Christmas at Agua Verde

Searover II at anchor in Agua Verde for Christmas.

It was a very merry christmas!  We made it to Agua Verde on Dec 22nd and enjoyed a laid back few days in Agua Verde.  It is one of my favorite places and we enjoyed the company of good friends and some new friends and had a potluck christmas dinner on the beach with all the boaters and some back packers and campers that were also there. I have put together my kayak a couple of times now.  It is still complicated and takes a while but it sure is fun to use!

I built my kayak on the beach, starting with two bags and a blond.

Ended up an hour later with a kayak and a brunette!

Christmas on the beach was fun! 

Shopping for fresh goat cheese in Agua Verde

This rustic outdoor kitchen was well used in the making of
goat cheese as well as all the family meals.

Christmas dinner still looking pretty cute!  We did have to
walk away when we saw one young goat being taken away
to become a christmas roast.  One of lifes harsher realities....

San Jaunico to Puerto Escondido

One of lifes many beautiful moments

So we left San Jaunico on a quiet saturday  along with Searover II and Greybeard and motored south in the very light winds.  That night we anchored at Isla Coronados which was a favorite from last year.  This time we were treated to a spectacular sunset but only stayed one night and motored on early in the morning to anchor off Loreto for a resupply run.  We arrived early in the morning in calm weather.  Loreto is very open and we are basically just anchoring off a beach, so we all launched our dinghys and made the run into town as quick as possible.  Our goal was to be back on the boats with all our groceries before the winds picked up.  We nearly did it!  By the time we got back it was a little lumpy and the dinghy ride was a little slow and wet but not as bad as it could have been!  And now we had wind.  A pleasant 20 mile sail later we were pulling into Puerto Escondido, which is about as protected an anchorage as any you could wish for.  We spent a couple of days there hanging out, doing laundry and went hiking up what is known as the Steinbeck Canyon.  I had gone there last year with the crew of Falcon 7 but it was a first for Searover II and Greybeard.  The canyon is spectacular and I got further up this time with some encouragement from Gary.

One of the trickier spots

The water scours the canyon walls during big rains

The trickiest spot!  I did not get past this one last time, you have
to get behind the rock and climb up on the backside.

Getting past the scary bit was worth it!

Gary and  Bill enjoying the view.  We managed a swim in one
of  lovely fresh water pools as well.

Looking towards the canyon from the water.  I don't think we
really got all that far up......always more to explore.

To the Baja

Punta Chivato, Kialoa, Greybeard and Dreamcatcher at anchor

On December 3rd we made the 70 mile crossing from San Carlos to Punta Chivato on the Baja side of the sea of Cortez.  We left San Carlos at around 8pm following a couple of hours behind Greybeard, who reported fun sailing conditions ahead!  Fun sailing for Greybeard does not always mean fun sailing for Scott.  There was beautiful wind but it was still a bit lumpy from the earlier stronger winds and with the waves coming on the beam it was a little rolly on Kialoa, so yes, poor Scott, seasick again.  He was able to stand his watches which was nice and as we neared the Baja coast things got a little flatter and Scott felt better.
Anchor was down at Punta Chivato by noon Dec 4th and we had a beautiful spinnaker run to Santispac the next day, in flat water, so no Mal de Mer.  We spent just over a week at this lovely anchorage.  Searover II came down from Santa Rosalia and joined in the fun.  Santispac beach is a large campground and with the long sandy beach and easy highway access it is quite popular with the RVers.  We went to the friday night dance at Armandos and had lots of fun, although it seems one must beware the margaritas there!  Here is an excerpt from Scotts log entry for saturday.

"Hangover!!! Personal observation: "a sailboat is the worst place to have a hangover, it always moves and is not very quiet" my hair hurts, I must do my utmost to never (heavily underlined, lol) do this again, worse than seasick."

I was fine saturday having partaken in far less margaritas. I was feeling quite virtuous and was probably kind of annoying.....poor Scott.  We have since heard other sailors stories of the margaritas at Armandos, Scott was not alone in his misery!

Spinnaker up on our way to Santispac

Fellow Saltspringer Louis was camping on the beach with his
fifth wheel.  He also bought Scott that last "one too many"
margarita! Scott is only smiling because his  hangover is now gone!

Enjoying a hot pool soak near Santispac with Margy from
Dreamcatcher and Karina from Searover II

Pelicans hanging out on a reef Santispac

Our next stop was San Jaunico.  We had waited in Santispac for the strong winds to die down and then made the 53 mile trip down to our next anchorage.  It was mostly a motor and so we made 23 gallons of water on the way and filled all our tanks up.  We are really enjoying being able to make our own good clean water.  There is very good water in most cities and towns of Mexico now so travelling without a watermaker is very doable but we are enjoying the freedom from having to source and haul it!  We spent 4 days enjoying San Jaunico and waiting for more big winds and waves to pass on by.

There were some very cute mules and donkeys at San Jaunico.

Did lots of hiking as it was too windy and kind of cold for water
sports.  It was much warmer heading inland.

On another hike with Greybeard, Searover II and Falcon VII.

San Jaunico is a much more remote area than Santispac and it is a 45 km drive down a dirt road and through private lands to get there. People are allowed access to the beach and the intrepid do get there by vehicle but there are no RVs.  It is pretty much 4wd only to this free camping area.  I went hiking with one family that had been coming there for 20 years!  We had a fun potluck and bonfire on the beach with all the campers and boaters in attendance.  That was about 25 of us altogether.  Like I said, it is a little remoter than some places but well worth the effort.

We made friends with some of the campers at San Jaunico.
 Wade was feeling kind of primal after a
successful spearfishing excursion!