A Taste of Cruising Mexico

Vessel Name: Journey
Vessel Make/Model: Passport 40
Hailing Port: Ventura, Ca
Crew: Jeff and Dori Beller
About: We're home ported out of Ventura, California. Jeff is a software engineer and Dori is a special ed teacher. We're both on sabbatical from our carreers or early retirement. We're not too sure which and don't really care. Cruising fits us real well right now.
Extra: This is our third extended cruise to Mexico. I guess we like it there! We hope you enjoy reading this journal of our cruise.
19 March 2020 | Ventura, CA
12 July 2012 | Ventura, CA
20 June 2012 | San Diego, CA
12 June 2012 | Turtle Bay
11 June 2012 | Turtle Bay
04 June 2012 | Bahia San Juanico
02 June 2012 | Outside of the Baja
31 May 2012 | Cabo San Lucas
27 May 2012 | La Paz
22 May 2012 | La Paz
22 May 2012 | Southern Sea of Cortez
15 May 2012 | Bahia Candeleros
15 May 2012 | Bahia Salinas
15 May 2012 | Isla Carmen
15 May 2012 | Isla Carmen
15 May 2012 | Isla Danzante
02 May 2012 | Sea of Cortez
02 May 2012 | Punta Colorada (Isla San Jose)
02 May 2012 | Sea of Cortez
02 May 2012 | Sea of Cortez
Recent Blog Posts
19 March 2020 | Ventura, CA

Another Taste of Mexico

This is a photo from back in 2008, the first time Journey went cruising to Mexico. The boat was full and overflowing with guests come to wish us Bon Voyage before we set off on our travels. It is a memory we still cherish.

12 July 2012 | Ventura, CA

Home Sweet Home

Journey has been home for just over a week, after sailing into Ventura harbor on the Fourth of July.

20 June 2012 | San Diego, CA

Survivors of the Un-Bash

It seems there is no rest for the weary. (OK, after resting four days, I guess being weary isn't an excuse anymore.) Anyway, we've received a few 'gentle' hints from some impatient readers. They've noticed that our position reports show we've reached San Diego, but our blog hasn't been updated to reflect [...]

12 June 2012 | Turtle Bay

A Night at Anabel's

Last night we debated whether or not to leave Turtle Bay early this morning, but one day's rest just didn't put a dent in the sense of exhaustion we were feeling after this last week. So we put off our departure until tomorrow. Our reward for making that decision was spending this evening at Anabel's. There [...]

11 June 2012 | Turtle Bay

The Half Way Point

Arriving at Turtle Bay is a milestone because it means you've reached the half-way point in your trip up or down the Baja. Several of the boats who left Cabo with us had a little celebration by having a scrumptious potluck lunch hosted by Mary and Jack on S.V. Oriana. We also attended to mundane details [...]

04 June 2012 | Bahia San Juanico

The 'Un-bash'

With one-third of the trip north completed, the good news is that we haven't really been 'bashed' much at all. The closest we've came was the passage around Cabo Falso early Saturday AM which Jeff described in his last post. As he mentioned, once that was behind us, it was all motoring in calm seas [...]

Christmas in La Cruz

28 December 2010 | La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
Dori
Thanks to our mad whirl of a social life and the internet being down for two days, it's been over a week since we've last posted here. Seriously, we seem to have had a lot of busy days and nights for a couple of laid-back cruisers.

We left Chacala on December 22 with a goal of making it to Bahia de Banderas that day. The wind started out light, but we were able to fly the spinnaker for a good part of the trip. Lots of whale sightings, but none of them close enough to make a good photo op.

One of the largest deepwater bays in Mexico, Banderas Bay has a varied choice of destinations for cruisers, including the tropical city of Puerto Vallarta. We headed first for the northern point of the bay, Punta de Mita. This is a popular break for surfers. Jeff surfed in the morning and had the inside point break all to himself for two hours. The anchorage was a little rolly that night, and even though Jeff caught a few waves in the morning, we were not tempted into staying another night.

So we moved on to La Cruz. There are at least four marinas to choose from in Bandares Bay, but our favorite is at La Cruz. Unlike the other marinas, this place is NOT surrounded by resorts, condominiums, golf courses and shopping malls. The little town of La Cruz is still quite unspoiled (although Jeff was outraged to see that the Subway franchise has gained a foothold here since our last stay two years ago).

My Christmas present was a ten-day stay at Marina Riviera Nayarit here in La Cruz (hot showers, convenient laundry, internet and no surf landings). Our first night we found friends to share happy hour with and enjoyed a free movie in the outdoor amphitheater. Even 'The Santa Clause' is fun when you are watching it out under the stars.

We spent a good part of Christmas Eve cleaning salt, grunge and grime off of Journey, and then to really get into the season put up our Christmas lights and decorations. There were a few rowdy dock parties going on, but after paying a short visit there, we went on to have a nice quiet dinner in town.

Christmas morning we planned to attend the little church in the square, but I got my information second hand and it turned out the service was that night, not the morning. Since we were already dressed up, we took the opportunity to snap this Christmas photo. Back to our usual laid-back cruiser attire, we joined some neighbors for a potluck dinner on the dock; baked ham, potatoes, rice, veggies and a choice of desserts. It was quite a feast.

And our schedule has stayed full, but I'll fill you in on our further adventures in another post.

Hope all of you had a joyous Christmas and that you continue to enjoy your holiday season,

Dori and Jeff

Comments
Journey's Photos - Main
We've posted our favorite photos from this year's cruising in the Sea of Cortez
46 Photos
Created 8 July 2012
Four glorious days of surfing "the longest wave" at Matanchen Bay in warm water, tropical surroundings, and no crowds.
11 Photos
Created 13 April 2012
Dori shot these photos of a morning surf session at Barra de Navidad. She was standing on the breakwater which adjacent to the surf break, giving great access for pictures.
15 Photos
Created 22 February 2012
This is a morning spent touring the estuary and river above Matanchen up to Tovara springs.
28 Photos
Created 27 January 2012
Yelapa is a unique little hidden away village on the south side of Banderas Bay. No roads reach it and the only way to get there is by water.
14 Photos
Created 15 March 2011
14 Photos
Created 20 December 2010
40 Photos
Created 15 November 2010