Mazatlan and on to La Paz

We left La Cruz on a Sunday morning, the only reason I know that is that it's market day and the sellers were setting up their locations as we motored out.  Each day frequently blends into the next, unless I make a conscious effort to look at a calendar or my watch.  Time, now that is an interesting issue.  We were in Puerto Vallarta for quite awhile, and it's on Central time.  Then we left for Mantanchan Bay and Mazatlan, which are on mountain time.  Next, while we were on our way to Mazatlan, there apparently was a time change, so we are still on mountain time, but an hour earlier.  I think.  Now we're in La Paz, which I think is still on mountain time... I just ask people what time it is, even if I have my watch on.  We get up when it's light, and retire when it's dark.  Some nights I've found myself still up at midnight, which is extremely unusual for me.

Mantanchen Bay at sunset, beautiful yet the no no's are just waiting to attack!

  Ok on with it.  We sailed around Punta de Mita in a nice 12-14 knot wind, which held for awhile.  Then in the early afternoon, we motored on into Mantanchen Bay near San Blas.  This place is famous for no-nos, which are microscopic biting insects.  Need I say more?  Not my favorite place, but we heard if you stay far out in the shallow bay it's ok.  Not.  We both were attacked while enjoying the sunset.

The swimming pools off of the malecon in Mazatlan.

   Next a.m. we left for Mazatlan, which is a 130 mile journey, or a day and night for us.  So, we broke out the warm clothes and did the overnight-er, arriving at 7:00 a.m. at the fuel dock at El Cid Resort in Mazatlan.  Nothing opens until 8:30 so we had coffee and watched the sunrise.  This was a place we had not stayed at prior, and it's very luxurious with two large pools, swim up bars, water slides, mini golf, tennis, table tennis, shuffle board...  We had a great time enjoying many of the amenities.  We met many fun folks here on other boats and joined a group called the "Motley Cruisers Net", a radio group that keeps in touch as we crossed over to the Baja side of the Sea.  One highlight was an art walk ending with appetizers at El Presidio, a very exclusive restaurant in town.  Mazatlan has the unique form of transportation called the Pulmonia.  Apparently it got it's name from the word pulmonary, as after rides in such vehicles many people came down with pneumonia from the open air seating.  Really, they are just old Volkswagen chassis with unique bodies attached.  They don't go very fast, but seem to weave into every tight spot imaginable.

A Mazatlan Pulmonia.

   On Tuesday morning we left Mazatlan and El Cid marina accompanied by about 10 or more other boats.  It seemed like a mass exodus to Baja.  This is a two day and two night sail or motor, and we used all of that time to get to Bahia Balandra.  One can get across to Los Muertos in a day and a half, but then it's a bash up the coast to the Cerralvo channel and against the currents and winds.  So, we headed higher and continued on to my favorite bay, Balandra with it's beautifully clear water.  We arrived early in the morning, found a great place to anchor, and immediately took a nap.  Then, upon waking up, I jumped in for a swim in 75 degree water, soon to be joined by Leif.  We rested up all day, not pumping up the dinghy, but just recuperating from the sail up.  One dilemma was that our water tester for our water maker needed new batteries.  Rather crucial for good drinking water, we decided to go to La Paz and get that errand done before setting out for the islands nearby.

Roughing it at Costa Baja resort.  Really, we Hated it here...not.  

   La Paz is a short motor away from Balandra, especially if we stopped at Costa Baja which is at the beginning of the channel into the harbor area.  Costa Baja is a 5 star resort, with excellent docks, friendly harbor attendants and office people, a fantastic infinity swimming pool, golf, tennis, and excellent food and drinks.  I had something called frozen tea, and it was non-alcoholic with mint and was really yummy.
   We hopped on the free? shuttle into town several times for shopping, food, and walking the malecon.  I question the "free" part as we paid double the price of a normal slip anywhere else.  But, it was worth it for three days.  Also, the wifi internet was quite fast, which is a cruiser's delight.  We downloaded and updated everything we could.

Yes, this is a boat.  Or rather a yacht that travels at 70 knots top speed with jet engines. 

   One interesting thing here is a very unusual yacht called Galeocerdo, which means "tiger shark".  It's the weirdest looking boat I've ever seen, like something out of a James Bond movie.  It has 3 jet turbine engines as well as two diesels for normal motoring.  It goes 70 knots, and it's 118' long!  I'd love to see it in action.
  We are leaving tomorrow morning for the island of Isla Partida, on which the inlet Ensenada Grande is our goal for anchorage.  We didn't stop there last time, so it's on our list of "places to see".  This trip up the sea will be exciting for me, as we've been to many of the favorite anchorages, and can now venture to some out of the way places.  If Agua Verde isn't out of the way enough for you!  Our galley is stocked with the essentials: crackets (Ritz-like crackers), LaLa light (boxed milk), Chips Ahoy, salsa, salami, tortillas, tuna, aracherra, bag beans and of course lots of Pacifico.  I hope to catch a Dorado, or rather another Dorado.  We hooked one on the passage across, but I had Leif take off the barbs on our trolling lure.  This was due to catching two fish at once, trying to release one and ripping its gills out while doing so.  I felt terrible as it swam away with only one side of gills.  So after that, two Dorado jumped and leaped and threw off the hook.   Ok, no more nice guy, out with the barbed hooks again.  After all, I DO want to barbecue some fish tacos.

A remarkable bird...

  On the last day here, I bravely got my hair cut, and at first it looked stellar and up off my neck!  Then I looked closer and it was a bit odd.  Ah, well, no one will see me for awhile anyway, and it'll grow out.  She worked hard on it and I appreciate her efforts, and it only cost $7.00.  Natascha where are you when I need you?  We won't have internet for awhile, so hasta luego para ahora.

Dramatic sunset at the entrance to La Paz marina and bay front.