Triumphant Entry
01 July 2009 | or better luck next time.
Capt Rich
When the large bull Dorado cleared the water and started tail walking on the water, I had a vision. We were bringing up the tail end of our three boat flotilla from Isla Coronados to San Juanico and with this large Dorado we would have a Napoleonic triumphant entry into the anchorage with the beast hanging from our rigging. We would feed the entire anchorage to the cheers and toasts of the crowds. Songs would be sung and stories told to young children about this day. Just as the victory wreath was being placed on my head, in my vision, I was thrown back to reality as the fishing line went limp. My prize had spit out the hook and returned to the briny deep taking with it my dreams of cruising immortality. My hero's welcome was instantly replaced by the sounds of my crew pointing out to me all the mistakes I had made in my brief struggle with the Dorado. In a vicious splash of sea water and flash of Dorado color, I had gone from a hero to a goat. Dinner would be home made pizza again, and it might as well have been prison rations of green bologna and stale bread compared to what could have been.
The San Juanico anchorage is a beautiful place, but a rather tight anchorage. We spent the night anchored in 11ft of water and had a comfortable sleep once I was able to get the image of the escaping Dorado out of my head. We will stay here today and do some hiking and SCUBA diving because the point is full of lobsters! In the morning we will pull the hook and 80ft of anchor chain and make way for Bahia Conception for the 4th of July Cruisers Party. Most of the boats we have seen in the last few days in the area have the same plan, so we can just follow the wakes north.
We can't deny that it is hot here, which gives us reason for spending as much time in the water as possible. It is, however, about 10 degrees HOTTER in Bakersfield than it is here in the Sea of Cortez. So given the choice, we can survive here swimming, snorkeling, and diving off the boat bringing back lobsters for dinner.