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 [...]

Boat chores continue

08 June 2009 | Turtle Bay
Dori
This time the conventional wisdom about traveling between 11 PM and 11 AM worked well for us. We left Asuncion about 1:30 AM and motored all the way to Turtle Bay. The winds ranged from 5 to 15 knots, always on the nose, so we never raised our sails. But the seas were pretty manageable, so we made good time. Having clear skies all night, we were able to enjoy the beauty of the full moon, which is truly incredible out over the ocean.

Another bonus was the handful of whale sightings during the daylight hours. We must have seen half a dozen gliding near the surface, spouting and then submerging with a splash of their tails.

By 10 AM, we were anchored here in Turtle Bay. After a couple of hours for a late breakfast and a bit of rest, it was on to boat maintenance chores. We took on fuel from one of the locals who bring diesel around in their specially outfitted pangas. Jeff tackled a leak in our pressurized fresh water lines, but the fitting was either stripped or defective. We think it's a little better, but will just have to watch it until we can make a more permanent repair.

Then, while changing the oil, Jeff noticed that the gasket on the intake manifold was blown out. It might have been that way, unnoticed, for quite a while, and it's a pretty big undertaking to replace it. So he debated about waiting until we reach San Diego to fix it, but after sleeping on it, decided to go ahead and do the job here. An intake manifold leak on a turbo-charged diesel could have significant impact on its performance. Luckily, we have a full gasket set for the engine. It was a full morning's work and took over most of the interior of the boat. But he now has everything back together, and the engine is purring nicely.

I went into town a picked up a few supplies this morning too.

This evening the folks from Cecily, Lion's Paw, Freestyle and Ocean Fever are all going out to eat at a local, family-run restaurant. The husband is going to pick all of us up in his water taxi. It will be great to have a chance to visit face-to-face after mostly chatting over the radio during this long haul.

If the weather holds, we will probably be leaving early in the morning for the next portion of the trip north.

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