02/25/2011, Mazatlan

We left La Cruz Monday February 21 about 0700 and arrived in Mazatlan Tuesday at 1500. Not a bad trip. We usually break it up by stopping in San Blas (Matachen Bay) however because of the week delay waiting for the fog to clear we were in a bit of a hurry. It was a pretty uneventful trip. If fact once we rounded Punta Mita we could of set the autopilot and slept until just outside of Mazatlan.
We were met on the dock by our friends from Ahea Kali and Outrider who grabbed out dock lines and handed us a cold beer. Nice!

Season 2010-2011

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02/25/2011, La Cruz, Banderas Bay,

Free at last
Free at last


That's right. La Cruz has finally released us from its icy grip. Ok, it wasn't really wasn't that bad. After a 6 day delay in out journey North the fog has burned off and we are ready to go. We had a great time visiting new places with friends both new and old. Now that we are leaving it seems that La Crux isn't that bad after all.
Next stop, Mazatlan.

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02/15/2011, The Vortex

Did ya hear it? You know. The sucking sound of us being draged into La Cruz against our will.
After geting our butts kicked on the 50 mile passage from Chamela to Ipla we had an uneventfull rounding of the dreaded Cabo Corrientes. We had the anchor down in Punta de Mita by 2:30 Sunday afternoon anticipating an early departure to Matachen Bay (San Blas) the next morning. The alarm went off at 0630 and I popped my head out the hatch and couldnt see the bow. FOG! Hate it. Back to bed for another our to let it burn off. No luck. Scratch Monday.
Tuesday morning. Ditto on the fog. Back to bed for an hour and then it looked a little better. We could see about 1/2 a mile. Coffee made and anchor up we were out of there by 0800. 90 minutes later we can hardly see the bow of the boat through the fog. Yes, we have radar but prudent seamanship dictates that you dont set out on a 55 mile 10 hour trip not being able to see the front of your boat. I can see other things out to 12 miles on radar but it just anint right.
Remember what I said about the sucking sound? Bandares Bay (Puerto Vallarta, La Cruz) has the largest suckifaction factor know on the planet. No matter how hard you try and not stop there it sucks you in.
I thought we would make another season of cruising without going into a marina. Its kind of a badge of honor. I was on my boat for 3 months, always anchored out, not pluging into power, hooking up a water hose or taking a long hot shower. Not too be!
Enough of my rant. Hopefully the fog will lift in a couple of days and we will be on our way.
Did I mention that in the bay its sunny? Its only foggy when you try to leave.
Suck Suck Suck..........

Season 2010-2011

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01/30/2011

We are hanging out in beautiful Tenacatita Bay with about 15-20 boats. Much different from the first time we were here this season and we were the only boat. The Mayor, Robert aboard Harmony, has returned, and with him a whole bunch of activities. About 1:30 the "swim to shore" starts and then a walk along the beach and always bocce ball after that. Sometimes there is Mexican train dominos, or a game of volleyball. The one sport we all enjoy (some more than others) is the often exciting game of "beach landings". The surf here has been big for the last couple of days and the landings get more exciting as the swell increases.
Bob from Sela looking behind him to make sure nothing is sneaking up on him

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01/30/2011

The second entry not looking so good.

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01/30/2011

And the third, a perfect landing for Mind Magic

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01/30/2011

On Thursday we had a special sport day. Don and Deb from Buena Vista taught us all to play cricket. What a fun time. We all tried to take a turn at being the "bowler". Not an easy throw. It's kind of an over hand throw with your elbow locked.
Pamela from Mind Magic tries her pitch.

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01/30/2011

There are 2 batsmen and they run back and forth in the pitch to score runs as the ball is hit
Loren from Pico swings and connects

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01/30/2011

I try my hand at batting

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01/30/2011

Don from Buena Vista shows us all the correct way. 29

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01/30/2011

The crowd watches Dennis bowl

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01/30/2011

I am sure we missed some of the finer points of the game and no one from the beach here is going to be recruited to the major league but a great time was had by all!! Thanks to Buena Vista, Don and Deb

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01/30/2011

On Friday Mike and I got one of the Panga drivers to take us over to the town of La Manzanilla. With the palapas and tiendas closed indefinably at the aquarium, the closest place to provision while here in Tenacatita Bay is La Manzanilla. We had 25 people show up to Slacker at 9am to tie up their dingys and wait for the panga. Juan made 3 trips back and forth and then picked us up for the return trip at about 1 pm. Everyone had fun, got some grocery shopping done and enjoyed breakfast or lunch in the quaint town.

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01/30/2011

Juan the panguero

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01/30/2011

One of the very full pangas on the trip in to La Manzanilla with
Mija, Southern Cross, Oorah, Equinox, Slacker and Harmony

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01/30/2011

The ocean themed town square

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01/24/2011

Ok so I made fun of the sign in the Soriana store telling people not to bring their pet squirrels to the store. So a bunch of us go for a store run to Melaque and low and behold what do we find, but a pet squirrel. He/She sits in the cage in front of a store and plays with a towel. I had no idea there are squirrel pet owners. I bet they are not happy about the Soriana sign.

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01/24/2011

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01/24/2011

We went on a hike with the "Grey Maxers" thru the golf course and to the beach on the other side of the lagoon in Barra. As always it is a great time walking with Bill and MJ. That girl knows her birds. We saw a ton (actually she saw a ton! we saw lots of branches and trees where the birds used to be) and she can name them all. The beach is beautiful over there and the stairs carved out of the sandstone go up to the top and then back down to a lovely cove uncovered at low tide. We will go back there and do a little snorkeling on the next time we are in Barra.

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01/24/2011

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