It's not all fun and games. We've just spent three long, hot, sweaty days with heads in the engine, battery compartment, or bilge. No more sunshine and margaritas - just tools, hoses, wires, parts, clamps, connections, coolant, and a fair amount of cussing. I am constantly amazed by my husband's (inate?) knowledge of how to install, maintain, and fix these things … Continue reading Nose to the grindstone
My sister Emily and her boyfriend Craig left for the La Paz airport at 4am on Saturday morning after a brief but exciting trip that included: being shark bait, hiking up a desert mountain (but never reaching the top), sleeping through the windiest and rolliest nights we’ve had at anchor yet, swimming with sea lions at Los … Continue reading Sisters and sea lions
Just another dull night anchored off La Paz. We were disturbed from our cozy cabin around 10pm last night by our neighbor knocking loudly on the hull. He looked wild - bouncing around in his dingy in the 20 knots of wind and small steep waves. “So sorry to trouble you”, he yelled politely, “but … Continue reading Chain Reaction
Will stands up, stretches, and ambles over to the window of the delightfully cool air-conditioned coffee shop where we are enjoying late afternoon iced drinks. He spends a couple of seconds gazing out to the water before turning around with a peculiar smirk to ask me: “Hey Sarah, where’s the boat?” Excuse me? I think he’s … Continue reading Dude, where’s my boat?
For the most part, “some” includes us. The daily high has begun to hit 40 C (104 F) and is rising over the next couple of days. There’s a point every afternoon as the sweat soaks through our minimal clothing, our computers have long since over-heated, and all our water is a non-refreshing lukewarm when we curse the heat. But overall, it’s … Continue reading Some like it Hot
The solution to internet while cruising in Mexico: The Banda Ancha. “The Banda what?”, you ask. The Banda Ancha Movil, also known as the ‘Telcel Stick’. Before we heard of the popular B.A., we were trying to figure out how to ensure quality internet access on board. We thought about getting a wifi antenna with … Continue reading His and Hers Banda Ancha
I feel silly admitting this, but I always thought that ‘Cinco de Mayo’ was Mexico’s Independance Day (and a good excuse to go to a Mexican restaurant for enchiladas and margaritas). WRONG! The real facts: Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s defeat of French forces in The Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The win over … Continue reading La Paz (La Pause… easy to stick around)
Caleta Partida is a well protected (and bug free!) anchorage 25 nm north of La Paz. Located between Isla Partida and Isla Espíritu Santo, it is actually the crater of a large, extinct volcano. The eastern and western edges have eroded over thousands of years and boats can enter through the unobstructed west passage - see below. On the journey up from La … Continue reading Caleta Partida
When I was a teenager I loved a book called “The Girl from the Sea of Cortez”. This story of a young girl who has an enchanting relationship with the Sea and who befriends a gentle manta ray has stuck with me over the years. There’s always been something magical about the idea of the 'Sea of Cortez' in my … Continue reading Crossing the Sea of Cortez
We survived our trip to the USA! As much as we love San Francisco and the surrounding areas, I have to admit that I felt more nervous there than I do down here. Granted, the Stictly Sail Pacific boat show is held in a somewhat dicey part of Oakland - which is considered a more dangerous city than others in the SF bay area. There was … Continue reading Safe and sound, back in Mexico
svkaiquest.com 