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
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 [...]
Further Adventures in the Sea of Cortez
When I last posted, we were at Bahia Salinas. From there we made the short hop to Punta Colorado, another anchorage on Isla Carmen. This was a new spot for us and Jeff decided the diving here was the best he's done in a long time. Very clear water and tons of fish.
Early on Thanksgiving morning we were blessed with our first whale sighting of the season...a fin whale about a quarter mile off our bow. Then, after taking up a mooring in Puerto Escondido, we took part in the cruiser festivities planned for the holiday. I was sorry I didn't have my camera along to snap a shot of the whole pig stretched out over the fire pit, being prepared for our Thanksgiving dinner. Because of the high winds, the evening program of live music didn't take place. Everyone was anxious to make the trip back to their boats before the wind and chop made things even wetter.
But we enjoyed visiting with new friends. I discovered a fellow Scrabble-addict in Wendy of SV Wendaway. She beat me this time out, but I'm looking forward to a rematch when our paths cross again.
We also squeezed in time to follow the trail into Steinbeck Canyon. It was disappointing to find much less water in the various pools and waterfalls than we'd seen three years ago when we made this same hike. The locals told us they'd had two years of drought and it certainly showed.
After waiting out a strong northerly in Escondido, moved south to Agua Verde. With 20 knots of wind at our backs, sailing with only a reefed main, we would have made the trip in fine style, but the wind from the northwest and swell from the northeast made the trip pretty rolly.
As the second boat into Agua Verde, we were able to score one of the best spots for protection from the north winds. By the time we left, two days later, there were eight boats anchored there.
This morning we decided to try Bahia San Marte, another place we've never tried before. It was a beautiful morning, no wind and only gentle swell, so I took my kayak around the point, leaving Jeff to follow on Journey. By boat, it's 7 miles from Agua Verde to San Marte, but with the kayak, I could slip between the reefs and the coastline, so it was probably closer to about 4 miles.
Moving on south tomorrow, but this time I'll make the passage the easy way, by boat.
Hoping you all had a great Thanksgiving, Dori
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We've posted our favorite photos from this year's cruising in the Sea of Cortez
46 Photos
Created 8 July 2012
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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
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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
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This is a morning spent touring the estuary and river above Matanchen up to Tovara springs.
28 Photos
Created 27 January 2012
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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
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