaters that we have been coming down the coast with had arrived so we invited them over. When Ken got here we were having a party.
We took Ken out to San Jose del Cabo for dinner. It was to be his birthday dinner that he missed due to traveling back for the funeral. It was very good. An authentic Mexican Salsa band played. We returned back to the boat to have Genesis’s live band play. AKA Wayne. We are the envy!
Today Wendy and Wayne left to go home. Today 5 boats that have been the Canadian boats traveling south arrived at the marina. I am sad to say goodbye to Wayne and Wendy but more adventures lie ahead. From this point on it will be more about swimming, snorkeling, surfing and exploring.
We leave here tomorrow to go to Los Frallise. A snorkeling haven. It could be awhile until we have internet so the blog time may be more than one week.

Bahia Assuncion has a sheltered anchorage. As we arrived around 1600 hr , we did not go ashore. This towns economic base is fishing.
Our next stop was Punta Abrejos "ah bray oh haz" a command word for open your eyes. Abrejos is the closest anchorage to Laguana San Ignacio.
Laguana San Ignacio is a biosphere reserve. In the deeper south half of the lagoon agult whales are mating or training the yearlings.
In the shallower north half the mothers give birth and suckle their newborn calves.
Unfortunately one cannot take their own dinghy into the lagoon. Tours are given. We did not have the time as we wanted to get around Cabo when the weather is good. We may make a trip over land to see this when Alanna visits for Christmas.
The daily routine is to check the sailmail for weather files and messages from the kids. Unfortunately Alanna had emailed us to inform us that Ken’s Mom had passed away. She had been sick for about a week.
Plans now had to be made.
We are in a very remote part of Mexico. It’s hard getting to shore never mind to a town that may have a chicken bus.
The four of us made the decision to boat for 54 hrs non stop to get to Cabo where Ken can catch a flight home. This in itself is not straight forward. Because we are traveling by boat, once in Cabo we will have to make up a new crew list without Ken’s name, do a complete domestic port clearance with the person’s passport. Once he comes back the same thing must be repeated adding his name to the crew list. I will stay with the boat.
We set our watches for every three hours. Ken and I were one team and Wendy and Wayne the other. We would keep watch for the three hours then spell each other off to get sleep. The first night we had following seas, fairly calm and “Auto” could drive the whole night. The second night however turned out to be anything but calm. The autopiolot could not be used. The seas were still following seas but with a wave chop which means BUMPY. Not dangerous by any means but a little uncomfortable. We all did well and arrived in San Jose del Cabo at 1000 hr.
We got the paper work done for Ken and got him a flight, car rental and hotel room. He had a few hours to get it all together. He will make it to the funeral.
I am staying with the boat at a marina Puerto San Cabos. We are approximately 10 miles from town, a $7.00 taxi ride.
Spanish galleons first visited Estero San Jose at the mouth of the Rio San Jose to obtain fresh water near the end of their lengthy voyages from the Philippines to Acapulco in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. This is the location that is now the Marina development. It is being done by a Canadian Entrepeneur.

Its frustrating when things do not work. Until now we have had no problem getting weather fax´s off the SSB. Now some glitch is shutting down the program. My charting-navigational program since downloading Mexican charts has changed formats and not freacting the same way as it had. Am I frustrated. Oh yah. I am feeling very computer challenged.
Ken´s frustration lies with batteries and starters and trying to find things. Corrosion is a real problem. What works one day doesn´t the next.
We left Ensenada with a Buddy Boat. Jim and Judy are from Phoenix, AZ. Travelling together ensures help if need be, someone within radio contact. Judy and Jim were sailors and saw the light and now have a powerboat. They are not likng it however. They have done this trip 4 times so I am sure there is much to be learnt from them.

There has been way more sea life here in Mexico. Dolphins will play in the bow wake for 1-2 hr in pods of 100.
Whales are making their way south to birth their calves.

Fish are plentiful jst put the hook out while underway. In just a few hours we had caught 10 Bonitos. A relative of the tune with red flesh.

Unfortunately only Mexicans can fish for lobsters and other crustaceans. They are eage to barter or sell.

Punta Colnett was to be our first anchorage out of Ensenada. The journey was calm and sunny.Our crew Wndy and Wayne have been steering the course. In fact it seems weird to hav this much free time from observing or steering.

Punta Colnett lies 65 miles south of Ensenada. This distinctive landmark consists of a great flat plateau rising 300’. The cliffs are a black coal like rock on top of sandstone. The anchorage is affected by swell but we found it not too uncomfortable.

The following day proved to be just as warm a day. Judy and Jim figure we are crazy Canadians wondering around in just t-shirts. The weather is as good as any summer day we would have in Canada 80-90 degrees. I guess for someone from Phoenix it’s cold.

Cabo San Quintine is a very large shallow bay. The bay is partially made from clusters of volcanic peaks and sand dunes. The area is an estuary therefore wild life is abundant. The anchorage was a mixed bag. It was calm, silent until about 0200 hr then we started rolling.

We are here for an adventure, well we got one. We detoured to an anchorage at Punta Bajo. THE WINDS HAD PICKED UP TO 35 KNOTS. Not much sleep was had by all.

In the morning the Port starter motor was smoking and the engine wouldn’t start. Ken and Wayne pulled the starter out and we proceeded to flag down some Lobster fishermen in Pangas. Out came the Spanish dictionaries. With hand gestures and the butchering of a very pretty language we got our point across.

It was determined that Ken and I would go ashore as I knew more Spanish. (OK?)

We climbed into the Panga with a backpack for an overnight stay and a bag with boat parts.

There are no docks here. The landing of Pangas and dinghies is done by surfing. That’s right “Catch a Wave” and hopefully don’t flip. The village at the site is now uninhabited. The fishermen come from a town approximately 8 km away inland named Roserio.

The two fishermen Rondrico and Marcel said they knew an Americano Amigo that was a mechanic. Into the back of a Toyota pick up truck we got, driven through winding, rough, hilly back road to the town of Roserio. The Americano did not fix starters but he knew another person who did. This is a small town where everyone knows everyone. (If not related). The starter repair man could have it fixed in 2 hrs.

Rondrico and Marcel drove us to a motel and told us they would pick us u at 0500 hr to take us back out to the boat. Now remember this is ALL in Espanola.

Ken and I walked the small town entering every store. It took maybe an hour.

The motel was nice with a king size comfortable bed that didn’t rock. Needless to say we had a good sleep.

The next morning our friends were early to pick us up. Getting out in the surf is even more challenging.

As we were heading down the coast out Mexican friends came out to wave goodbye to us giving us a thumbs up that the boat worked.

Our next anchorage was Punta San Carlos. We ran into sail boaters we met in San Diego, Steve and Denise on Brendan . They were just departing for an overnighter and would relay the weather conditions back so as we could depart at 0200 hr to get across open water to Isla Cedros before the swell kicked up. The early crossing proved to be the right decision. The only bumpy was at Punta Norte the top of Isla Cedros. The cape effect with wind was prevalent.

Once anchored it was calm and wonderful. However around 1900 hr. the sailboat beside us dragged anchor and drifted out to sea. Luckily when he hit the big wave he woke up and realized what had happened. Ken radioed him on the VHF and left the lights on so he could make his way back the anchorage. Needless to say we didn’t sleep thinking the same could be our fate.

Ken put out the fishing lines. 2 Yellow fin tuna were caught. Wayne says his was the bigger one not Ken’s. We can no longer fish as our freezer is again full and we must consume what we have caught.

We are now in Turtle Bay, an important staging stop for rest and mechanical repairs. We have come 280 miles from Ensenada and have 400 miles to go on the Pacific Baha.

The town of Turtle Bay has aprox. 1500 people living in town. It has been called “coyote ugly” but I believe it’s in the eye of the beholder. The mountain range reminds me of the badlands. Dirt roads connect the houses and the businesses., which reminded Wayne of all the years they lived East of Calgary and the Government wouldn’t pave the roads. (Glenmore Trail). Supplies are meager as the nearest town is 400 miles by treacherous dirt roads. However the people here know that the yatistas put coppers into the towns economy. They are friendly, courteous, helpful with Spanish lessons while learning English.

Ken and Wayne are putting in starter batteries tomorrow. Wendy and I are going into town to do the “pink” chores”

We will probably not have Internet service for another week.

Just so everyone out there reading knows, last week 97 persons visited this blog. Imagine………

Hola! We made it to Mexico. Our trip was rewarded with 100's of dolphins playing in our wake. Quite a sight.
We arrived at Marina Coral at 1600 hr so were to late to get to the Customs. The very efficient staff here at the Marina have all the paperwork ready for us to be driven to the office at 0900 this morning. I would recommend that anyone entering Mexico by boat come here. The American Home Land Customs could learn a few things.
The Marina/Hotel we are staying at is a wonderful treat. Several pools, hot tubs, work out rooms and a wonderful inexpensive restaurant.
We have already been able to practice our Spanish and the people are so willing to be teachers as we slaughter their language. One of our waiters actually said I was doing well. I think he wanted a large tip.
Located in the Bahia del Todas Sontos — an inlet of the Pacific Ocean— Ensenada is an important commercial and fishing port as well as a cruise ship stop. There is also a navy base, an army base. The city is backed by small mountain ranges. Due to its location on the Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean latitude, the weather tends to be mild year-round. Although the winter rain season is short and the area is prone to prolonged droughts, Ensenada sits in the heart of a wine country that is widely regarded as the best in Mexico.
We will be here until tomorrow and may not have internet service for awhile. The photos have been down loaded onto this blog. It was a challenge to get 500 pictures down to less than 100. While underway I will try and label the pictures so as everyone will be able to understand what they were.
Starting on the next blog I will be downloading pictures weekly so as pictures can be viewed immediately and the task won't be so daunting.

Well we have completed the Pacific West Coast of the USA. We had some challenges but nothing we couldn't handle. We met terrific people along the way and have many new friends. We are now in San Diego waiting to leave tomorrow for Mexico. Hola!

We stayed at the Southwestern San Diego Yacht Club. This is a picture of the crew. Cats and Birds. Birds much more colourful than cats!. Halloween was a hoot.

We have spent the past 4 days driving around spending way too much money getting ready to depart. We are reprovisioned, have our HOME LAND SECURITY CUSTOM departure forms. More on this when we are out of the country!. The boat seems heavier with all we have done.

Wayne and Wendy are now captured guests, only to be released at the Captains permission.

Our current location.