On 12/8 we headed north to Isla San Francisco. It was calm so we
motored for about 3 hours. Enroute we charged the batteries, made water
and fished. Linda does the fishing, and uses hand lines trolled behind
the boat. We had two lines out with different lures. They trail about 10
yards back and about six inches below the surface, so they’re quite
visible from the cockpit. We had a large fish taste the lure, but he
spit it back out (barbless hooks). We arrived at Isla San Francisco in
time for lunch. The cove is a perfect semicircle, just like a picture
postcard, with a brilliant white sand beach, and rocky points at both
ends. The center of the cove is white sand, so the clear water looks
turquoise. We'€™re anchored in 23 feet, and can see the anchor on the
bottom. When it'€™s calm, schools of fish circle the boat: 10-inch blue
and silver needlefish in large schools near the surface, a school of
about 20 2-foot long silver fish that hang out in the shadow of the
boat, and way down at the bottom in the shadow one long skinny three
footer. Linda is fascinated by the fish and likes to watch them circle
the boat.

Several other boats stayed the first night in the cove, but they all
left in the morning. We wanted the classic photo with just Rover in the
beautiful cove, so we rowed ashore to climb the hill and look down.
About 50 yards inland, we were assaulted by hordes of mosquitos. Linda
turned back to the beach and I went a little further and got a picture
from the dunes (it'€™ll be attached when we get back in internet
coverage). I couldn'€™t get all the way to the hill because of the
mosquitoes, so I settled for a lower angle view of the cove. The
mosquitoes chased us back to the dinghy and out to Rover. We’ve been
dining inside and are glad we have screens for the ports and hatches.

The water continues to get clearer as we move north, and we'€™re adding to
our list of fish as we snorkel. clearer and we saw a greater variety of
life. Linda’s keeping a list in the guide “Reef Fish Identification” and
is up to about half a dozen so far.

A Norther (strong cool wind from the north) of about 20 knots is kicking
up whitecaps outside so we’re staying snug in the cove. It’s blowing
away the mosquitos so we can dine outside again. On the agenda for today
is baking bread, making water and a couple of small boat projects.
Weather is 76 and sunny, with a breeze in the anchorage, but no waves
where we are. We’ll stay here for a day or two until the wind calms
down, then go north to San Evaristo for a day or so. We'€™re due back in
La Paz in 6 days.

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