Getting ready to haul out!

We stopped at a spot that used to have a salt industry. It employed 200 people at one time, but closed in the 80's. There is a hunting lodge on the island, they have introduced big horn sheep to the large mountainous island and now you too can hunt for a week for a mere $70,000. We went walking around the old salt ponds and Barry started across and got stuck in the gooey, salty muck.

We crossed over to the mainland last week and now are in the process of getting ready to be hauled out. It seems as if we have to clean everything, I washed and waxed all the deck and cockpit. I figure that the wax will protect the fibreglass from the blazing sun all summer. Barry and I have washed and put away the staysail and the main, tomorrow the Genoa.  It has been so windy here that we are getting up at first light to wash the sails as there is no wind then. I have also waxed the topsides, my elbows and wrists were getting so sore from all the rubbing I had to insist that Barry help, so he has polished about 3/4 of the boat. All the lines that has been salt encrusted have been soaked in fresh water and dried in the sun and wind. Barry has changed the engine oil and washed and cleaned the chain and the chain locker. We still have the inside of the boat to deal with, food to be disposed off, fridge to be cleaned, teak to be oiled so it doesn't dry out too much and cock roach traps to be prepared and set.

We get hauled out on June 1, then we are taking a bus to Tucson AZ, where we will rent a car and drive to Sacramento CA, to visit with some old friends before flying home.

This is cruising!

We are in Honeymoon Cove just across from Puerto Escondido which is just south of Loreto. We have been slowly working our way north, spending three or four days in each anchorage we stop in. We have been hiking everyday ending up looking at these lovely vistas. 

The three pictures above were taken in Honeymoon Cove, the one immediately below is Agua Verde. The last two were in Los Gato.

It is really quite beautiful around here. The other day we had a weiner roast on shore. It was great to have a fire, it has been a long time since we did that.

Yesterday we were privileged to have a close up view of porpoises feeding in the cove. We watched and timed them and they would be on the surface and then dive for about two minutes before resurfacing and feeding on the surface again.  We watched them from the top of the hill and they were still there when we reached the bottom.  We rowed our dinghy out from the shore and they came up about 30 metres away, they paid no attention to us whatsoever.  It was fascinating to watch.

(Backup) Sea of Cortez

We have made our way up into the Sea of Cortez, we are about 50nm north of La Paz. We are really enjoying revisiting anchorages that we were in 11 years ago. 

This is the gorgeous Isla San Francisco. We spent four days here and hiked all over the south side of the island.

We walked all the way along the top of the ridge enjoying the spectacular views. 

Today we are at San Evaristo. There is spotty internet coverage here so I hope I am able to publish this. The cell and internet coverage is poor along this stretch so you may not here from me very often.