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 [...]

Visit Number Seven

06 February 2011 | Bahia Tenacatita
Dori
Jeff and I did some calculating and decided this is the seventh time we've anchored in Tenacatita Bay. It really is one of our favorite spots. Sadly, some changes have come since we last visited here. Friends had told us about the very unfortunate events that had befallen the little village of Tenacatita. It seems the people who built palapas, homes and tiendas there had been the victims of some fraudulent land deals. Last summer they were forced out by state police and everything but the concrete foundations were leveled to the ground. Even knowing what had happened, it was a shock to round the point and see that beach empty and nearly deserted. There are lawsuits and counter-lawsuits inching their way through the courts. In the meantime, armed security guards remain stationed nearby.

On our second day here, we took the 'river trip' that leads from the anchorage to the village of Tenacatita. It's every bit as beautiful as we remembered. We caught sight of several small crocodiles along the way. When we reached the spot where we once would have left the dinghies and walked to the beach palapas, sure enough, four guards were on duty. They were very friendly and polite, however. After checking our identification they did let us walk over and spend some time on the beach. No one knows how this whole situation is going to be resolved.

On Friday we joined some friends and found a taxi to carry us a few miles around the bay where we spent a couple of hours in the little town of La Manzanilla. It was market day and they had a huge display of crafts and food for sale in the square. The photo here shows some colorful ceramic masks for sale. We had lunch in a cafe that offered internet. A fenced-off area near the river mouth warns of crocodiles, but that day there were none to be seen.

Jeff was surprised and pleased to be able to get in a few days of surfing here. Tenacatita isn't usually known for its surf, but the first few days we stayed here the swell was running pretty good. Of course, it can be pretty unnerving when you have to land your dinghy through the same waves where someone is surfing!

We also did a two-hour hike to a high point that gave us a great panoramic view of the whole bay.

Already looking forward to visit number eight.

Dori
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