May 4th, 2011
Home!
Greetings, Caprice fans!
Caprice and her all male crew succesfully tied up at her home port in Point Richmond today, May 4th at 11:30am! A happy crew and an even happier trio of dancing girls greeted them!
The arrival was joyous and emotional for one and all. Caprice looks beautiful... the repair work is flawless... and the crew looked great also!
After a festive champagne toast, lunch was served at Dan and Carol's and a good time was had by all!
So, dear friends and family, this concludes the Tales of Caprice... an odyssey that began on August 10th, 2010 and ended successfully and happily today!
We thank everyone who followed along with us and hope one day to have more adventures to share with you.
Until then,
Cheers from Caprice and her crew!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Uphill to the Barn
Monday, May 2nd, 2011
Uphill to the barn!
Good news... the Men of Caprice have successfully conquered Point Conception and Point Arguello with light winds and calm seas. They are approximately 12 miles south of Point Sur at 7pm today, May 2nd, 2011 heading into 28 knot winds. With both engines powering them forward, they are making 3.5 knots of forward speed! Next stop, Monterey for fuel and a rest… maybe just fuel and a hamburger!
We at home are anxious for their safe arrival at Point Richmond...
Stay tuned... for more Tales of Caprice and her all male crew!
Uphill to the barn!
Good news... the Men of Caprice have successfully conquered Point Conception and Point Arguello with light winds and calm seas. They are approximately 12 miles south of Point Sur at 7pm today, May 2nd, 2011 heading into 28 knot winds. With both engines powering them forward, they are making 3.5 knots of forward speed! Next stop, Monterey for fuel and a rest… maybe just fuel and a hamburger!
We at home are anxious for their safe arrival at Point Richmond...
Stay tuned... for more Tales of Caprice and her all male crew!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Men Can Cook
April 26th, 2100
This just in from Captain Dan aboard the SV Caprice!
“They call it slogging north or the Baja Bash. Both terms are appropriate for the trip up the Baja Coast. We experience up to 35-knot winds and rough seas as we point right into the wind and currents. We stop at Turtle Bay for updated weather information and a few supplies and continue bashing up the coast to Ensenada after ducking into a small cove at San Carlos for an overnight respite. We fuel up again at Ensenada, savor our steaks that we can't bring across the border, and finally get into the USA at San Diego where clearing customs is quite a relief. We are allowed to berth at the lovely San Diego Yacht Club, enjoy a delicious seafood dinner at the Club, and finish our to do list.
All is well with the Captain and crew. We discover that Men Can Cook (although we would bow to the expertise of our spouses) whenever we can!
The next few days should be relaxing as we do day trips up the coast towards Santa Barbara.”
‘Til next time…
Cheers from Captain Dan and the all-male crew of Caprice!
This just in from Captain Dan aboard the SV Caprice!
“They call it slogging north or the Baja Bash. Both terms are appropriate for the trip up the Baja Coast. We experience up to 35-knot winds and rough seas as we point right into the wind and currents. We stop at Turtle Bay for updated weather information and a few supplies and continue bashing up the coast to Ensenada after ducking into a small cove at San Carlos for an overnight respite. We fuel up again at Ensenada, savor our steaks that we can't bring across the border, and finally get into the USA at San Diego where clearing customs is quite a relief. We are allowed to berth at the lovely San Diego Yacht Club, enjoy a delicious seafood dinner at the Club, and finish our to do list.
All is well with the Captain and crew. We discover that Men Can Cook (although we would bow to the expertise of our spouses) whenever we can!
The next few days should be relaxing as we do day trips up the coast towards Santa Barbara.”
‘Til next time…
Cheers from Captain Dan and the all-male crew of Caprice!
Coming to America!
April 25th, 2011
Finally, an update from Tom aboard Caprice as she makes her way from La Paz, Mexico to San Diego, California!
Just the facts I asked for and promised I would embellish and elaborate into a continuation of the tales of Caprice! I’ve done my best and hope all you fans of Caprice and her all-male crew will enjoy!
Caprice is underway from the CostaBaja Marina at 12 noon on April 12th, 2011 for the short trip to Calera Partial, an anchorage between Isla Del Espiritu Santos and Isla Partida where we spend the night. In the morning we move Caprice closer to a reef where Dan snorkels and returns to the boat with a broad-faced grin regaling us with tales of the myriad of colorful and unusual fish he saw! After the stop for the snorkel opportunity we motor Caprice around to the north end of Isla Partida and then head south to Cabo San Lucas. We head for an overnight stop at Muertos, but if conditions are good, it’s straight on to Cabo San Lucas. Caprice is anxious to get going on the long trip north and her crew is willing to make her happy!
Hooray… we catch two beautiful yellow fin tuna so you know what we are having for dinner this evening – the freshest fish possible!
We motor all night and arrive at Cabo San Lucas at about 9am Thursday morning and start the process of officially checking out of Mexico. Practical issues include topping off with diesel and filling the food larders with marvelous provisions from Costco! We will overnight at the Cabo San Lucas Marina, where we stayed last November upon completing the Baja Ha Ha!
Next stop: the Mexican Immigration Office! We stroll to the official site armed with our passports and Caprice documentation. We are curious as to how this process works… when we arrived with the Baja Ha Ha group, officials met us on the docks and processed everything easily and quickly. Now, we are on our own!
Upon entering the office we see 35 to 40 other needy people waiting for help… so we sit down and wait… Fortunately, we have Enrique with us. He approaches one of the officials and chats away with him. Soon the official has his supervisor at hand and the thought of guards quickly approaching with AK47’s crosses my mind… but hooray, all is well. The supervisor takes our papers and passports and returns shortly with everything ready to go! He shakes our hands and wishes us a good/safe trip back to San Francisco. It appears that all the other folks in the immigration office are there for something other than leaving Mexico in a sailboat. Back to Caprice with a skip in our step as one major hurtle is successfully completed. Next stop: COSTCO! Enrique and I gather our shopping bags and walk a few blocks to catch a bus to COSTCO to provision the boat for the trip to San Diego (8 pesos for the bus ride while the cab back with the goodies is 200 pesos… a peso is approximately 12 to the dollar.)
Off we go, departing Cabo San Lucas at about 7:30am the next morning and are now slogging our way north in 12 to 15 knots of wind right on our nose.
We are hopeful that the winds will die down in the afternoon but alas at 3:30pm they are blowing 15 to 18. We are running at 2800 rpm on both engines and only driving the boat at about 5 knots putting us a bit behind our projected time lines! But as we know, this is sailing and time lines are for people who are working! Today we catch eleven fish but all are shakers.
Saturday Morning April 16th and we are sailing toward the entrance of Bahia Magdalena or Mag Bay as it is affectionately known to sailors and locals. We will pull into Puerto San Carlos to fill the diesel tanks for the trip to Turtle Bay. As a result of the heavy winds on our nose we are consuming more fuel than we anticipated. We plan to purchase four additional 20-liter fuel containers so that we have sufficient backup to make the trip to Turtle Bay and further North should we experience more of the adverse wind and current conditions.
We arrive at the entrance to Bahia Magdalena and motor 20 miles up the channel to Puerto San Carlos where we anchor off the port in about 20 feet of water. The wind is blowing hard, so we decide that Dan and Enrique will row ashore in the dingy while I stay on Caprice should she drag anchor. Off they go! In time the intrepid crew makes it to the shore only to be greeted by a guard. I watch them through a pair of binoculars and it appears that there is some problem with them landing where they are. But Enrique with his command of the language saves the day and they are allowed to proceed. After disappearing into the buildings, 3 hours pass before I see them again. Needless to say I was thrilled when they reappeared! Long story short, they eventually hook up with the right guy after several disappointments with the local officials and purchase two 60-liter fuel containers. Dan rows back to the boat while Enrique continues to work with the local official to obtain the much-needed fuel. We move Caprice to the pier and side tie to a rusty old fishing boat and a hose is carried over to Caprice! We load fuel into our tanks and containers. And as we say aboard Caprice when things are going well: Hallelujah!!! We thank everyone that is involved and of course everyone gets the appropriate tip!! Caprice is underway and heading down the channel for the open sea as we continue our voyage north! We are on our way to America and looking forward to it greatly!
Stay tuned for more Adventures of Caprice and her all-male crew!
Finally, an update from Tom aboard Caprice as she makes her way from La Paz, Mexico to San Diego, California!
Just the facts I asked for and promised I would embellish and elaborate into a continuation of the tales of Caprice! I’ve done my best and hope all you fans of Caprice and her all-male crew will enjoy!
Caprice is underway from the CostaBaja Marina at 12 noon on April 12th, 2011 for the short trip to Calera Partial, an anchorage between Isla Del Espiritu Santos and Isla Partida where we spend the night. In the morning we move Caprice closer to a reef where Dan snorkels and returns to the boat with a broad-faced grin regaling us with tales of the myriad of colorful and unusual fish he saw! After the stop for the snorkel opportunity we motor Caprice around to the north end of Isla Partida and then head south to Cabo San Lucas. We head for an overnight stop at Muertos, but if conditions are good, it’s straight on to Cabo San Lucas. Caprice is anxious to get going on the long trip north and her crew is willing to make her happy!
Hooray… we catch two beautiful yellow fin tuna so you know what we are having for dinner this evening – the freshest fish possible!
We motor all night and arrive at Cabo San Lucas at about 9am Thursday morning and start the process of officially checking out of Mexico. Practical issues include topping off with diesel and filling the food larders with marvelous provisions from Costco! We will overnight at the Cabo San Lucas Marina, where we stayed last November upon completing the Baja Ha Ha!
Next stop: the Mexican Immigration Office! We stroll to the official site armed with our passports and Caprice documentation. We are curious as to how this process works… when we arrived with the Baja Ha Ha group, officials met us on the docks and processed everything easily and quickly. Now, we are on our own!
Upon entering the office we see 35 to 40 other needy people waiting for help… so we sit down and wait… Fortunately, we have Enrique with us. He approaches one of the officials and chats away with him. Soon the official has his supervisor at hand and the thought of guards quickly approaching with AK47’s crosses my mind… but hooray, all is well. The supervisor takes our papers and passports and returns shortly with everything ready to go! He shakes our hands and wishes us a good/safe trip back to San Francisco. It appears that all the other folks in the immigration office are there for something other than leaving Mexico in a sailboat. Back to Caprice with a skip in our step as one major hurtle is successfully completed. Next stop: COSTCO! Enrique and I gather our shopping bags and walk a few blocks to catch a bus to COSTCO to provision the boat for the trip to San Diego (8 pesos for the bus ride while the cab back with the goodies is 200 pesos… a peso is approximately 12 to the dollar.)
Off we go, departing Cabo San Lucas at about 7:30am the next morning and are now slogging our way north in 12 to 15 knots of wind right on our nose.
We are hopeful that the winds will die down in the afternoon but alas at 3:30pm they are blowing 15 to 18. We are running at 2800 rpm on both engines and only driving the boat at about 5 knots putting us a bit behind our projected time lines! But as we know, this is sailing and time lines are for people who are working! Today we catch eleven fish but all are shakers.
Saturday Morning April 16th and we are sailing toward the entrance of Bahia Magdalena or Mag Bay as it is affectionately known to sailors and locals. We will pull into Puerto San Carlos to fill the diesel tanks for the trip to Turtle Bay. As a result of the heavy winds on our nose we are consuming more fuel than we anticipated. We plan to purchase four additional 20-liter fuel containers so that we have sufficient backup to make the trip to Turtle Bay and further North should we experience more of the adverse wind and current conditions.
We arrive at the entrance to Bahia Magdalena and motor 20 miles up the channel to Puerto San Carlos where we anchor off the port in about 20 feet of water. The wind is blowing hard, so we decide that Dan and Enrique will row ashore in the dingy while I stay on Caprice should she drag anchor. Off they go! In time the intrepid crew makes it to the shore only to be greeted by a guard. I watch them through a pair of binoculars and it appears that there is some problem with them landing where they are. But Enrique with his command of the language saves the day and they are allowed to proceed. After disappearing into the buildings, 3 hours pass before I see them again. Needless to say I was thrilled when they reappeared! Long story short, they eventually hook up with the right guy after several disappointments with the local officials and purchase two 60-liter fuel containers. Dan rows back to the boat while Enrique continues to work with the local official to obtain the much-needed fuel. We move Caprice to the pier and side tie to a rusty old fishing boat and a hose is carried over to Caprice! We load fuel into our tanks and containers. And as we say aboard Caprice when things are going well: Hallelujah!!! We thank everyone that is involved and of course everyone gets the appropriate tip!! Caprice is underway and heading down the channel for the open sea as we continue our voyage north! We are on our way to America and looking forward to it greatly!
Stay tuned for more Adventures of Caprice and her all-male crew!
Hello Cabo!
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
After a short, but sweet visit to Espiritu Santos for some sightseeing and snorkeling, our intrepid Captain and Crew of the SV Caprice are underway today bound for Cabo San Lucas. Tom was able to phone home while passing La Paz and Dan later emailed that they had caught two tuna today and enjoyed fresh tuna sashimi for dinner! So, remember what we say when things are good on Caprice: “hallelujah!” The plan is to continue on through the night and hope to be in Cabo by tomorrow, Thursday, and out of there on their way up the Baja Peninsula sometime Friday.
While in Cabo, they will provision for the trip up the Baja Coast, and officially check out of Mexico. The check out procedure cannot be done on the weekend, so Friday is the goal for completing that task. Caprice and crew checked into Mexico at the end of the Baja Ha Ha in early November, 2010.
As always, we fans of Caprice wish them a safe and pleasant time until we meet again!
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
After a short, but sweet visit to Espiritu Santos for some sightseeing and snorkeling, our intrepid Captain and Crew of the SV Caprice are underway today bound for Cabo San Lucas. Tom was able to phone home while passing La Paz and Dan later emailed that they had caught two tuna today and enjoyed fresh tuna sashimi for dinner! So, remember what we say when things are good on Caprice: “hallelujah!” The plan is to continue on through the night and hope to be in Cabo by tomorrow, Thursday, and out of there on their way up the Baja Peninsula sometime Friday.
While in Cabo, they will provision for the trip up the Baja Coast, and officially check out of Mexico. The check out procedure cannot be done on the weekend, so Friday is the goal for completing that task. Caprice and crew checked into Mexico at the end of the Baja Ha Ha in early November, 2010.
As always, we fans of Caprice wish them a safe and pleasant time until we meet again!
Off They Go!
Off they go!
Or: Adios to CostaBaja and La Paz!
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
Today there really is dancing in the streets… or at least, aboard Caprice! At approximately 11am La Paz time, Dan started the engines and Tom and Enrique cast off the lines, and Caprice began the long journey home… La Paz, Mexico to Point Richmond, California, United States, Northern Hemisphere, Earth!
They will stop at Espirito Santos for a bit of snorkeling and exploring, followed by stops in Cabo San Lucas, Bahia Santa Maria, Turtle Bay and then across the border to San Diego, Morro Bay, Monterey and home! The exact itinerary is, as we sailors all know, subject to change and written in sand at low tide!
We wish them god speed, fair winds and safe harbors until we meet again!
Or: Adios to CostaBaja and La Paz!
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
Today there really is dancing in the streets… or at least, aboard Caprice! At approximately 11am La Paz time, Dan started the engines and Tom and Enrique cast off the lines, and Caprice began the long journey home… La Paz, Mexico to Point Richmond, California, United States, Northern Hemisphere, Earth!
They will stop at Espirito Santos for a bit of snorkeling and exploring, followed by stops in Cabo San Lucas, Bahia Santa Maria, Turtle Bay and then across the border to San Diego, Morro Bay, Monterey and home! The exact itinerary is, as we sailors all know, subject to change and written in sand at low tide!
We wish them god speed, fair winds and safe harbors until we meet again!
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Little Engine that Did!
April 9th, 2011
The little engine that could, that couldn’t, that finally DID!!!
Or: “How to splash a boat – Mexican style!!!”
Executive Officer Tom writes:
“First let me set the scene. When Caprice was moved onto the hard last January she was pulled out of the water on an ancient rail system using a very old engine to turn the gears which moved the boat up to the dry land. As soon as Caprice was in the correct position, the engine, which had seen its best days years ago, died a tortured death in a burst of sparks and blue smoke!!!
Before we left Caprice in that dusty old Mexican boat yard, junk yard dogs and all, to come home in February, we watched the poor little dead engine be pulled from its home and placed in the back of pickup to be carted off to the place that little dead engines go to.
Now let us spring forward to the present and yes there is a shiny new engine or what appears to be a shiny new engine, or the same old engine with a fresh coat of paint… we think, all of the above are possible! Whichever it is, the little engine is ready to lower us into the water. “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” she is heard sputtering, but something seems amiss as the engine is started and then shut off only to be started yet again and then turned off again. Again and again, we hear: “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” followed by “I just can’t!”
Feeling disconcerted and sorry for the little engine that can’t, we see a man with a big wrench approach the scene of the crime so to speak. Alas, beating it doesn’t work, so out comes the blow torch… but still the little engine sputters and stops.
The engine is started again when all of a sudden a cable snaps and Caprice lurches at least a foot towards the water! We snap to attention, forgetting how sorry we are feeling for the little engine and throw our support towards Caprice! It seems that the boat was kept from rolling back into the water by a cable that was attached to a large cement foundation and that very cable has just snapped! Fortunately, a chain is the back up for the cable, so it grabs and Caprice halts her backward motion!
It is becoming clear that perhaps after all the effort that Dan has put into getting Caprice into the water today, our dear Caprice is still going to be “on the hard” when the sun sets! And this is Saturday when Abel and his team only work half a day and the time is now 1:00pm! But hooray, some workers are still around and new cables are threaded into the innards of the rail system and at 3:00pm Caprice starts to inch her down to the water, finely floating free a short time later! And the cheer went out: Hallelujah!”
Or: “How to splash a boat – Mexican style!!!”
Executive Officer Tom writes:
“First let me set the scene. When Caprice was moved onto the hard last January she was pulled out of the water on an ancient rail system using a very old engine to turn the gears which moved the boat up to the dry land. As soon as Caprice was in the correct position, the engine, which had seen its best days years ago, died a tortured death in a burst of sparks and blue smoke!!!
Before we left Caprice in that dusty old Mexican boat yard, junk yard dogs and all, to come home in February, we watched the poor little dead engine be pulled from its home and placed in the back of pickup to be carted off to the place that little dead engines go to.
Now let us spring forward to the present and yes there is a shiny new engine or what appears to be a shiny new engine, or the same old engine with a fresh coat of paint… we think, all of the above are possible! Whichever it is, the little engine is ready to lower us into the water. “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” she is heard sputtering, but something seems amiss as the engine is started and then shut off only to be started yet again and then turned off again. Again and again, we hear: “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” followed by “I just can’t!”
Feeling disconcerted and sorry for the little engine that can’t, we see a man with a big wrench approach the scene of the crime so to speak. Alas, beating it doesn’t work, so out comes the blow torch… but still the little engine sputters and stops.
The engine is started again when all of a sudden a cable snaps and Caprice lurches at least a foot towards the water! We snap to attention, forgetting how sorry we are feeling for the little engine and throw our support towards Caprice! It seems that the boat was kept from rolling back into the water by a cable that was attached to a large cement foundation and that very cable has just snapped! Fortunately, a chain is the back up for the cable, so it grabs and Caprice halts her backward motion!
It is becoming clear that perhaps after all the effort that Dan has put into getting Caprice into the water today, our dear Caprice is still going to be “on the hard” when the sun sets! And this is Saturday when Abel and his team only work half a day and the time is now 1:00pm! But hooray, some workers are still around and new cables are threaded into the innards of the rail system and at 3:00pm Caprice starts to inch her down to the water, finely floating free a short time later! And the cheer went out: Hallelujah!”
Sunday, April 10, 2011
SPLASH!!!!!!!!!!
April 9th, 2011
Captain Dan writes: “Caprice is still on the hard. All the work is done and she looks beautiful, but will look even better in the aqua. We are counting the minutes until that happens!
We met some friends of Enrique, George and Mercedes, who live here in La Paz and enjoyed a delicious filet mignon dinner at their fabulous villa overlooking La Paz Harbor. As the lovely evening came to a close, we thought how fortunate we are to be “stuck” in such a beautiful spot!
The island of Espiritu Santos still beckons and we hope to be there soon after inspecting the rigging and critical systems of Caprice. With lots of storage space, two refrigerators and two freezers, we are provisioned with enough food for an army. Lose weight on this trip? Tal Vez (maybe).
Cheers from Caprice”
And later the same day, this good news!
Splash! Or as we say on Caprice when all is well, Hallelujah! Caprice is afloat! No longer on the hard in a dusty old Mexican boatyard… junk yard dogs and all! She is as thrilled to be in the water as are Dan, Tom and Enrique! Boy, what a wait it has been… so a celebration is underway in La Paz… dancing in the streets, champagne, etc. You can imagine the excitement aboard Caprice tonight! And may the days be brighter and brighter as she begins her homeward journey!
We at home can only smile, say congratulations, and anchors aweigh!
Captain Dan writes: “Caprice is still on the hard. All the work is done and she looks beautiful, but will look even better in the aqua. We are counting the minutes until that happens!
We met some friends of Enrique, George and Mercedes, who live here in La Paz and enjoyed a delicious filet mignon dinner at their fabulous villa overlooking La Paz Harbor. As the lovely evening came to a close, we thought how fortunate we are to be “stuck” in such a beautiful spot!
The island of Espiritu Santos still beckons and we hope to be there soon after inspecting the rigging and critical systems of Caprice. With lots of storage space, two refrigerators and two freezers, we are provisioned with enough food for an army. Lose weight on this trip? Tal Vez (maybe).
Cheers from Caprice”
And later the same day, this good news!
Splash! Or as we say on Caprice when all is well, Hallelujah! Caprice is afloat! No longer on the hard in a dusty old Mexican boatyard… junk yard dogs and all! She is as thrilled to be in the water as are Dan, Tom and Enrique! Boy, what a wait it has been… so a celebration is underway in La Paz… dancing in the streets, champagne, etc. You can imagine the excitement aboard Caprice tonight! And may the days be brighter and brighter as she begins her homeward journey!
We at home can only smile, say congratulations, and anchors aweigh!
Caprice Gets Ready, 2!
April 5th, 2011
This just in from Dan: “Yes, Caprice is still on the hard in Abel Navales Bercovich Pino’s boat yard at La Paz. I am living aboard Caprice and it is really interesting to be in a third world country boatyard… junk yard dogs and all! Obviously OSHA is not here, but the workers are very good and the repairs are going along well, or as Abel says: “Amazing!” Over $50,000 in damage to our dear Caprice, but she will be “better and stronger than new” according to Abel!
Fortunately Enrique speaks fluent Spanish, so he helped communications between me and the workers yesterday. Tom is scheduled to arrive on Thursday… about the same time as we plan to launch Caprice. Then we will test systems, do our provisioning, and then off we go to Isla Espirito Santos for a few days of swimming in the beautiful azure seas of the Sea of Cortez before heading south to Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.
From there, it’s Point Richmond or bust! We expect to be homeward bound by next week!!
To all our faithful readers, we wish you well and thank your for goading us to keep you informed about Caprice’s travels.”
Cheers from Captain Dan
This just in from Dan: “Yes, Caprice is still on the hard in Abel Navales Bercovich Pino’s boat yard at La Paz. I am living aboard Caprice and it is really interesting to be in a third world country boatyard… junk yard dogs and all! Obviously OSHA is not here, but the workers are very good and the repairs are going along well, or as Abel says: “Amazing!” Over $50,000 in damage to our dear Caprice, but she will be “better and stronger than new” according to Abel!
Fortunately Enrique speaks fluent Spanish, so he helped communications between me and the workers yesterday. Tom is scheduled to arrive on Thursday… about the same time as we plan to launch Caprice. Then we will test systems, do our provisioning, and then off we go to Isla Espirito Santos for a few days of swimming in the beautiful azure seas of the Sea of Cortez before heading south to Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.
From there, it’s Point Richmond or bust! We expect to be homeward bound by next week!!
To all our faithful readers, we wish you well and thank your for goading us to keep you informed about Caprice’s travels.”
Cheers from Captain Dan
Caprice Gets Ready!
La Paz!
April 4th, 2011
Dan is in La Paz and reports that Caprice is indeed not only there but looking so much better than when he and Tom left her on February 6th, 2011. Although he is greeted by temperatures in the 90’s outside and over 110 inside Caprice, he survives the night and is spotted this morning sipping a latte at the CostaBaja internet café and regaling his crew and family still at home with tales of Caprice!
This morning he and Abel go over the “punch list” for the remainder of the work to be done on Caprice and he feels very positive about her launching by the end of the week! Dan is living aboard Caprice “on the hard” waiting launching. Although not as accommodating as she is in the water, Dan feels he should keep a close eye on the final work on Caprice.
Enrique is in the air as I write this on his way to La Paz and Tom departs on Thursday. Enrique will base at a timeshare in La Paz while awaiting Caprice’s launching and Tom’s arrival is hopefully timed for launch day.
Stay tuned… excitement is in the air as Caprice gets ready for the journey home!
April 4th, 2011
Dan is in La Paz and reports that Caprice is indeed not only there but looking so much better than when he and Tom left her on February 6th, 2011. Although he is greeted by temperatures in the 90’s outside and over 110 inside Caprice, he survives the night and is spotted this morning sipping a latte at the CostaBaja internet café and regaling his crew and family still at home with tales of Caprice!
This morning he and Abel go over the “punch list” for the remainder of the work to be done on Caprice and he feels very positive about her launching by the end of the week! Dan is living aboard Caprice “on the hard” waiting launching. Although not as accommodating as she is in the water, Dan feels he should keep a close eye on the final work on Caprice.
Enrique is in the air as I write this on his way to La Paz and Tom departs on Thursday. Enrique will base at a timeshare in La Paz while awaiting Caprice’s launching and Tom’s arrival is hopefully timed for launch day.
Stay tuned… excitement is in the air as Caprice gets ready for the journey home!
The Winter (and Spring) of our Discontent!
The Winter (and Spring) of our Discontent!
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
It has been two LONG months since Caprice was rammed in La Paz Harbor and the same two LONG months that we have waited to see her repaired and beautiful again. These months have been full of excitement and anticipation followed by disappointment and dismay. Many false starts, it seems, as to when the parts will ship, when they will arrive, where they will arrive, when will the boatyard be ready to begin the work, when will the insurance investigation be complete… when, when, when! Should travel arrangements be made, will Carol be healed, will we ever see Caprice back at her home port of Point Richmond?! On and on it has gone… but finally, and I mean FINALLY, it seems that we may soon be sending Dan, Tom and a new crew member, Enrique, to La Paz to start the final chapter of this Adventure of Caprice!
And this is cause for celebration… and the continuation of our “story.” So stay tuned for frequent updates from the all male crew of Caprice via yours truly as they weigh anchor and begin the odyssey!
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
It has been two LONG months since Caprice was rammed in La Paz Harbor and the same two LONG months that we have waited to see her repaired and beautiful again. These months have been full of excitement and anticipation followed by disappointment and dismay. Many false starts, it seems, as to when the parts will ship, when they will arrive, where they will arrive, when will the boatyard be ready to begin the work, when will the insurance investigation be complete… when, when, when! Should travel arrangements be made, will Carol be healed, will we ever see Caprice back at her home port of Point Richmond?! On and on it has gone… but finally, and I mean FINALLY, it seems that we may soon be sending Dan, Tom and a new crew member, Enrique, to La Paz to start the final chapter of this Adventure of Caprice!
And this is cause for celebration… and the continuation of our “story.” So stay tuned for frequent updates from the all male crew of Caprice via yours truly as they weigh anchor and begin the odyssey!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Good Day, Bad Day
Saturday, January 29th, 2011
Sunshine and blue sky and 70 degrees! Who could ask for anything more! A walk to the new golf course club house provides exercise and views of the area “too die for”! The La Paz red rock of the area is so beautiful that Carol and I decide to collect some for souvenirs. We’ve never seen rock of this color and it is everywhere… used for walls and landscaping throughout the area.
We are off to the islands soon and will be out of touch until we reach Cabo… so we bid you adios from Caprice and look forward to relating more adventures soon!
Cheers!
Later the same day! BANG!!!! We are on our way to Isla Espiritu Santos. We are not in gear as Carol is talking to a sick friend, when BOOM! A monohull rams us… the captain of the monohull Hale Moana, is down below and the boat is on autohelm. What a horror… and how fast accidents happen! We are all shocked as we look at beautiful Caprice with her starboard quarter smashed. The trampoline is gone for all practical purposes and the mast is at risk… we look at each other in total disbelief. We are really not able to talk about it right now… we hope the local boatyard can fix her… we will need parts shipped from Australia and trucked to Baja… we are back at gorgeous CostaBaja Marina waiting for the boatyard to open on Monday. Stay tuned.
Sunday is a grieving day aboard Caprice as the reality of what has happened sinks in. We all try to put a positive spin on it, stating the fact that we have the boat and we have each other, but it is difficult. Dan marshals his forces and starts making phone calls to the insurance company, the boatyard, and the Seawind rep in San Diego. But, very bad news… Carol appears to have hurt her ribs… and on Monday, x-rays prove she has two cracked ribs… however, on the bright side… the x-rays show her pneumonia is cleared up! Unbelievable as this may sound, two doctor consultations and x-rays cost $78 in La Paz. Just for fun, think about what those medical services would have cost in the U.S.!
On Tuesday, February 1st, Caprice is pulled out of the water on an old fashioned rail system at the Abel Berkovich boatyard right here at CostaBaja. The owner says he can begin the fiberglass repair right away and that it may take 7 to 10 days for that part of the repair. But, we still need contact with the factory regarding replacement parts and matching gel coat.
Carol and I plan to return home on Wednesday, February 2nd and Dan and Tom will stay with Caprice to oversee her repairs… On Saturday, Dan and Tom decide that Caprice is in good hands at the Abel Berkovich boatyard and book flights home. The fiberglass repair is proceeding well and Seawind Catamarans in Australia is preparing to ship the required replacement parts.
We are all very hopeful that Caprice will once again be beautiful on both sides and the four of us will resume our adventures in Mexico and up the Pacific Coast to Point Richmond in the early spring.
Sunshine and blue sky and 70 degrees! Who could ask for anything more! A walk to the new golf course club house provides exercise and views of the area “too die for”! The La Paz red rock of the area is so beautiful that Carol and I decide to collect some for souvenirs. We’ve never seen rock of this color and it is everywhere… used for walls and landscaping throughout the area.
We are off to the islands soon and will be out of touch until we reach Cabo… so we bid you adios from Caprice and look forward to relating more adventures soon!
Cheers!
Later the same day! BANG!!!! We are on our way to Isla Espiritu Santos. We are not in gear as Carol is talking to a sick friend, when BOOM! A monohull rams us… the captain of the monohull Hale Moana, is down below and the boat is on autohelm. What a horror… and how fast accidents happen! We are all shocked as we look at beautiful Caprice with her starboard quarter smashed. The trampoline is gone for all practical purposes and the mast is at risk… we look at each other in total disbelief. We are really not able to talk about it right now… we hope the local boatyard can fix her… we will need parts shipped from Australia and trucked to Baja… we are back at gorgeous CostaBaja Marina waiting for the boatyard to open on Monday. Stay tuned.
Sunday is a grieving day aboard Caprice as the reality of what has happened sinks in. We all try to put a positive spin on it, stating the fact that we have the boat and we have each other, but it is difficult. Dan marshals his forces and starts making phone calls to the insurance company, the boatyard, and the Seawind rep in San Diego. But, very bad news… Carol appears to have hurt her ribs… and on Monday, x-rays prove she has two cracked ribs… however, on the bright side… the x-rays show her pneumonia is cleared up! Unbelievable as this may sound, two doctor consultations and x-rays cost $78 in La Paz. Just for fun, think about what those medical services would have cost in the U.S.!
On Tuesday, February 1st, Caprice is pulled out of the water on an old fashioned rail system at the Abel Berkovich boatyard right here at CostaBaja. The owner says he can begin the fiberglass repair right away and that it may take 7 to 10 days for that part of the repair. But, we still need contact with the factory regarding replacement parts and matching gel coat.
Carol and I plan to return home on Wednesday, February 2nd and Dan and Tom will stay with Caprice to oversee her repairs… On Saturday, Dan and Tom decide that Caprice is in good hands at the Abel Berkovich boatyard and book flights home. The fiberglass repair is proceeding well and Seawind Catamarans in Australia is preparing to ship the required replacement parts.
We are all very hopeful that Caprice will once again be beautiful on both sides and the four of us will resume our adventures in Mexico and up the Pacific Coast to Point Richmond in the early spring.
CostaBaja Marina and Resort - Five Stars in BaJa!
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
Hooray, Hooray…we made it!!! What a ride it was! Very difficult to sleep or eat or play games. And it went on and on at least in my mind… but then the seas calmed down and the winds died and the sun broke through and as we say on Caprice: “hallelujah!”
The CostaBaja resort, spa and marina is grand. We have access to all the resort amenities and plan to enjoy them greatly.
Dan will greet Carol at the La Paz Airport tomorrow late afternoon and the four of us plan to welcome her presence aboard Caprice!
Until next time, Adios Amigos!
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
The Admiral comes aboard!
Hooray again, as Carol arrives this afternoon and all of us, especially the Captain, are looking forward to her arrival.
Last night we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the beach club restaurant watching the sun set over the beautiful bay. The resort is grand with shops, restaurants, beach club, and infinity pool… everything you could want! We will go to town today to have a look at La Paz. The resort offers complimentary shuttle service to town for shopping and dining all day long. Dan taxis to the airport to meet Carol’s flight and tonight we plan to celebrate with dinner at one of the resort restaurants.
La Paz is beautifully clean and has a gorgeous broad Malecon (seaside promenade) that goes on for miles along the waterfront. We three enjoy exploring the shops and even find an art gallery with a spectacular photography exhibit. After a delicious chicken enchilada lunch, Dan heads out to the airport and Tom and I continue our exploration of town.
Did I mention that the resort has a marvelous maritime museum displaying a fabulous collection of famous model ships? Victory and Columbus’ three ships are among the collection.
After dinner, it’s back to the boat and off to bed to dream of more adventures in Mexico aboard Caprice! We are back to normal with a full crew and it sure feels good!
Buenos noches!
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
The Admiral seems to have brought cloudy weather with her… so we are rethinking our plans for the day… sitting by the pool or on the beach is not looking good at the moment and the weather report for La Paz is for clouds through tomorrow. Perhaps a stroll on the beach or the shuttle into town for more exploration is in order.
The sun stays behind the clouds all day but we have a fun walk discovering the entire resort property including the infinity pool, beach, hotel, and marina. We are all so pleased with this location that we decide to stay through Friday night. The weather for the weekend is for sunshine and warmer temperatures, so off we will go to Isla Espiritu Santos to snorkel and explore. Two days anchored at the island is the plan and then south towards Cabo.
Dinner at Azul Marino here at the resort is marvelous. The shrimp is fresh and local from the Sea of Cortez… so we all enjoy a dish that is flambéed in brandy and simply delicious. Carol and Dan do some research into the different tequilas available and decide on two worth pursuing.
Friday, January 28th, 2011
Hard to believe… it is still cloudy and chilly… but we don’t let it dampen our spirits… it’s off to Soriana’s for groceries aboard the free shuttle. All of us explore the foreign super market in search of the items we will enjoy later on board Caprice… and then lunch at the local food court. The shuttle takes us back to Caprice and the quartermaster, Tom, stores the food for us.
The hot tub and infinity pool beckon us even in the clouds… the resort is sumptuous and we are rewarded with a feeling of being among the rich and famous as we lounge on the chaises in the pool and splash in the hot tub… then, a rinse off shower under the rain showers at the beach club. This place is truly grand… we hate to leave!
Back to Caprice where I win the game of rummy-o that we have been playing since Carol arrived!!! Hooray for me. We wander over to the beach terrace lounge for a cocktail and then follow that up with dinner at Azul Marino again. Tonight there is live music to accompany the delicious food. And tomorrow, they are predicting sunshine! Halleluiah!
Buenos noches!
Hooray, Hooray…we made it!!! What a ride it was! Very difficult to sleep or eat or play games. And it went on and on at least in my mind… but then the seas calmed down and the winds died and the sun broke through and as we say on Caprice: “hallelujah!”
The CostaBaja resort, spa and marina is grand. We have access to all the resort amenities and plan to enjoy them greatly.
Dan will greet Carol at the La Paz Airport tomorrow late afternoon and the four of us plan to welcome her presence aboard Caprice!
Until next time, Adios Amigos!
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
The Admiral comes aboard!
Hooray again, as Carol arrives this afternoon and all of us, especially the Captain, are looking forward to her arrival.
Last night we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the beach club restaurant watching the sun set over the beautiful bay. The resort is grand with shops, restaurants, beach club, and infinity pool… everything you could want! We will go to town today to have a look at La Paz. The resort offers complimentary shuttle service to town for shopping and dining all day long. Dan taxis to the airport to meet Carol’s flight and tonight we plan to celebrate with dinner at one of the resort restaurants.
La Paz is beautifully clean and has a gorgeous broad Malecon (seaside promenade) that goes on for miles along the waterfront. We three enjoy exploring the shops and even find an art gallery with a spectacular photography exhibit. After a delicious chicken enchilada lunch, Dan heads out to the airport and Tom and I continue our exploration of town.
Did I mention that the resort has a marvelous maritime museum displaying a fabulous collection of famous model ships? Victory and Columbus’ three ships are among the collection.
After dinner, it’s back to the boat and off to bed to dream of more adventures in Mexico aboard Caprice! We are back to normal with a full crew and it sure feels good!
Buenos noches!
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
The Admiral seems to have brought cloudy weather with her… so we are rethinking our plans for the day… sitting by the pool or on the beach is not looking good at the moment and the weather report for La Paz is for clouds through tomorrow. Perhaps a stroll on the beach or the shuttle into town for more exploration is in order.
The sun stays behind the clouds all day but we have a fun walk discovering the entire resort property including the infinity pool, beach, hotel, and marina. We are all so pleased with this location that we decide to stay through Friday night. The weather for the weekend is for sunshine and warmer temperatures, so off we will go to Isla Espiritu Santos to snorkel and explore. Two days anchored at the island is the plan and then south towards Cabo.
Dinner at Azul Marino here at the resort is marvelous. The shrimp is fresh and local from the Sea of Cortez… so we all enjoy a dish that is flambéed in brandy and simply delicious. Carol and Dan do some research into the different tequilas available and decide on two worth pursuing.
Friday, January 28th, 2011
Hard to believe… it is still cloudy and chilly… but we don’t let it dampen our spirits… it’s off to Soriana’s for groceries aboard the free shuttle. All of us explore the foreign super market in search of the items we will enjoy later on board Caprice… and then lunch at the local food court. The shuttle takes us back to Caprice and the quartermaster, Tom, stores the food for us.
The hot tub and infinity pool beckon us even in the clouds… the resort is sumptuous and we are rewarded with a feeling of being among the rich and famous as we lounge on the chaises in the pool and splash in the hot tub… then, a rinse off shower under the rain showers at the beach club. This place is truly grand… we hate to leave!
Back to Caprice where I win the game of rummy-o that we have been playing since Carol arrived!!! Hooray for me. We wander over to the beach terrace lounge for a cocktail and then follow that up with dinner at Azul Marino again. Tonight there is live music to accompany the delicious food. And tomorrow, they are predicting sunshine! Halleluiah!
Buenos noches!
Adios Mazatlan, Hola La Paz
Sunday, January 23rd, 2011
Unbelievable as this is going to sound… it is not another warm and sunny morning! We are sitting here on Caprice in pea soup fog! As heavy and grey and cold as at home! We are shocked and aghast! Dan is even threatening to turn on the heater, as he refuses to put on warm clothes because, after all, he is in supposedly sunny, warm Mexico! We hope this will lift soon as departing in this would not be a good thing! Also, unfortunately, we have a malfunctioning toilet (not again!!!) and Tom is going to tackle that with his toilet tools! So, we decide a warm breakfast is in order… and we hope that we will be in sunshine before long.
Hooray, the sun is shining, the fog is gone, and the toilet is fixed! Off we go… under very pleasant conditions. We are motoring along with calm seas and heading North West to La Paz which is approximately 230 nautical miles away. We plan on two days and two nights, arriving by mid day on Tuesday!
After dinner, the winds come up and we are rocking, rolling and bouncing around with loud booms as the waves beat the bottom of the boat between the hulls. Doing anything is difficult… sleeping, eating, and watching. Conditions stay the same all night and I am busy with my worry beads!
But the good news is: Tom fixed the toilet!
Unbelievable as this is going to sound… it is not another warm and sunny morning! We are sitting here on Caprice in pea soup fog! As heavy and grey and cold as at home! We are shocked and aghast! Dan is even threatening to turn on the heater, as he refuses to put on warm clothes because, after all, he is in supposedly sunny, warm Mexico! We hope this will lift soon as departing in this would not be a good thing! Also, unfortunately, we have a malfunctioning toilet (not again!!!) and Tom is going to tackle that with his toilet tools! So, we decide a warm breakfast is in order… and we hope that we will be in sunshine before long.
Hooray, the sun is shining, the fog is gone, and the toilet is fixed! Off we go… under very pleasant conditions. We are motoring along with calm seas and heading North West to La Paz which is approximately 230 nautical miles away. We plan on two days and two nights, arriving by mid day on Tuesday!
After dinner, the winds come up and we are rocking, rolling and bouncing around with loud booms as the waves beat the bottom of the boat between the hulls. Doing anything is difficult… sleeping, eating, and watching. Conditions stay the same all night and I am busy with my worry beads!
But the good news is: Tom fixed the toilet!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Return to Puerto Vallarta!
Hello again, Puerto Vallarta
January 11th, 2011
Dan arrives alone and lonely today… Carol remains at home recovering from pneumonia. Dan is planning to prep the boat for our departure, but is stymied by some slight mechanical problems and instead, enjoys the sunshine and the games installed on the iPad. He is missing the company of Carol and us but soon we will arrive to entertain him! He does do some housekeeping, scrubbing the walk in shower and the stove top in preparation for our showering and cooking!
January 13th, 2011
It is a cold, damp, gloomy and wet morning as Tom and I await our flight to sunny, warm Puerto Vallarta! Our plane from Seattle is late due to cold, rainy, damp weather in Seattle. Two hours late, we board and depart from San Francisco and 3.5 hours later we land in sunny, warm Puerto Vallarta! Hallelujah… as we say aboard Caprice when the gods are with us! And to Tom and I, being in warm, sunny Puerto Vallarta (have I said warm, sunny Puerto Vallarta many times now?) is a lovely dream come true. We have suffered through very cold (for us) temperatures at home and have been looking forward to arriving here, in warm, sunny Puerto Vallarta for weeks now. We zoom through immigration and customs and soon are in a taxi bound for the marina at Paradise Village in Nueva Vallarta where the welcoming Dan and Caprice await us. After a quick visit aboard, it’s off to the Vallarta Yacht Club for a bite to eat and a “catch up” with Dan to see how things are aboard the boat, having left it two months ago!
Friday, January 14th, 2001
The sun is shining and the temperature is marvelous… in the mid 70’s as we make our plans for the day. We bus to town for lunch at La Palomas, the restaurant Tom and I dined at before. All three of us enjoy the food, view and ambience as we gaze out across the gorgeous blue waters of Banderas Bay. After lunch we stroll along the promenade to Isle de Cuale, a lovely little island in the Rio Cuale, with shops and restaurants. We spot a restaurant/jazz café, Le Bistro, that beckons for a visit… but we are not sure how to fit it in. On the corner near our bus stop is our gelato store, so flavors are chose and we sit and chat while enjoying our first Mexican ice creams. Our visit to town is wonderful, we all agree as we board the bus to Sam’s Club, Walmart and Caprice. Sam’s club denies us entrance, but Walmart is open for business and we buy some supplies for the next few days. I am interested in a trip to Costco if possible as Walmart and Sam’s Club are unfamiliar to me. We return to Caprice with our purchases and decide dinner is not necessary after our delicious lunch and gelato. Tom and Dan choose to sit for a spell and read, but I long for a walk along the beach and a sunset… which is on display as I walk along! A stroll through the shopping and good news… what to my wondering eyes should appear but a gelato shop… so back to the boat I go carrying six scoops of gelato to share with my boat mates!
Saturday, January 15th, 2001
Another warm sunny morning so off we go to walk the beach… picking up shells and enjoying the seashore and the sights. Dan is at the Yacht Club talking with AT & T so that the iPad will work here in Mexico. Tom and I return to the Yacht Club and enjoy delicious Chicken Taco Salads on the deck of the club. When we return to the boat we see Dan scurrying around with our soaking wet bed linens. While adding water to the water tank, a bad thing happened to him. The hose separated from the nozzle and jumped into our open hatch depositing at least ten gallons of water on to our bed!!!! Dan is quite excited and upset… what to do but take the bed linens to the laundry and have the staff there save the day by washing and drying everything so that sleeping in our bed would be possible! Then, we have the afternoon in front of us, so off to the beach to laze about in the sunshine and fly Dan’s kites and enjoy ice cream at the seashore.
Dinner tonight is at Fajita Republic, on the lagoon in the Marina area! It is grand. Dripping with ambience and delicious food… especially the house special… fajitas. Our group enjoys a variety of these along with Mexican beer and Margaritas. The restaurant is accessible by dinghy and that is our plan, until Helen recommends a taxi as the wind has come up and she feels it will be wet and damp. We enjoy wonderful conversation and laughter as we are from three different states and have enjoyed varying lengths of travel aboard boats all over the world. Helen and Ralph are on their Seawind 1160 right behind Caprice on B dock. Ralph is at home for a few days, so Helen’s childhood friend Cathy is keeping her company. We arrive back at the Marina, full and happy and ready to make our bed again and jump in! Buenos Noches!
Hello Again, Puerto Vallarta part 2
Sunday, January 16th, 2011
We awake to yet another sunny morning (this could be habit forming!) and the engine mechanic is here early to change the engine oil in preparation for our leaving. After that is done, we stow away everything that belongs in the pantry which frees up the dining room table for breakfast. Dan prepares his famous hash browns and eggs and coffee which we three enjoy immensely. After breakfast, it’s off to Costco to shop for provisions for our trip to La Paz. Tom and I ride the bus and a taxi to Costco and have a grand time selecting delectable goodies for the next week to ten days (‘til Admiral Cookie arrives) and sets us on the right track health and diet wise. We taxi back to the boat and unload and stow away the goods. Then it is you know what for lunch… butterscotch ice cream and fruit. Dan’s up the mast next to check the rigging and Tom keeps an eye on him, while I try to log on to wifi at the yacht club which is unsatisfying! Eventually I am able to do so and send the first part of our story.
Helen takes us on an evening beach walk to the turtle preserve where we, along with perhaps 30 other people, assist the new born turtles to the sea. The organization finds turtle nests on the beach and rescues the eggs which they incubate and upon hatching, release to the sea with the assistance of tourists and locals. During the hatching season, they have a “release party” every evening. This was more fun and more rewarding than you can imagine… children through retirees helping these tiny 24-hour old baby turtles make it to the water… they still have an uphill battle for survival as they are tender and delicious to the many fish and dolphins enjoying life in Bahia de Banderas, but at least they are in the water before hungry seagulls can eat them.
We are dining aboard tonight I believe and plan on a departure some time tomorrow. Stay tuned for more of the Adventures of Caprice!
Monday, January 17th, 2011
Surprise, surprise! The sun is shining again! It is cooler than the first few days, but bright sunshine abounds and it will warm up as the day goes on. We are prepping for departure up to La Cruz along the north shore of Bahia de Banderas where we plan to anchor or tie up at a Marina and enjoy exploring the town and have dinner ashore. Philo’s is well known and we think we should give it a try. We are finishing up provisioning this morning and one last check of emails, while making our lists and checking them twice! We are hoping for a sail across the bay this afternoon.
Until next time, happy trails to you!
Back to Mexico for fun in the sun!
Monday afternoon and evening, January 17th, 2011
We are sailing across glorious Banderas Bay with whales! They are spouting all around us and Tom shoots photo after photo from his camera… he captures one whale tail photo but it does not come close to the one he got in Monterey Bay. Helen and Ralph are out here with us enjoying the sunshine, the water and the whales. Eventually we make our way to La Cruz and the newly developed Riviera Nayarit Marina. We tie Caprice up in B3 and immediately make friends with a couple from Nashville across from us. They are friendly and offer much helpful information regarding La Cruz dining and shopping hot spots. Our first choice for dinner later is Philo’s, a cruisers gathering spot, but it is closed on Monday, so Glorietta’s is chosen for their jumbo coconut shrimp. Tom and I stroll the town while Dan entertains Guy and Carol, owners of Stray Cat, a Seawind 1000 anchored in the bay. They are neighbors from Santa Rosa down here for nine months of the year enjoying the warmth of Mexico. La Cruz is very popular with yatistas… laid back and very Mexican. The streets are a Mexican version of cobble stones, simply rocks cemented together to make a form of pavement. The stores and restaurants are simple and casual… food is inexpensive but the Mexican Indian beadwork is expensive. We wonder down to the beach which is a local’s beach lined with restaurants to try a Negra Modela for Tom and a lemonade (actually made with limes here in Mexico) for Merrie. The Riviera Nayarit is one of the fastest growing areas of Mexico. New condominium developments are being built all along the bay and one day, La Cruz will probably rival Puerto Vallarta for tourists. Today it is still a bit sleepy and obviously that is a great draw for laid back cruisers.
The three of us venture out for Glorietta’s but first a stop at a recommended shop selling native handicrafts. We spot beaded baby turtles similar in size to the real ones we had handled at the turtle release party, so three of them come home with us as gifts for the grand children. Then off to Glorietta’s… absolutely dripping with local color and native ambience! Our server is delightful and the jumbo shrimp are sweet and delicious. They are served with mango salsa and the best margaritas in La Cruz! We waddle back to the boat and turn in with the goal of reaching Chacala Bay tomorrow!
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
Anchors away at 9:30 am after checking out with the somewhat difficult clerk. The bay is beautiful as we motor around Punta de Mita headed for Chacala Bay, some 40 miles north of La Cruz. We are fishing with three heavy duty lines out, but alas, no fish for Caprice so far. Life aboard today is easy and very comfortable. The seas remain calm all the way. At 3:30pm we set the anchor in lovely, isolated Chacala Bay. The beach is lined with yalapa covered restaurants and bars and tourists as well as locals are enjoying the beach and water. There are nine other yachts anchored in the bay with us. We deploy the dinghy and head for what we think is a dinghy dock, but it is full with pangas and our dinghy is not light enough to land on the beach, so Dan drops Tom and me off to explore and he returns to the boat, agreeing to pick us up in an hour. The village is a one-street town with shops and restaurants/bars lining it on both sides. The beach-side ones are delightful looking and after a stroll down the beach, we return for a refreshing aqua fresco. At the end of the beach there is a marvelous little hotel, the Mar de Jade, offering seaside accommodations and wellness programs. It looked like a little piece of heaven, although quite remote. This maybe perfect for those truly looking to get away from it all. We also saw guest houses and other hotels as well as two signs of the times: a cell phone tower and an internet café! And all the places of business were advertising their web sites! What would we do without these things today? Dan is even able to send emails with his iPad using cell phone service as he signed up for an international data package.
This was our first anchorage and all went well. Once the sun went down, the temperatures dropped quickly, but it was very comfortable. Dan bbq’d hamburgers for us for dinner, but they were not up to par with what we can purchase at home. The quality of beef was not at all the same… which we may have detected from the packaging had we been able to read it.
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
Up with the sun and off we go headed for Isla Isabela. At first, we are under those predictably present sunny skies, but at Los Custodios, we enter a San Francisco like fog bank across the Pacific. It’s as if we have been beamed back to the cold grey city by the bay! The sky darkens and the temperature drops. We are hoping it will be a small fog bank and that we will soon be through it. We have turned on the radar just in case.
Isla Isabela is a National bird and sea life sanctuary. Dan hopes to snorkel and skin dive and Tom and I are looking forward to some hiking about the island. We arrive late afternoon and drop the anchor. We have four other boats for company tonight. The number of birds flying overhead is amazing… we hope we don’t wake up to a bird soiled Caprice in the morning! We break out the Rummyo tiles tonight for a friendly game… and soon it is bed time for the three musketeers aboard Caprice.
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
I’m getting used to saying this: “another sunny morning” ! After a delicious breakfast of ham, scrambled eggs and hash brown potatoes, it’s off to the snorkeling spot with Dan done up in his wet suit and fins and mask. We board the dinghy and head for a likely spot. Dan falls backwards (as planned!) into the water and Tom and I bob around on the anchored dinghy. Dan is all over the area having a grand time. When he returns to the dinghy, he says it is like snorkeling in an aquarium! He is just thrilled to have had the chance to snorkel in this spot. Dan says it is the best snorkeling he has had since visiting the island of Bequia in the Caribbean in1984. After a hot shower to return Dan’s temperature to normal, we three take a bit of a tour of the island from the water. Alas, we discover we are anchored in a totally different spot than we thought we were in… but it is a safe anchorage also! Landing on the island looks difficult, so hiking is not part of the day. We escape with only one bird calling on the galley hatch!
A word here about the dining aboard Caprice in Carol’s absence: We are faring quite well! The meals prepared by me are not as creative, but delicious, and winning compliments from Captain Dan and First Mate Tom. Examples of our meals include chicken tostadas, salads with chicken or shrimp, ravioli, hamburgers, ham and cheese Panini’s, and the inevitable ice cream! Dan makes fabulous coffee for breakfast and we have a boat load of fresh fruit, cereal and yoghurt for breakfast along with those delicious eggs, ham and potatoes!
We are underway this afternoon to Mazatlan. New friends from Stray Cat tell us to anchor in the harbor near the Old Town and we will be able to walk to it. We expect to arrive by day break on Friday and have two full days there before departing on Sunday for La Paz!
Thursday, January 20th continued.
At sea on the way to Mazatlan… all is calm at first and then the winds begin to blow… we have winds reaching 18 knots for sometime and then it drops to an average of 12 knots. We sail and/or motor sail all night and it is very bumpy! After an early dinner and gorgeous sunset, Dan and Tom take turns taking three hour watches… and in the morning, when the sun comes up, we are here! Hallelujah! As we say on Caprice! I am sooooooo thrilled to be here… we head for the anchorage near the Old Town and board a bus to see the sights! We immediately head for an internet café, having endured three days without communications! AAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then, off we go to find the Plaza and hopefully a restaurant with local fresh-caught shrimp for lunch. Unfortunately, we are misinformed and with too little information, so we never find the large, supposedly quite attractive Plaza Machado and end up taxing back to the marina and head for Marina El Cid up in the more upscale Hotel and Marina district.
Marina El Cid is lovely… it rivals Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta for amenities and beauty. We are tied up at the end of B dock and welcomed by the local “welcome wagon” representative… Captain George, who explains our folly regarding the Old Town and Plaza. If we ever go back, we shall enjoy the Old Town much more after our discussion with Captain George! But alas, we are happy here in Mazatlan’s version of paradise… the boat boys are washing Caprice and the laundry people are doing the laundry… we have but to enjoy with a walk on the beach and perhaps Dan will get those kites out again. If not, a lounge in the shade by the pool will suit us quite well!
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