02/02/2010, Isla Isabela
"Let's go see some boobies!" The Captain announced.
"Ugh....Dad that's so gross.." Kimberly's reaction to many things, actually. We are pulling into Isla Isabella. One of the most beautiful stops so far. Isla Isabella is a National Park and a bird sanctuary. It also has a snorkeling visibility of about 30 feet. It's absolutely beautiful .
It turns out, the bird to see while you are there, are the blue-footed boobies. At the very top of the hike, the boobies are busy nesting. There are about 9000+ birds in trees, nesting aground and flying all around. (It sounds impossible but it is actually a factoid written inside the info booth) At times a bit eerie. We saw about 30-40 boobies nesting. They look like they are just lying around on the ground resting...but upon closer inspection they have a few little eggs under their bums. Elias, who is good at rubbing things the wrong way, got a couple feathers ruffled up enough for us to get a good glimpse. Similar to many females we know, these did not care for Elias being that close to their bums...or their unborn children.
Isla Isabella is also covered in iguanas. A child's very own wildlife safari. Naturally, Elias was ecstatic. For the girls (that is, of course, what he claimed) he ended up catching one really big iguana and a few smaller different types of lizards. Iguanas are pretty cute. They are full of personality and have a very lazy, carefree mood. When they have to, they can shake a tail...which is also pretty cute. We have some awesome pictures in our gallery of the hike.
After we came down from the hike, we got to hang with a few of the local fisherman under their shady little "break hut." I got to practice my Spanish with a few questions about their work and the area. Elias asked them if they ate the iguanas.
We decided it was time to head back to the boat. Kimberly and her boyfriend, Zack decided to swim back as the rest of the gang jumped in the dinghy. It was just about then that we spotted a humpback whale breaching. Kimberly caught a few good pictures before she headed back. She is quite the photographer. Please look for them in the gallery as well.
Tomorrow we are headed to San Blas....onto our next adventure....Until then _/)_
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01/27/2010, Stone Island, Mazatlan
"Im gonna go touch that ass!" The Captain announces, as he heads across the beach.I looked up in a bit of shock.."What did he just say?" I asked our friend Jerry,who was sitting across from me. He shrugged. I half expected to see Elias heading towards some hot little senorita across the way. Thankfully, that was not the case. We are in Mazatlan still, but have moved around this spit of land, to a place called Stone Island.
I love it over here. I'm learning to surf, swimming alot and spear fishing. The air is so fresh and the beach is covered in quaint little beer stands and taco shops. Right off our bow, there is a fabulous little pizza joint called Benji's. One of the people that runs it is a young American surfer type, who gave up the rat race and lives here full-time. He is starting a family, with his lovely wife, and their shrimp pizza should win some kind of food contest.This very pizza is cooking in the oven as we sit relaxing in the sun, wondering what Elias is up to now.
It turns out, Benji is the ass in question. The donkey that lives out back. Elias, has this amazing relationship with animals. Especially pig-headed jack-ass's. Go figure. I just felt relieved that, Benji was the "ass" he wanted to touch.
Elias pets Benji, all of a sudden Benji is running down the beach.
Great. Wild ass. With my boyfriend in hot pursuit. At first I thought, perhaps Elias felt that the ass needed liberating. Actually, Benji was never tied up. I guess sometimes when Benji feels "frivolous"he visits his good friend around the bend. SHE happens to be a horse.
SO..Elias chases the ass...who is chasing ass...AND we follow for pictures, naturally.
In the gallery you will find a series of pictures that covered what happens next...PS Kimberly took these amazing and hilarious photos.
Until next time
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01/03/2010, Mazatlan/ the main land
"Sarah where have you been? We are under attack!!!" Elias shouts from the cockpit
"Yeah, Sarah we are at war!" Kimberly shouts!
I look blankly up the companionway...taking out my headphones and pausing my ipod...."Uh...what?"
Turns out we were not at war with a bunch of one eyed pirates...but instead..a few of our friends aboard S/V Tynamara.
Their family had thought up the idea of surprising us with a spontaneous attack...while underway,with full sails,at eight knots...! It was awesome...little did they know; we too have water balloons aboard...so we put up a good fight, but in the end we were out numbered. They have two strapping teenage boys and a dad who has a pretty good arm. :) At that time we were crossing the Sea of Cortez to the mainland of Mexico. The wind was phenomenal...so we ended up blowin into Mazatlan about 8 hours ahead of schedule. So, here we are in Mazatlan...its awesome. About 90 degrees outside and I'm currently eating a plate of nachos, having an ice cold Pacifico, watching my family bask in th sun and play in the pool....I'm going to jump in myself..so I'll talk to you guys soon! xoxo S
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12/17/2009, Espiritu Santu and La Paz
"Sarah, have you ever had rattlesnake tacos?" The Captain asks.
"uh,no.......why?" I don't even know why I ask about these things...
"Well let's go see if we can catch one. I hear they are really good eatin."
I realized the hunting gene was rearing its ugly head. I can only imagine if his buddy ,Clint were here. They would be wearing special deodorant and spraying snake pee all over themselves. Thankfully Clint is hunting elsewhere.
We were on the Island Espiritu Santu. It is a beautiful island north of La Paz. There are a few anchorages on the west side of this island and many different types of geological beauty as well. It reminds me of a little grand canyon in many places. Big boulders, cacti, and just lots beach.
At our first anchorage, Bahia Gabriel had the most beautiful lagoon. We saw about 6 stingrays (various species) many different types of birds, and lots of fish we wanted to eat. I couldn't believe how many yellowtail I see here; so close to shore.
We finally make it up to Ensanada Grande. My favorite. It was so beautiful there. This is where we decided to take our final hike of the trip,before returning to La Paz. We left the kiddies at the boat and went with our friend Jerry on an amazing hike. Where AMAZINGLY we found a rattlesnake!
No, we did not skin it and make tacos.
But of course the mighty Elias HAD to catch it. My only was,"o god please don't let it bite him.....Jerry and I are not carrying that big boy out of here!"
I found out that on much of the Island there are 'rattle-less' snakes and that many of them aren't aggressive this time of year, as they are mostly in hibernation mode. So,it was really cool to see one.
We finished our hike and Kimberly went on her hike with some friends. She caught a glimpse of two scorpions....she said that it was very cool. I was so glad she does not have the hunting gene...she let the scorpions go on their merry way.
We have now returned to La Paz to pick up our wind generator part and fill up with water. We are planning to head to the mainland very soon and will write with an update on that.I will also include some pictures in the gallery later this afternoon;when I get all the pics downloaded. Love you all!
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12/06/2009, lovely La Paz
"Sarah,hurry and cast off my line...I am going to feed the pelican" says the Captain.
"What?" I say, slightly confused, but never surprised.
Off he went.
Turns out, right near our anchorage here in La Paz, there is a "foul dock" (birds reside there AND the word perfectly describes the stench) there lives among many,two broken-winged pelicans. Elias and Boo decided they would adopt them. After liberating our final two crabs and losing a new found caterpillar (which I'm sure is lying dormant in a creepy cocoon,somewhere aboard this boat :( ) I think they were feeling "petless" So, each afternoon they fish together and try to get food to their little buddies. One evening our good friend,Christy, from "Hello World" came over with a scrumptious delivery of her caramel/chocolate brownies and offered to dinghy Elias and Boo over for an evening feeding. All I could hear was a yelp...then hysterical laughter (I knew it was Christy ,her laugh is one in a million) I guess the one pelican was VERY excited and very hungry.....and tried to eat Elias's hand AND the fish. Hilarious.
I went for the feeding a couple days later and this very same pelican (who actually comes running when Elias calls) was so greedy for fish...he nabbed Pelican#2's fish at the same time as his own....and it got stuck in his throat sideways.If you've ever seen a pelicans throat up close you know it is nearly see thru...now just imagine seeing an entire fish in all its detail.I almost peed myself......again. Its just too much fun being part of this wacky crew.
We are currently motorsailing out of La PAz, on a beautiful sunny day, headed for Espiritu Santu ( an island about 4 hours north)
We visited a fund-raising festival this morning called, Subasta.
We contributed 80.00 pesos for the families of La Paz, to enjoy Christmas with. Savona and Kimberly make my heart melt with pride when they realize how lucky they are to live the lives they do...and how well they treat others who are less fortunate. We talked about all of our family and friends...thinking of you all around this wonderful season. We love and miss each and every one of you _/)_
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11/27/2009, Lovely La Paz
"Mommy, my cwab is gone..."
"What do you mean Savona? What do you mean gone?"
Well, after looking through Savona's 'crabitat' for about
10 solid minutes...I realized what she meant by gone.
Recently, as part of a homeschool project, in the marine biology
department, we decided to bring home two,adorable hermit crabs.
One we called Harold and the other Rambo.
As it turns out,Harold shouldv'e been named Houdini.
So,as with any emergency,the Captain was immediately alerted.
He was engrossed in his novel but still came running,headlamp in hand.
Savona started to cry.
I started to worry about a tiny hermit crab rotting in some dark corner of my boat.
Elias tried to soothe Boo.
Kimberly tried to stop laughing.
The good news is later that evening we found Harold.
We also found that hermit crabs can climb straight up walls.
We chalked it up as agreat discovery AND as a lesson to secure a new crabitat.
Harold was liberated on November 20th 2009 at Bahia Los Muertos.
Rambo was also showing some signs of disorderly behavoir,so we liberated him at the same time.
We found two more. We named them Tiny and Tony and so far they have been wonderful.
Savona took time online to find out what they eat and drink...so as it turns out it was a great project idea.
She did find out that sometimes they eat poop...and even though her Dad said he would be more than happy
to contribute to the cause, we have chose,for obvious reasons, to just feed them dinner scraps.
Now we have picked up anchor and headed to La PAz, where perhaps these fine little beasts can start a new colony
of their own.We plan on being here for awhile..so don't worry I will write soon. To all our friends and family,
here is hoping you have a warm and wonderful turkey day xoxox..._/)_...
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