The Ugly

So we decide to check out Caleto Lobos and join up with Tom and Jeanne from SV Eagle. Our plans were to drop anchor there and then bop up to Bahia San Gabriel and check that place out.

Well, as so many people have written about “plans”, things change. We initially went there to check cell signal, it would be nice to be able to work up in Lobos a couple of days per week.

This leads to “The Bad”- nope it seems that Mr. Slim (Owner of practically all telecom here in Mexico)doesn’t much like Verizon subscribers and the cell signal out there is only for Telcel customers- oh well- more than one way to skin a cat, and I’ll figure that out later.

So we crash out at anchor in Caleto Lobos, not ready for socializing quite that day and are invited aboard Eagle for some incredibly good Kahlua French toast. While the food was great the company was even better. Tom and Jeanne both are really nice people.

They also had John Spicher of the SV Time Piece aboard and we reacquainted after both being part of the 2011 Baja Ha-ha.

Well, Eagle pulled anchor and headed north for further adventures, and we might have followed them to Bahia San Gabriel, but we were lazy and besides, the weather did seem to be changing a bit. It changed all right.

It changed big time to southerly, which very few anchorages here are protected from.

This leads to “The Ugly” a rolly anchorage would have been an improvement- we got our asses handed to us and we weren’t even shopping for asses. It felt like a very difficult passage more than any type of relaxation.

And more “Ugly”- bugs. What the heck are these little annoying flies? Locally known as “Bo-bos”, they are very, very, very annoying. Had a bit of an issue with these little pests.

More “Ugly” - just a note- don’t attempt to use the boarding ladder to lever the kayaks away from the boat. You just might fall in. The nice thing about this- the water is reasonably warm, unfortunately I only got wet from the waist down as I landed upside-down across the bow of the kayak, using my lower back and hip to break my fall. Yes- it hurt.

OK, on to “The Good”

This part of Baja has some of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen.
The water is so very clear
We have a really good anchor
We met a new friend
We met up with old friends
We were not cold

On Friday night we invited John aboard for what ended up being a great visit with a new good friend. One thing led to another and it turned into dinner aboard (Shrimp and Poblano Cream Stew).

Saturday AM - it was over to visit John on his home- Time Piece, a custom Coast 34. This is a really nice boat! There aren’t a lot of vessels that make my heart beat just a little faster, but this is one. The care with which it was built and the love with which it is maintained is obvious. As with a lot of boat visits, this was centered on food and we had a great brunch (Puff Pancakes and homemade Coffee Cake)

Now this particular Saturday happened to have been St Patricks Day, which leads to an excuse for another get together, this time hosted on Papillon. John had some Guiness saved and along with some Pacifico he built up some Black and Tans and I made a Shepherds Pie with just a little hint of Jalapeno to honor our host country- it was a hit!

An evening of good food, and good friends made up for any uncomfortable time we may have had at anchor and that is what the weekend was really about. No matter the issues- the trimaran whose anchor dragged in the night missing us -but close, no matter the Bobo’s landing in my eyes and ears, no matter the rough anchorage and restless sleep from that, no matter the tumble onto the kayak, all of those Bad and Ugly things will fade in memory, but the Good things will be remembered forever.