Christmas in Barra de Navidada

We've been enjoying our stay in Barra Lagoon watching the beautiful sunrises, on occasion, having morning croissants delivered to the boat by the "French Baker", and visiting with friends. Mac has also had her yearly heart check up and stress test in Manzanillo and passed with flying colors...great news! Alan played at open mike at "Pipers" and of course there's always dinner with friends. Christmas was spent with over 50 members of our cruising family with turkey, ham and all the delicious dishes. We had a "White Elephant" gift exchange which is always is hoot. Plans are to stay here in Barra until New Years Day then head to Zihuatanejo where we will be meeting up with Brother John and Stephanie on January 10th. It will be great to see them and spent time with them.

Another beautiful sunrise in the Barra Lagoon....

We love watching the pelicans......one of our favorite birds.


Celebration Jim's Birthday

Left then around the table: Lupita, John "Jonco Marine Services", Jim, Susan "SV Windward Bound", Tom, Joann "MV Misty Seas", Mac, Alan "SV Effie"

Alan singing at Piper's Bar.

Christmas Eve Dinner: Front Darryl, Rita "SV Overheated",

Right Kim, Linda "SV Endeavor" Left Alan, Mac "SV Effie"

Alan doing a great job carving the turkeys and ham for the Christmas Potluck.....

La Cruz, Tenacatita, and Bara de Navidad

Alan had fun playing guitar and singing at the Sunday jam session at Ana Banana's and on Tuesday night at Britannia's so with sad goodbyes it was time to leave La Cruz. Jane from "Anticipation" joined us at the fuel docks in La Cruz on Wednesday morning and we headed for Tenacatita. Jane and Alan had fun fishing on the way down but only had one catch, a Dorado, that got away. We had a little more wind and rougher seas than anticipated but we arrived safe and sound in Tenacatita just as the sun came up on Thursday. Joann and Ryan got in their kayak and came over for a visit, it was great to see them, and they brought us some nice lobster, what a treat.

Stayed at anchor in Tenacatita on Friday and just enjoyed the anchorage, of course Jane and Alan did some fishing. On Saturday we headed over to the other side of Tenacatita Bay by the aquarium and closer to Joann and Ryan's motor home. We went snorkeling in the aquarium and had a wonderful time, the water was 80 degrees. We all went out to dinner that night and enjoyed the local speciality.....fished rolled and stuffed with shrimp, spinach, etc. and then covered with either an almond cream sauce, a pecan sauce, or a diablo sauce. We all had a different one and they were all wonderful. Then back to the motor home on the beach, a bonfire, and a little jam session. The full moon came up while the guys were playing which only added to the special night.

On Sunday we headed over to Bara de Navidad and the "Lagoon." We went into town to have dinner and check out the Monday bus schedule for Jane. We had a great dinner at Mexico Lindo's. Monday came all too soon and it was time for Jane to get on a bus and head back to Puerto Vallarta. It was great to have experienced crew on board and fun for Alan to have another avid fisherperson on board. We'll stay here in Bara until after Christmas and then head out again.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our family and friends.

Home Again in La Cruz....

The trip down from Mazatlan to La Cruz was a quiet overnight motor boat ride. On the way into Punta de Mita Alan caught a new friend......Bob the Boobie. He stayed with us for 45 min. just riding on the dinghy. Somewhere between Punta de Mita and La Cruz he flew away to join his friends.

It's great to be back in La Cruz to see old friends but boy has the place changed. Barry & Ana from "Ana Banana's" are still there but their beautiful view is blocked by a big huge dirt mound. The marina is huge and really changes the whole ambiance. So we're making the best of it just visiting old friends and playing music and remembering old times.

Thanksgiving in Mazatlan

It was so great to see and visit with all our friends in Mazatlan. We had lots of Dorado left over from our trip down so we had an impromptu fish BBQ on Effie.

On Thanksgiving, 180 cruisers and friends had a wonderful traditional Thanksgiving dinner in the cruiser's lounge. It was a beautiful night and the food was great. "Rafael" played music after dinner and we all had fun dancing under the stars.

Alan had fun at a music jam while Mac met with beading friends and played lots of cards (Baja Rummy). We went for the traditional "Sun Downer" on the top of the Freeman Hotel in old town Mazatlan with Chastin and Thomas from SV Freyja then had a nice dinner at the old town square. During our stay they had the 10th Annual Mazatlan Marathon.....we were out bright and early at 6:00 a.m. to cheer the runners on.

All too soon it was time to say goodbye to Mazatlan...........

Cabo to Los Frailes to Mazatlan

We had a rough ride from Cabo to Los Frailes......but everyone usually has a rough ride from Cabo to Los Frailes so what's new! Stayed one night in Los Frailes then we headed off to Mazatlan. We got to sail about an hour the first day but then after that it was a "motor boat" ride all the way in. The seas were like glass, as you can see by the pictures below.

Been in Mazatlan 3 days and beside cleaning the boat and doing laundry in the mornings we have been visiting................it's so great to see all our old friends. Will spend Thanksgiving here then head out to La Cruz on Tuesday morning. More pictures will follow of all our old and new dear friends.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family!

Cabo San Lucas

It was a motor boat ride from Mag Bay down to Cabo San Lucas. After leaving Man of War Cove in Mag Bay we went around to Alcatraz, a quiet little fishing village on the other side of Mag Bay. We took the dinghies over to the island and had a wonderful walk on the beach collecting shells, including wonderful sand dollars, and looking at whale bones. On the way to Cabo we went through the most incredible “feeding frenzy” we’ve seen. There were hundreds of dolphins and birds and the fish were jumping three feet out of the water. The dolphins did, however, take a minute away from feeding to play with the wake on the boat.

The tourism is down in Cabo but it’s still way to busy for us. We’re tired just watching all these people trying to cram a months worth of fun into a week. The other day we had four “4” cruise ships at one time here in the bay…… we stayed on the boat away from it all, however, had lots of action out here in the water. At night there are 3 to 4 large boats cruising the bay from pirate ships to dinner cruises….all trying to see who can play their music the loudest!

On a good note, Sue and Dennis from “Two Can Play” drove down from La Paz to visit. It was great to see them and while they were here, Dennis did a boat survey for our friends on “Freyja.” They have a new business in La Paz, Ross Marine Services, and one of their services is boat surveys. It was so great to see them and have time to catch up on all of our cruising friends.

"Maggie on watch!!!!!"

Bahia Santa Maria & Magdalena Bay

Had a great trip down from Turtle Bay to Bahia Santa Maria. Alan has caught 3 nice Dorado (Mahi Mahi) and we enjoyed a lovely fish dinner on Effie in Bahia Santa Maria with Thomas and Chastin joining us. Saw whales coming into Mag Bay. The trip down the outside of Baja is always a nice experience. Will be arriving Cabo San Lucas sometime this weekend. From there we will head to Mazatlan.

First Stop Turtle Bay

We left Ensenada on Tuesday, Nov 4th, Election Day. We left at 7:20 a.m. and motor sailed until about 4:00 p.m. Had some cloud cover and rain in the distance. The wind came up around 4:00 p.m and once the wind built up we had 20+ kts all the way into Turtle Bay where we arrived on Thursday a.m. around 9:00 a.m. We had a little excitement heading into Turtle Bay…..the winds started to really pickup and we had gusts up to 30/35. We went to reef the head sail some more and the furling line broke! So we had way too much sail up for the wind and had a “rocket ride” into Turtle Bay (got up to 8.86 kts----fastest we’ve ever had Effie). Once we got into the bay, however, the winds died a bit and we were able to hand roll in the head sail and anchor safely. It’s sure great to be out there again. Heading in this afternoon, Friday, to meander around Turtle Bay and will probably head out Saturday, weather permitting.