From the Sea of Cortez to Portland

Hola! Suffice to say that we traversed a lot of miles* since my last blog post – six weeks ago! You’d think I’d had time to “quickly write a blog post” but quick and Mexico don’t often occur in the same sentence. 

We had some amazing journeys in the Sea of Cortez from late March until the beginning of May, traveling with friends old and new, with pods of dolphins and low flying pelicans along the way to cheer us on. We crossed from Mazatlan to La Paz where we spent a few short days, then started our travel north along the Baja coast.

We reveled in the beauty of the area’s majestic mountains and blue water bays, enjoying wildlife sightings and happy hours watching the sun set. And, we even put up our sails to catch the wind. Imagine that. Managing the four sails of a ketch is an art we’re working on and we’ve learned alot. Winds vary by day and night so each day brings new experiences.

Explored some fantastic little bays and islands, hiking and cruising around in our dinghies to get to the beaches, some white sand, others with shells and agates, others with granite and huge stone formations. Each unique and offering another perspective on the geography of the Baja California peninsula.

Judy in full cover up  - way too much sun

We shared these experiences with fellow cruisers who have become quick friends as we explore remote areas and find treasures on the shore or a good taco stand when we’re in port.

*We cruised and sailed about 550 miles on the Sea of Cortez. The bus mileage I’m not sure about since it doesn’t matter when you’re relaxing in the back of a deluxe Tufesa bus. Every mile, a story.

Check our pics
Our photos best tell the tale of our time on the water, and I’ve added captions to enhance the visuals. Once you see some of our many photos, you may understand why we are going back in the fall to see if we still like it there.
1.       Isla San Francisco, Puerto Escondido https://picasaweb.google.com/100074699878222670561/IslaSanFranPuertoEscondido?authuser=0&feat=directlink
2.       Loreto, San Carlos – a shared taxi ride to explore the town of Loreto; sunset in the anchorage at San Carlos https://picasaweb.google.com/100074699878222670561/LoretoSanCarlos?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOPIz-Oz_9iZVA&feat=directlink
3.       Bahia San Juanico – where we spent 6 days and 5 nights waiting out the weather! No services there but lovely beaches and some fun cruising friends https://picasaweb.google.com/100074699878222670561/BahiaSanJuanico?authuser=0&feat=directlink
4.       San Carlos and Pura Vida haul out in Guaymas https://picasaweb.google.com/100074699878222670561/GuaymasSanCarlosApr2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPuo65Cx8vy3qgE&feat=directlink
5. Los Muertos, San Evaristo https://picasaweb.google.com/100074699878222670561/LosMuertosLaPazSanEvaristo?authuser=0&feat=directlink
6. Isla San Francisco, Puerto Escondido https://picasaweb.google.com/100074699878222670561/IslaSanFranPuertoEscondido?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Ahhh, Pura Vida

Cleaning and oiling the teak on the bowsprit

Through all of these 10 months on the water, Pura Vida has been a dream. She’s responded well to our love, repairs and enhancements and rides nicely on the water. Having a full keel makes for a stable passage on rough waters. We’ve learned her quirks as she has learned ours. I’d say she’s got more patience – one might expect that of a 19 ton vessel that does not, shall we say, turn on a dime.

What Now?

After 11 hours on the bus from Mexico to Phoenix (and 5 stops for Mexican and US officials’ boarding), dinner with friends then a short flight north, we are back in Portland, adjusting to a lot of changes.

We are both working on getting employment, looking for a cheap car to buy, and catching up with friends. We can be found on Hayden Island, enjoying our new life on a houseboat, a great transition from sea to land.

We miss Pura Vida and yet are excited to renew our love of Portland until November.