Our version of March Madness

The Work: One last project in the yard, installing sail tracks.
In my closet showing the length of the bolt we were dealing with

The Reward: Margaritas on the malecon, La Paz

While NCAA basketball keeps everyone busy in the US, we were having our own version of March Madness finishing projects after our fabulous paint job. 

Moving up the ranks as the month progressed, we finally launched Pura Vida and prepared for some water-based adventures. 

Carnaval in Guaymas

Kids float

(apparently) famous Lucha Libre celebrity (with cowboy hat) on
Scorpion King float, marine guards for safety

No caption required

The Guaymas float, of course, with the Shrimp

Once again we found ourselves still there for the rowdy and ambitious Carnaval ending Fat Tuesday. We think it’s one of the larger ones in the area and there were absolutely tons of people. 

We did our time there, watched the parade a couple of times (it goes for 4 days), and I won another Pokemon light to match my other one – this time throwing rusty darts at balloons. I got all 4!

One of the many highlights of the event is the crowning of the festival queen and the Ugly King. We had the pleasure of being at the dock when the floral guys created the arrangement for the boat parading the queen along the waterfront. What a spectacle! When I left the dock to do errands, the guys had just laid their first chicken wire. When I returned an hour later, another photo opp presented itself with them hoisting their labor. They had smiles on their faces in the photo, happy that I acknowledged and complimented their beautiful work.

On our dock at Fonatur, these guys created this amazing floral
array for the queen - that's our boat behind the motor yacht

The starting point

The Festival Queen in her glory - right alongside Pura Vida!

On March 18, we thankfully left the dock at Fonatur marina in Guaymas, after laundry, one more round of fresh fish tacos (3 tacos and a coke for 50 pesos = $2.60), fresh veggies at the market and washing the boat. Our friends on Echo sent us off, this time without champagne. They had graciously brought a bottle of champagne to toast our departure two weeks prior but that was short lived and we were back at the dock before we left the harbor. Alternator problems, which kept Mike busy in the engine room the next six days, troubleshooting and reconfiguring. So this time, we said, please, no deluxe send off!

She floats! In San Juanico outside the pinnacles

Dolphins alongside (they move fast so it's blurry)

We left the bay and didn’t look back, enjoying a calm crossing of the sea, motor sailing for 24 hours with ¾ moon up at sunset and setting at 5am. We did our longer shifts once again, so we each had half the night at the helm. We dropped anchor in the early morning hours at our first destination, San Juanico, welcomed by our first visiting dolphins while we had breakfast. The osprey and their nests on the four nearby pinnacles provided a flurry of activity.

Captain Mike enjoying our first anchorage

Living aboard provides ongoing learning experiences. Getting your sea legs after being on the hard takes a couple of days. Getting into a rhythm on board. Seeking better ways to preserve fruits and vegetables, minimize trash, disinfect our environs (more vinegar!) and stow our gear when we’re underway so it's safe and accessible in case of emergency.

Stowing fruits and veggies in the V berth