Finally Cruising!

We are finally doing what we truly love to do – cruising!  We left La Paz two weeks ago and are definitely loving being away from the docks.  Yes – we have boat projects do to but we’re taking a holiday right now and that means the projects can wait.  We have better things to do like hiking, sailing, taking dinghy excursions, having appy hour on Falcon VII, playing cards with Doug and Martha in the evening, reading and relaxing.  We are three boats cruising together, sharing our adventures with friends on Thea and Abby Normal.

Bahia Ensenada Grande, Esperitu Santos

Cruising with Doug and Martha's been great.

Gotta like white sand beaches!

Jim and Doug sharing a joke

Atlas Cactus, holding up the overhanging rock.

A rare birds nest in the desert

Watching the weather

Isla San Fransisco

Long sand beach on one side and rocks on the other.  

With friends from Schools Out, Pearla Moon and Thea.

Sundowner's Party at Isla San Fransisco

We all have cruising in common and that's enough!

Entering the lagoon and mangroves on Isla San Jose

Our mangrove dinghy excursion.

Tiny Isla Coyote near Isla San Fransisco.

They still dry fish like they have for generations.

Los Gatos from a distance...

Closer look at the crazy geography and terrain.

View from the top overlooking our boats at Los Gatos

Puerto Escondido with the Sierra Gigante Mountains beyond and
the Steinbeck canyon hidden amongst them

A calm day in "The Mirror"

Not to calm day.  It blew 25 knots on the mooring for the better
part of three days.  Dinghy rides to shore were fine, though.

It doesn't look rough but it was 25 knots!

Hiking up to the canyon.

Cooling toes in the fresh water pools.

Shade!

We have been revisiting many of the anchorages we’ve enjoyed in 2014 and 2015.  Isla Espiritu Santos, Isla San Fransisco, Isla San Jose, Los Gatos to name some.

In a few days Jim and I will turn south again and head back towards La Paz, which we’ll enjoy over a few days.  Once back at the docks at Marina de La Paz we’ll get Falcon VII and ourselves ready for our trip back to Canada.  This was not a quick decision but something we have contemplated for well over a year.  We love Mexico and plan on definitely coming back in the winter months but Falcon VII is our home and Mexico’s summer heat makes it impossible for us to live on her year round. We want to take her back to BC where we can cruise in moderate temperatures and enjoy the protected Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands, northern Vancouver Island, etc.  We anticipate leaving La Paz around March 20th and taking our time heading north, not arriving in BC until late July.  But for now, we’re living in the moment and enjoying all that the Sea of Cortez has to offer.

We arrived at our most norther point, Puerto Escondido, last weekend.  Not only is the Steinbeck Canyon close by, but it’s a wonderful hurricane hole, which means it’s a good place to be when the strong northerlies blow like they have been for the past three days.  This morning it was blowing 22 knots in the anchorage.  There are white caps everywhere and the wind whistles through the rigging constantly.  A perfect day to take it easy, do a little baking, have friends over and chill.  Life is good!

Sunrise off of Los Gatos.

Until next time…Tricia and Jim Bowen
Falcon VII
email tandjbowen13@gmail.com.