Nov 23

We are still at anchor just outside Marina La Paz. This is convenient as it is only a 1 minute dinghy ride. Laying at anchor is not bad here as it is still to hot in the marina. Also save about $40 per day. Anchoring is free. The only cost is parking the dinghy at the dinghy dock and the cost is 15 pesos per day ( around $1 US.) For that we can leave garbage and also dump oil and get water. Every trip we take 7 jugs holding 10 liter each. This keeps the tanks full and we have been using the wash machine and washing the decks etc.

La Paz is still a nice town. The economy is slowing down here to as evident in the lack of charter boats and small cruise ships. The building of big condo resort on the Magotte is still in full wing and it employs hundreds of workers. So on the street is not evident that things are slow although we see a few empty stores. Looks like businesses more directly connected to the US are most effected right now.

We love to walk through downtown as it has many stores and a nice atmosphere. The Malecon is a great walkway along the water and is tiled for 3 miles or so. Still a fair amount of boats at anchor.

Painted the dinghy with latex paint as the sun made it look beat up and a bit of paint makes it look like new. Yesterday painted the name back on and Joanne painted the name on one of the life bouys. One more to go. This week we did some varnishing in the galley and took the outboard apart for a cleanup. Broke a bolt and spent some time sourcing  a metric bolt. A 3 hour trip by bus and walking to get it. But who is in the hurry?

Nov 17

Arrived Friday afternoon north of La Paz in Puerto  Ballandra. Crystal clear warm water and no wind. Anchored and went for a swim. Real great night.

Saturday
Got underway around 0930 and pulled into Baja Naval Marina for fuel and water. Then sailed on into the harbor till we got the wind on the nose and and turned on the engine and found a place to anchor just off Marina La Paz.
A lot of building has gone on here since last year and we wondering who is going to occupy all these high end condos. The marinas are full with the new influx of the new fleet coming down this year. This is normal and in a few weeks things ease up as boats start traveling in all directions.

La Paz is a nice place and we like to walk around and mingle with the locals.

We have a long list of things to do so we are trying to do some of them as the weather is ideal.

Nov 15

Got underway at 0600 hrs. This time no wind whatsoever so we proceeding slow under engine. Several sailboats around us doing the same so we traveling in sort of a convoy. It is hot today.

Nov 14

Left early at 0600 hrs as the winds came from the west and the seas settled down a bit. Sailed for a few hours then the winds got light on the nose and we turned on the engine for a few hours. Later in the afternoon the we sailed some more. At anchor around 1500 hrs the second sailboat. By sunset another 15 boats had come in. Crystal clear warm water.

Nov 11

Left Cabo Sunday afternoon after church. The winds where West and wrapped around the cape becoming SW on the inside. So we sailed from the anchor after having to deal with a stuck anchor thanks to the old moorings left on the bottom of the anchorage. A great sail and we sailed to within 2 miles of Frailes when the wind died. At anchor at 2200 hrs.

Stayed Monday at Frailes and did maintenance. Clean the SS rail etc.

This morning left at 0500 hrs and tried to sail but could not make headway so gave up and anchored behind Punta Arena. The winds picked up today so we feel good we did that as several boats came by very slow trying to beat into it. Looks like tomorrow same same. So another day at anchor and cleaning etc

Nov 7

Arrived Wednesday after dark in Cabo. Caught 2 nice fish during the day a yellow fin and a Mahi- Mahi. Very busy in the anchorage and many tour boats plying the waters making navigation difficult. So we anchored way out for the night.

Crew disappointed as it is not prudent to go ashore as it is far away and we did not get a good look at things by daylight.

Thursday morning firsts thing moved in closer to make sure we got a spot before the Haha fleet comes in. Anchored in 110' of water.

Like always our crew scattered in all directions as the pleasures of land are very appealing. We are left with the two of us and a large amount of laundry and work. The water temp is 28c and is luke warm.

Did dive on the boat and all looks well. Plan to leave Sunday after church north to La Paz.
 

Nov 5

Sailed all the way thus far. Overnight we had some light winds but managed to hang in there. At dawn we had another sailboat less than 3 miles on our beam. Looks like they where under engine but than set sail when it got lighter.

Had a few strikes on our fishing lines but nothing to show for. All are ready to indulge in land pleasures. Talk of hotel rooms and long showers are now dominating the conversations. Real sailors are a strange breed, after a long while at sea longing for land but never very happy there for long. Then the longing for the ocean gets stronger and on to the next adventure. One thing is for sure they are most often to be found near the edges of the water.

This morning find ourselves 50 NM from Cabo and expect to be in late afternoon. Crew is making plans to go onshore tonight.
 

Nov 4

Had a great sail from Turtle Bay to Bahia Santa Maria. The first night motored for 7 hours and had to use the engine to get in as the wind was very light and everyone like to be in. Lost both our fishing lures during the second night, totally ripped off.

Bahia Santa Maria is a very large and Gorgeous Bay with sand dunes on the ones side the other has a few 1300' hills. Greg, Troy and Eileen went to play in the surf at the beach. Jeremy decided to climb the largest hills. All went well till it was time to pick him up from the beach as I pitch poled the Zodiak and ended up underneath it as it floated up side down underneath it. Together managed to right it and paddle back halfway back to Western Grace. The engine had been submerged and Greg jumped right away at getting it cleaned out. Time is of essence if this happens as the saltwater is extremely corrosive and will seize engine parts within hours is exposed to oxygen.  one cannot get it cleaned out right away leave it in the water till it can be done. Best in fresh as it is less corrosive.

First take out the spark plugs and start pulling to evacuate the water out out the cylinder and carburetor. If it is getting close to cleaned out spray WD 40 into the cylinders and move on to changing the oil out of the crankcase. Them pull some more and check if the ignition is still working. This is done by inserting a spark plug into the spark plug cable and pulling the cord to see if there is a spark. We where fine and next step to disassemble the carburetor and clean it out. If all looks clean insert the spark plugs and pour some gas into the exposed intake manifold. Started up right away and let it run for a bit while pouring in some gas at the same time. Them put the carburetor back on and give it a try.  Worked for us but the engine ran lousy on higher RPM. We let it run for a bit and changed oil again, them for a test run. After running for twenty minutes or so it started to run like normal. So it looks like we got her back. The Mexican fisherman do this all the time.

Our stay in Santa Maria was lovely and the water as warm for swimming. Left yesterday around 1100 hrs as the Haha fleet was growing larger around us. Sailed to Punta Entrada at the entrance to Puerto San Carlos in Mag Bay. Anchored late afternoon and sailed away this morning in light winds and a big NW swell.

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