Capt. Crabby
04/28/2012, Stone Island, Mazatlan

Haven't updated for awhile because Banda Ancha wasn't working too well. We left La Cruz on 4-17, spent one night at Punta Mita & had dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, the spent 3 nights in Jaltemba/Guayabitos. There are actually 3 towns there, Guayabitos, Jaltemba and Los Ayala. We visited all 3, had some great food and skewers of shrimp and Pacificos on the beach, and really enjoyed it. We anchored by La Pena island, which was quite smooth, but a long dinghy ride to the beach. Lee, I'm real glad I got that motor from you, it would have taken forever with the 2-horse.
We then sailed, (yes, actually sailed most of the way), to Mantanchen Bay/San Blas where we spent 3 nights. We went ashore, visited the fort, and the town of San Blas, had a nice lunch at Walla-Walla, and then the next day went on the La Tovara jungle tour. Really cool! s aw lots of Crocs, birds and turtles.
We left there Thursday and went to Isla Isabel, but conditions were not good for anchoring, so we went on to Mazatlan. Actually sailed a good deal of the way as well.
We're currently anchored at Stone Island, had pizza on the beach last night and tomorrow we'll head to Deer Island and then into Marina Mazatlan.
We're getting very sad that our trip is almost over, but we've had a great time.
More soon.

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Capt. Crabby
04/15/2012, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle

Last night we decided to have a farewell dinner at the Huanacaxtle Cafe with Frank and Stephanie. They had a promo, if you bought 120 pesos worth of drinks, you got a free dinner. Of course, we had to go for it, so we were probably overserved with drinks. Anyhow, there was a really good band there, and after Jeanette's second Margarita, she started dancing with the waiter. I have photographic proof, herein appended.
We've decided to leave here Tuesday AM for Punta Mita, then to Guayabitos and then to Mantanchen Bay/San Blas. The weather report is looking pretty good for next week, it's been quite windy here the last couple of days.
We plan to be in Mazatlan by 5-1. Frank and Stephanie on "Endless Summer" are going to accompany us, (if we can keep up), they have a 40' boat.
We'll keep you posted.

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Capt. Crabby
04/11/2012, Riviera Nayarit

Yesterday, we visited the very beautiful beach town of San Francisco, known locally as San Pancho. It is located on the coast between Sayulita and Guayabitos. It is one of the nicest beach towns we have seen yet, very clean and prosperous looking. There is even a polo field with stables full of horses. We had lunch in a very nice restaurant on the beach, and walked all around the town. We watched one of the local men climb a coconut tree to harvest the cocos using just a piece of rope around his waist as a climbing harness. Not OSHA approved, I'm sure.
We were going to leave this weekend for Mazatlan, but the weather report doesn't look too good, so we'll probably wait till early next week.
We'll update later.

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Capt. Crabby
04/05/2012, Near Punta de Mita

On Monday, we went to a beautiful resort on the beach just west of here called Rancho Banderas. They had a promo for day use for $200 pesos per person ($16.00 US) for which you got a $100 peso credit toward food and drinks. We spent the day there with Frank and Stephanie from "Endless Summer" and had a great time. There was a beautiful pool and beach and a wonderful restaurant where we had a very nice dinner.
Later this week we're trying to arrange a trip to San Sebastian, which is a quaint colonial town in the mountains about 2 hours from PV.
Regretfully, we are going to have to leave here about the end of next week to head back to Mazatlan. We're going to buddy boat with "Endless Summer" and make several stops along the way, at Guayabitos, San Blas and Isla Isabel. We plan to be in Mazatlan about May 1.
More later.

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Capt. Crabby
04/01/2012, Banderas Bay, Nayarit

On Wednesday we sailed over to Punta de Mita at the west end of Banderas Bay, accompanied by Frank and Stephanie on "Endless Summer". We spent two nights there, a went ashore a couple of times. It's a cute little town with some very upscale gringo condos as well as a Four Seasons golf resort-very exclusive.
Thursday night, we went to a really good Italian restaurant and had a great meal.
Friday, we sailed back to La Cruz, and decided to anchor out Friday night. The wind was blowing 20+ knots when we anchored and we somehow managed to get our anchor rode wrapped around the keel. When the wind abated, Frank and a guy named Pat from a neighbor boat helped me get unravelled, so I took them all out to dinner & beers. I felt like the nautical nerd for the anchor faux-pas but Jeanette and I have devised a better technique now. It's all a learning experience.
This next week is Semana Santa, (Easter Week) here, and a lot of things close for the week, so it should be interesting.
We are going to try to visit San Sebastian, in the mountains near here, next week.
More later

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