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Published: February 12th 2010
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Three Amigos
As before this cactus hasn't been cut down and stands in the middle of a new bridge. On the way to La Paz
A little late on this entry but we've been busy. After Sarah left back to the States, Dave and I stayed in Los Cabos for another week so he could rinse the salt out and we would have a better weather window to get to La Paz.
During the delay, we took time out to explore Puerto Los Cabos. We had heard about a cactus garden the developer had made, so we went to look at it. I was a lot larger and more elaborate than I had imagined. The landscape architect was really into repetition and rigid symmetry, as you'll see in the photos. After the cactus garden, we set out to walk to the beach and ran into a security guard on an ATV. We asked him if we could get thru to the beach and he offered us a ride on his ATV. So we trundled thru the swampy woods to the beach sitting on the back of his toy. After the beach we walked back to the marina thru the "woods" and I couldn't help thinking that the landscaper had missed an opportunity by ignoring the native landscaping, which I
Old Sailors
There's a saying that when sailors get too old to sail they buy a trawler. Dave is checking out a few he'd love to have ......Now! thought was more attractive than his cactus garden.
We started out fairly early and headed for the first anchorage around the Cape, Los Frailes. The wind was good for a while so we sailed. It started picking up to 16 Knots and then got worse. It wasn't long before we were on the nose with 30 to 32 knots. The waves were about 6 feet. ECHO was diving in and out with the bowsprit going under and the spray soaking me every third or fourth wave. Dave dropped his sails easily because he has a system of lines that keep the sails from blowing all over. He then went below to his other steering station. I wasn't that fortunate so I got a reef in the main and spent 4 hours getting soaked. There was no way I could take the main down by myself with that kind of wind and waves crashing on the bow. I was relieved when we got to the anchorage and exhausted. Dave said HO Hum.
The next morning up early and on to Los Muertos (bay of the dead) It was a great day, nice and warm and an easy trip. Los
Cleat at Los Cabos
Puerto Los Cabos has the best cleats I have ever seen. Solid brass and shiny. As you can see by my sandal big too. Muertos is a nice bay with good sand to drop the hook in. Dave dropped his dinghy and went ashore for a toddy or two. We looked at our charts and found that it is true that charts aren't accurate in Mexican waters everywhere. ECHO's anchor was at the edge of the water and she was in a sand dune. Ansa was totally in the sand dunes. We had a nice flat night and took off in the morning to get to Ballandra bay. It was flat with no wind. WE motored and motored. We went up the coast to a straight between an island and the Peninsula that La Paz is on. It is supposed to be an ugly run but for us it was flat. Until... we got to the end and opened up on the La Paz bay. In a few seconds we went from 0 wind to 20 knots and then to 25. I chickened out but Dave went Ya woo, set his jib, trimmed his main and took off across the bay. We had decided to anchor in Ballandra bay about 10 miles from La Paz so we would not try to get down the
Whale watching tour
This specialized boat is based in Puerto Los Cabos and goes out twice a day to take people out to look for whales or whatever they can find. channel at dusk. Ballandra is a beautiful bay. Big cliffs, white sandy bottom and beaches, and a nice little cove to pick-nick and swim in. We will go back there soon. The next morning we were off to our "final destination" We cruised into the Palmira Marina tied up and haven't left yet.
La Paz is a great town. It is real friendly and you can get almost anything you want. It may cost you though. We are trying to figure out the best way to get parts from the US and which is the quickest. If your boat is in Mexico and has a temporary import permit you do not have to pay customs. But you do have to do a lot of paper work. The chandlerys here basically tack on 30% to cover customs and handling. But you got it if they do. Otherwise it is tedious to get something shipped but not impossible.
We're going to be here a month or two to get solar cells on ECHO and a better Ladder. Dave also has a few projects that are easier in a Marina. Then we are off to gunk hole around the Islands in the Sea
Cactus Garden
At Puerto Los Cabos Marina they have a cactus garden that is about 10 acres of rocks and mostly cactus. of Cortez.
This week is Carnaval in La Paz. I think we will take time to enjoy that for sure.
Until next time,
Dave and Mike
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Jim
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From Jim Puerto Los Cabos
Hi to Mike on ANSA from Jim the manager at Puerto Los Cabos. Looks like I am about to buy a Cooper 416 for myself to start training my two boys how to sail!