La Paz to El Salvador
17 April 2010 | Bahia del Sol
Vicky
My New Blog for 2010
Come share some great pics and moments with Inspiration at Sea and her Crew.. of well currently its Chika. I drove home in January, taking Dishes back to be with her buddy Bailey living on a big acre. They are 6 months a part, been pups together.. now both gee this year turning 7.
The plan to sail to El Salvador and beyound, made that choice a very very hard one. I have not been away from her, for longer than a month at a stretch.
The humidity here and well not really a dog/pero friendly country. There are a lot of packs and sad puppies out there. So she is better off in BC swimming in the pool going to the lake and being spoiled by the neighbors, here she is a little plump again..
I drove home after serious maintenance on Inspiration at Sea. I hauled her out at Bercovitz (cannot spell that) to have the cutlass bearing replaced. It was to be three days, well as you may notice in the pics I was on the ramp for the three days, then moved me into the yard. It was scary as you can see I was boxed in and felt they might forget about me. They did for a day and half, so I worked on through hulls and engine hoses.. moved them and strainers with help and guidance from Tory as Alaskan fisherman rebuilding his Steele boat.
The cutlass was replaced the shaft straightened, rudder put back on and two through hulls repaired
Dishes and Chika were boat bound as the neighborhood dogs did not take to new pero's
And gatos were a meal.
Thank goodness back to Palmira and Dock 3 was on 4
And what a wonderful dock it turned out to be. I still have tears when I look at the pictures..
Had the best Christmas away from BC that I can remember.
Cruisers that had been to the south pacific some more than once. Others preparing for the puddle jump and more going into or returning to the Sea of Cortez.
Its been since Feb of 2006 that I have been sailing the Sea from La Paz to Ixtapa Guymas and back to La Paz, its was time to add more Adventure to Inspiration at Seas log book .
I drove home middle of January , with Dishes and Chika knowing it was only Chika and I returning.
You might notice a teary, farewell from her best two legged friends, she ruled dock three and Chika was not far behind her. I cried for miles down the highway, wondering if I am making the right choice. Life was great there, yet its my turn to go Onward (my word to live by this year) . I believe I will return there just like they did.
I got back to BC a few days before my moms birthday , she did not know I was coming back. So was quite a surprise, I showed up for lunch. She almost fell over.. opps
Next time I will call ahead. We had a great visit for the 5 days I was there and all stocked up off again. She left same time for Ixtapa for her 6 weeks holiday. I promised to sail down and see her Kay and friends. Again not telling the whole truth, that I was not returning this time to La Paz.
I picked up a HydroVane that was ordered in Canada shipped from England to my friends house Cindy in NewPort. Also the Must Trip to Trader Joes ..Yes.
The fun began putting the Vane together. We had watched Pacific Mystic put theirs together, and seemed not toooo bad. Well me having a double ender and solar panels, made things real interesting. Had great help as you can see in the pics, we worked struggled drilled and sat looking at it for a week. In the end it became part of the parts department for future installation as time was running out . I had to get going so I could see mom in Ixtapa and make the departure date for Bahia del sol, El Salvador by mid March. Rudy was coming on as crew for this run, and we had 5 weeks to make the passage and some exploring time in Central America before he had to get back.
I was sailing to Zuit/Ixtapa with my faithful crew Chika. Took the offer from Marv/Roksan also a single handed sailor to join me. It was direct trip about 5 days. Weather looked favorable. l was very happy to have another helping hand, night watchperson, as we got weather. Even Don on the radio said "well there young lady, you certainly are having a ride." And we were.. up to 30 k winds and well I told Don, 10ft seas, he corrected me with 15 plus.. he was right.. following seas, thank goodness . so reefed and hands on steering for pretty well the whole trip, we got our helm time. Marv had not had soo much time on a helm, that he could remember. He has a Monitor Vane, mine was in parts below. We made good time.
Arrived under a full moon in to Zuitanaho, anchor down and passed out.. well after some wine for a celebration of a great passage. The moon was a huge blessing to travel by and full the night of arrival. How kool.
That day after Marv caught a flight back to La Paz. I got a call from mom and Rudy.. all was well. I had to check with port captain Victor. They called back a few minutes later with the news of an Earthquake in Chili and the wave moving north.. I went ashore to check asked Victor the Port Captain, my amigo from previous times here, another story. He said the effects are happening right now some tide effects.. I went right back to my dinghy another couple just coming back to head out helped me put my dinghy in, we chatted for a few minutes then looked down and noticed my dinghy was not in the water, so we walked it out to the water again ,, chatted then no water under the dinghy this was now the third time 27 ft to the water so I said we'll chat later as think we better get back to our boats.. re tide falling .
I called mom and Rudy telling them I may not come in tonight to Ixtapa re this tide and wave thing..
Rudy came out to help me in case things got crazy. The cruise ships was in so kept an eye on it and radio on figured it they left early time to head out to sea.. too.. tide came back in normal.. just has a little farther to come in to.. and by late in afternoon all was reported past.. it was almost at Hawaii.. had a great few days with mom and friends took them out sailing.. for a day too, always good brownie points. Also was time to tell mom about my next port of call south. She new something was up,always does. Not happy as not knowing the country and barely where it is.. actually a lot of people no sure .. as I find out.
The day mom got on the plane to head north , we got the weather window to head to Huatuko.. we met up with the organizers , Bill and Jean/Mitia Kuluuluu and Jeff and Judy/Island Mistress my friends from PV heading same direction. (at this date they canceled as their boat took on water while they we away, lots of damage, engine too.)
We spent three days there.. seeing what we could and waiting for the window, boats left ahead of us daily. We caught the next window and got into some weather from offshore so had to do the opposite keep away from the beach as winds over 20 plus and seas were 8 plus . normal passage for Inspiration at Sea . we sure were making good time averaged 7 knots, even hit over 8 a few times. Arrived at night, called Don to find out it the seas were going to lay down as we were having to anchor out in the surf over night. He said we should be fine, kind weird seeing the back of waves while at anchor in 35' of water. Was tricky finding the waypoint with shrimp boats all over and panga with only some sort of a lantern. As we approached every so slowly the was an explosion on shore.. the lights went out gee we could pic out shrimp boats and panga,s.. we made out way to the said anchorage point some lights came on they had generators.. we had departed Wed March 10th and arrived to anchor 14th . again a bit of wine to celebrate the crossing of the Tehuantepec. Ps we did get to 25' depth and got out there lickety split re the seas and winds pushing us on shore and the breakers getting too close for comfort..
In the am Bill and Rohillio guided us in to Bahia del sol and some great new friends awaiting boat number 4 of the rally .
We have been up the estuary where a village and some supplies lie, and have taken a tour with Jorje with cruises that have since moved on to Panama.. Pacific Mystic from La Paz.. and Sirens Call
next will share the land trips..