24° 11.069'N, 110° 18.210'W

We decided to make the long run back to La Paz as painless as possible, so we just went for it with an overnighter! When we say overnighter, we mean no stops, you just sail or motor sail taking shifts until you get to where you are going. There are no Motel Six or rest stops to pull over for a rest at out on the water. We said good-by to our friends on Swift Current and Blue Rodeo on Tuesday morning, 5/31and started our run south. We initially intended to stop at one of the anchorages outside of La Paz for a day before going in and went that way to check them out before deciding to go into the marina and get a slip. I had made an appointment with 'Sergio' the stainless steel guy for some work on the boat and friend, Bob Stillmock was in town. Bob is actually my daughter in laws' step-father, married to her mom Pat and I know them from Denver where they all live.

Bob and Pat have a home in La Paz and Bob was in town, but only through the 4th, when he flew home. We had been invited to see or use the house when we were in town earlier and had gone to see it but didn't stay there. With Bob in town, and he has been coming here for years, it's like having a local tour guide; a great way to experience a city.

All things came together; Sergio started work as promised and Bob came by and picked us up. Bob keeps a car here in La Paz and he had offered to take us shopping. I had also been having problems with my HF radio and we found a local SYSCOM dealer, an international sales and repair franchise that services ICOM radios where we were able to take the radio and tuner for service. Of course that meant my emptying out the lazarette, which is like saying empty your garage to get to them, but I got it done, several times as it turned out. Anyway, with Bob's help we got all that taken care of plus some shopping, filled our propane at the propane plant, which was way out of town and had dinner and lunch at some of Bob's favorite hang outs, including Tres Virgenes Restaurant; great choice! We enjoyed Bob's company and all his help to get us ready to go and we got to hang out at his 'hacienda' and have a few cold ones together too! Thanks Bob!

All that said La Paz was hot with the daily temps usually around 100°. Getting Pacifico ready for the trip north was my primary concern. The afternoons when the day was at it's hottest we took a pool break, then back to the boat. Sergio finished our new stainless stern pulpit extension, jerry jug rail racks and a few other small modifications and we were ready to move to the Cabo area to stage for the trip north after a farewell dinner with the crews from Sirocco and Wind Rose at a great hamburger place, "Bandidos." You will have to see the pictures Marisa has posted of this place. It is an outdoor, back yard setting and they have this big BBQ that they built in under the hood of an old pickup truck. What a fun place, great food and service at a reasonable price.

If you are not aware the trip up the outside of the Baja Peninsula is called affectionately the "Baja Bash" and for good reason. The prevailing wind, waves and currents are all coming down the Pacific Coast all the way from Alaska at you and it can be nasty. We departed La Paz on June 9 and made the 125 nm an overnight run to San Jose del Cabo's Puerto Los Cabo Marina where we arrived at 1000, almost 24 hours later and one of our best times. I think we caught the current in the Cervallo Channel and around the Cape just right!