Adios Amigos!

Elizabeth and Brian

Adios Amigos!

Today our good friends, Brian and Elizabeth on Autumn Wind sail away from the Punta de Mita anchorage. They begin their northern passage up into the Sea of Cortez.  Ultimately, this will be the beginning of the end of their yearlong sailing adventure in Mexico as they head back to jobs and family. We will miss them, but remember all our fun times together! We'll not say goodbye...we WILL meet again!

Sailing on Shindig

Fair winds to you!

What Do We Need?

Local market in La Cruz

Everyday on a boat there’s a list of things you think you need. The shopping list becomes a running tab of items needed from shore.  Items of need must be categorized by importance because the process of getting to shore for the store is huge on a boat. 

Local fish market in La Cruz

First, one must get the dingy off the boat and into the water. Then dingy to shore and hopefully not get wet in the landing.( So, take extra clothes in the “Dry bag” just in case). Then hike to a bus stop or taxi depending on where you are going. Could be to the Mega supermarket for groceries and beer, to the bank for money or to the marine supply or just to tacos on the street?

Today, we need some groceries.
Not a lot. Beer, tomatoes to make salsa potatoes and chicken for dinner.  A walk through the local market usually satisfies most our needs.

Most going ashore events are planned. Sometimes not...sometimes we just dingy ashore with just enough money and clothes to cover any spur of the moment event that pops up… like tacos on the street for dinner...

 Street tacos in La Cruz

After street tacos

I especially liked when our friend Elizabeth kayaked to shore the other day and stepped out in a dress! She was dressed and ready for anything the day might bring!

Elizabeth dressed and ready for anything!

Our next big shopping day is coming  before our kids visit and the"list" is getting bigger. We'll probably rent a car again and pack it all in one day.  Oh, the joys of living on a boat!

Punta Paddling

Morning paddle session

Deborah and Nancy

Feb-20-2013

Having fun! You’d think we were 20 year olds!  We're out every day doing something fun in the water or on the beach. We're back and anchored in Punta de Mita on the northern point of Banderas Bay with several others (20 boats at last count) with old friends and meeting new ones. Since, I don’t own a stand up paddle board (SUP for short) I’m at the mercy of others who generously offer to let me borrow theirs. I’m learning the moves. Once you get the balance and strokes down then you can graduate to surfing the waves. This area is known for it’s beginner waves and all ages are out learning.

The last few days we have gathered with friends on the beach, some boarding, some kayaking most just relaxing, watching the the kids play, watching the beach action.

Rob and Danny dingy the SUPs out to the break

 Rob (Shindig) and Danny( Cyclades) tow their paddle boards out to a reef on the point where the surf breaks. As do others who have mobile transportation, the dingy. This is our "car" and only way to get around.  I actually had to learn how to "drive" the other day.  I accomplished my first dingy drive through the wave sets to get to the beach.   A friend was guiding me through the sets as she watched the waves,  I timed the breaks and we passed through to the landing on the beach. A big deal for me!

John is finding his water sport.  The inflatable kayaks we have are good for cruising around, but not challenging enough.  He tried the SUP but his knees won’t let him. ( 20 years in construction trades gives you bad knees!) So, he tried sitting and paddling…this may be the way to go. He caught a few waves. He also is looking for the right wave for boogie boarding. We see the kids doing it. So far he hasn’t found a wave that he likes.

Boards on the beach

Table talk

Young musicians  entertain the beach 

This morning the weather is windy and more challenging with choppy waves. It takes all my concentration to stay balanced and not fall in. It doesn't look hard, but it is! 

Friends and Sailing

Nancy, Rob John, Brian, Elizabeth and Sue 

Friends. That's what makes this trip so much fun! We've met some great people along the way and we enjoy sharing good times with them.  We've hooked back up with Rob & Nancy (Shindig) Brian & Elizabeth (Autumn Wind) and John & Cin (Alcyone) and Max & Liz their kids Jonathan & Victoria ( Fluenta) and many others. Our social calendar is filled!

Saturday started out with a girl's standup paddle board session...next a sailing race in Banderas Bay.

Paddling out the marina, Cin, Elizabeth, Sue & Nancy

Cin and Sue getting the hang of it

Wizard under sail 

Yesterday, we  joined a friendly sailing race out of La Cruz.  John and I have never raced, so we barely knew the rules of the "road" and in hindsight  it would've been to our advantage to go over which boat has "right of way" and paid attention to the two different courses according to the "class" of boat, but we jumped in anyway... it was a good experience and good fun.  We had some beginner's luck(?) at the start and managed to position Wizard at the first mark on time and off we sailed with 16 other boats.( Of course, we didn't know our place in the pack..so who knows maybe we were last?) There were two courses; short course, a mile up to mark, back to round the first mark again, then down to Nuevo Vallarta and back to La Cruz, then long course included downwind six miles to Puerto Vallarta and beam reach back to the La Cruz marina. This was very exciting for me as I was at the helm, while Capt. John directed the point of sail and handled the sails! It was a lot of work for this two man crew! But, we did OK. Wizard can go to weather really well,  so we "smoked" a few boats in our class( it looked like) on the first leg, but downwind, we were beat by those boats that flew their spinnakers. It was all unofficial, so we don't know really where we came in, but it didn't matter...other boats, too skipped some marks...you could make it a race or not. It turned into a long day.  We decided to turn around and head back before the last mark at Puerto Vallarta. We had "experienced" enough. We're glad we joined and learned a lot and tacked a lot! All good experiences to "push" for speed, trim sails and learn traffic control around so many boats sailing in the same vicinity together.

Fluenta under spinnaker

Wizard  to the mark

Rob at helm of his boat Shindig

Nancy at helm of her boat Shindig

After sail party on Shindig

...and at the end of the day, we gathered for "happy hour" onboard Shindig...always a treat! We'll miss our sailing friends when we all sail away to new adventures, but happy for the times we share now.

Dining in La Cruz

Patio dining at Xocolatl Fajitas Bar and Grill

 Valentine’s Day in La Cruz…what to do? We planned a dinner out with friends at the yet untried Xocolatl Restaurant. I checked the rating on “Trip Advisor” (the customer voted website) and found all 22 restaurants in La Cruz are ranked. The Xocolatl Fajitas Bar and Grill was ranked #4, but with glowing reviews and comments about the “best views around”…so we headed up the hill, just across town, and up many more steps to a large veranda patio with views overlooking the whole Banderas Bay! Fabulous! We went early, because we like an early dinner hour, but many restaurants are not until much later in Mexico…luckily they were open at 5:00pm. We were the first diners.

Stone wall interior carved out of the hillside

The interior was cool…one side of the restaurant was the stone wall of the mountain, carved out to become the restaurants’ interior wall complete with a fern garden wall trickling with water. 

Fern garden wall with waterfall

The menu offered was mixed with seafood specialties, steaks and lobster. Not the usual fare we've been used ordering and a little higher priced, but hey it was Valentine’s Day!

We started with tasty, strong margaritas on the rocks, a good sign that the restaurant knows what it’s doing. Next we shared a crunchy vegetable salad, another not very common menu item in Mexico.

Brian and I chose the Mahi-Mahi fish special with almond creme sauce and vegetables, John chose the special Chimichanga, Elizabeth tried the mixed seafood platter complete with sauteed octopus. We all tried a piece and I really liked the soft and creamy texture that tasted like sweet shrimp!

Mahi-Mahi with almond creme sauce..yumm!

The views of the bay with tiki-torch ambiance ...and Capt. Juan

Mr. Romantic

Another happy diner or  too many margaritas?

The evening ambiance increased as the sun went and we could see all the lights to around the bay to Puerto Vallarta. They lit the tiki-torches, the crowds came and it became a lively place. Our waiter/owner was very generous with service, information and complimentary after dinner Kahlua cocktails.

We left very happy and satisfied after a delicious dinner at Xocolatl with friends. We highly recommend this restaurant.

La Cruz..again..and Bucerias

Dock side in La Cruz

Feb 5 2013

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mx.

That‘s a mouthful... the town and state in Mexico where we are  at present. Known simply as La Cruz.  We are in the Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz.  We are enjoying the "finer" cruiser life of living dockside; hot showers, fresh water, electricity and “happy hour’ at five o’clock every day in the sky bar lounge.  Not bad, eh?  We needed to be on a dock to complete several projects before we sail on to the South Pacific. Like adding another 200ft of chain, (deeper island anchoring) replacing running lights, repair a rotten floor board and clean the bottom of the boat. All this in between a variety of fun activities and dining out, listening to music and meeting others…time just flies by!

Adding 200ft of chain

Attaching the anchor

200ft of new chain!

We're hoping to discuss our new passage with other “Pacific Puddle Jumpers” as this group is called.  There are many cruisers waiting here in La Cruz  for the right time to sail west. The time is coming…later at the end of March, is the “jump off” time to the South Pacific.  It is similar to  the Baja Ha Ha Rally in that it is an organized event with a roster of boats and cruisers who‘ve checked in with a customs agent and will be entering French Polynesia, usually all going to the same place to check in, the Marquesas.  After that, everyone has their own agenda sailing to many different island groups.  It will be nice to be in the company of other cruising boats out in the middle of the ocean, even if we don't see them, we should have radio contact along the way.

Feb 6 Bucerias

Friends, Elizabeth and Brian

So, what do you want to do today?...we are dangerously close to using the "bored" word! We are finished with our projects, but still have to wait for some batteries to be ordered and installed, so we have to stay in the marina a few more days...so, what should we do today? Friends come by and they too, are feeling a little of the forbidden word.  How can we be bored in paradise? Have we seen and done all there is do here? The routine has set in and we are getting a little bored. ..

We decide to go for a walk along the beach to the next town of Bucerias!

Walking to Bucerias along beach

Caballeros offer their horses for rent

The Mercado

Beautiful glassware

We are mesmerized by the multiple vendors at the Bucerias outdoor market. We especially liked the glassware which are beautiful works of art. We decide to buy several tequila shot glasses as gifts for our friends and family.

Too many choices!

Lover's bridge...the kiss!

 Later ,we take the local bus back to La Cruz.  Tired but not bored! Another day...another adventure!

Another friend...Pluto the dog aboard S/V  Inspirare

Puerto Vallarta & Costco

Awesome artwork in Puerto Vallarta

 Feb 5 2013

Puerto Vallarta & Costco

After many weeks on the boat we needed to re provision. This entails a whole day because we want to go to Costco! So you know what that means. Lots of stuff! Usually a simple trip to town on the local bus for 12 pesos, get a few groceries, then back again. This may take a couple of hours. Still an adventure when compared to back home where you pop in your car and drive to the supermarket. When shopping in Mexico, there has to be a plan….

First, we have to rent a car usually reserved a day in advance because we are in La Cruz and the rental cars come all the way from Puerto Vallarta (45 miles?).

Then make a “list”…Home Depot, Costco, Zaragoza (Marine Supplies) and lunch? Seems easy peasy! This won't take long…yeah, right.

Next, learn how to drive in Mexico in two minutes. Crash course. Left turn lanes, exit lanes and CRAZY drivers…me being one of them!

We invite our friends from Autumn Wind, Elizabeth and Brian to join us for a shopping day in Puerto Vallarta. This will be our first time in downtown Vallarta and I want to see some of the sights and walk the famous beach front malecon with it’s eclectic brass artwork.

Our first stop is to the bank to get mucho pesos! Every bank has transaction fees attached so we avoid those small independent ATMs and go straight to a bank’s ATM for the better exchange rates.)

Next, we hit the giant marine supply store, Zaragoza. Here we are like little kids in a candy store as we drool over all the things we want to buy, but we stick to our ‘list” and buy 200 ft of chain and running lights (to replace the ones that failed on the Corrientes passage) and “gulped” as the mucho pesos were handed over!

Sand sculptures

Next we walk the malecon of Puerto Vallarta. It's a neat city front with palm trees and artwork meandering for miles along the beach. Yes, it’s very “touristy” with "hawkers" calling your attention to their shops or a "time-share”offer.  It's kind of a drag, like Las Vegas, so we stay on the beach walk and enjoy the curious brass statues…

Puerto Vallarta Malecon (beach walk)

Star Wars?

Need we say more...?

Odd, but wonderful interactive artwork

The journey to nowhere...

Tres Amigos

…Sample  tequila at a tasting room…

Tequila tasting room

 Brian and Elizabeth at Gaby's
…and have lunch at recommended Gaby’s, delicious and hidden away off the main street…

Love those combo platters!

Magnificent cathedral in old town

Next to Costco.. And you all know the drill…see how much stuff you can cram into one car!

John is so happy...will Costco have Sierra Nevada beer??

All the necessities and more...

The pack job...where to put it all?

We are all stocked up and ready for the next adventure! Our family ( Sarah, Thad, Jasmine, Austin and Brooke) will be visiting next month for a week in Yelapa. We are excited to see them and  show them around Banderas Bay.