Islas Espiritu Santos, Partida, Los Islotes, Balandra

Together with our friends on Yare, we traveled and explored the islands for 10 days.  Beginning at Playa Bonanza on Isla Espiritu Santos, our next anchorage was Caleta Partida.  It was very protected from the northers that were strong at that time.  There were two fishing camps there but no one was actually there when we made it ashore to meet them….  A fantastic cave was found just north of there on the southeast corner of Partida.

 

Fishing camp, Caleta Partida
Fishing camp, Caleta Partida
On the way to the sea cave, Caleta Partida
On the way to the sea cave, Caleta Partida
Cave
Cave
Cave, looking out
Cave, looking out

 

Caleta Partida
Caleta Partida

 

Next anchorage was Ensenada Grande, just to the north.  There was an awesome beach and maintained hiking trail that lead to a lookout over 100m up over the east side of the island.  Jess and I (the moms) made it all the way to the top while the others were ready to get back to the beach.

Ensenada Grande, lobe #3
Ensenada Grande, lobe #3

 

Beach lobe #3, Ensenada Grande
Beach lobe #3, Ensenada Grande

Before heading back to La Paz to reprovision, we made it to Los Islotes to swim with the sea lions.  They are surprisingly friendly and accepting of swimmers and snorkelers!  It was magical to get to touch a real live WILD animal in its element.  They swam nearby often nibbling on Liam and Pete’s fingertips, apparently amazed that they don’t have webbed hands 🙂

Los Islotes
Los Islotes

Once back in La Paz we were eager to stock up again on items from the grocery store Chedraui.  It felt familiar to go there then…  Ice cream at Fuente’s was a treat too.  Although our little buddy Odin had to stop by the hospital to get stitches to mend his chin while on the way!!  More info here : http://svyare.blogspot.com/2016/01/la-paz-medical-care.html?m=1

Fuentes yummy-ness
Fuentes yummy-ness

 

After only a couple days in La Paz we set off bound for La Cruz.  We really miss our friends on Yare.  Traveling together through paradise has been a fantastic experience.  We hope to see them again in the spring overe here on the east side.

Goodbyes to our dear friends of sv Yare
Goodbyes to our dear friends of sv Yare

 

On the way, we stopped at Bahia Falsa and also Belandra (north of La Paz) and got to reconnect with our friends Scott and Tanya from Kialoa.  We’ve known them for three years, were in Fleet together (Bluewater Cruising association).

Running down the dunes, Balandra
Running down the dunes, Balandra
Kialoa joins in!
Kialoa joins in!

And then, like a dream, it was over.  We set off across the sea towards La Cruz.

Sailing southeast into the sea of Cortez
Sailing southeast into the sea of Cortez

Into the Sea

Sea of Cortez that is…

We arrived in La Paz December 11 just in time to go for ice cream and dinner with our friends on SVBanyan.  They were heading out the next day so it was great to have a chance to visit with them before they went.  We also met up with Linger Longer finally!  After years of trying ;). Kris and Kirk were neighbours from the inner harboir in Victoria.

La Paz has all the services you might expect in a city…But finding them might be tricky.  The morning cruisers net on vhf channel 22 is super helpful.  Also Club Cruceros, a little expat community cruisers club running on the grounds on Marina de La Paz, is super helpful too.

Christmas decorations RTT style

 

 

Christmas dinner complete with our 2nd ever puzzled turkey (so it can fit in the oven) was fun. We got to share it with our new friends on SV Yare (kid boat!!).  And it was really great.

Puzzled turkey phase 1
Puzzled turkey phase 1
Puzzled turkey phase 2
Puzzled turkey phase 2

 

Liam’s birthday party, by the Club Cruceros playground was fun too.  All the kid boats came :). Made for a special time – piñata and all!!

Happy birthday Liam!!
Happy birthday Liam!!
Liam's strong hit broke the stick!  Luckily after all the kids had a few turns :)
Liam’s strong hit broke the stick! Luckily after all the kids had a few turns 🙂
Thanks for the gifts!
Thanks for the gifts!

I think due to sugar overload (Christmas then birthday) we got knocked down by a nasty cold or virus of some kind… Not fun but didn’t last forever.  This has led us towards a much healthier diet in the hope of staving off future illness…  We’ll see how long that lasts 😉

The last day of 2015: Horseback riding at Rancho el Cajon was fantastic.  Neli and Liam were in heaven.  Kim, the guide, originally from Oregon, was excellent and we had a fun time.  A three hour ride was only about $28 CAD each.

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Neli in horsey heaven
Neli in horsey heaven
Heading back to ranch, Liam in the lead
Heading back to ranch, Liam in the lead

 

We left La Paz January 5 to head north into the islands for a bit before heading towards the mainland and Banderas Bay.  We are buddy boating with SV Yare.

Riki Tiki Tavi anchored in Bahia Bonanza with Yare and Hoku Pa'a
Riki Tiki Tavi anchored in Bahia Bonanza with Yare and Hoku Pa’a
Playa de Bonanza
Playa de Bonanza

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Surprising that we have cell coverage in Isla Espiritu Santo area, but that’s Mexico it seems…  Surprising.