Puerto Escondito to Bahia Los Angeles to Isla Partida….and Trevor’s 44th Birthday!

WARNING…..this post will contain lots of photos and could be quite long due to our lack of internet and other technology issues we have encountered since Puerto Escondito!

Puerto Escondito to Bahia of Los Angles

We decided to haul butt to Bahia Los Angeles (BLA) to try to meet up with SV Kenta Anae who are an incredible sailing family of four and because we purchased some bottom paint for them when we traveled to Seattle last month. There were anchorages that we missed on the way up but decided that we would hit them on the way back south to La Paz before we planned to cross the Sea of Cortez to Mazatlan

Well, we left Puerto Escondito on October 2nd. No wind to be have and to make a point of it…we had mosquitoes all about the boat…even when we were motoring.

Leaving Puerto Escondito at 7 am
Leaving Puerto Escondito at 7 am

We were headed for Punta Pulpito, an off the beaten path anchorage but had obsidian veins in the rockery and sea caves to dinghy about to. We didn’t have time to snorkel but the rock reefs around the sea caves looked amazing for sea life and the water was super clear.

From Punta Pulpito we originally headed to San Fransquito on an overnight sail (about 140 miles) but the weather and waves had a different idea for us.  We knew we would have some tidal action this far north in the Sea of Cortez (further south it was less of an issue) but the wind was CRAZY and would shift from WNW to SW and the waves were coming consistently from the North (5 ft. or more)….add in the tidal currents going against us….this all equates to something like a WASHING MACHINE!  Our auto pilot just doesn’t like to fight all of these variables and we ended up hand steering a lot…which isn’t horrible and we can do it (for hours) but not all night and we knew the wind picks up at night.  So we ditched out at Isla San Marcos which is just south of the last main town, Santa Rosalina.  During the day, Trevor caught a TURTLE on the fishing rod.  He had to reel it in, tried to get the hook out of its “finpit” but because our boat is so tall (Trevor is hanging off the boat and I am holding on to his ankles so he won’t fall in) he could only cut the line and had to leave the hook in the poor guy! I know there are worse things…and he is still alive.  We just hope the hook will rust out.

We left Isla San Marcos at 11am and prepared for the overnight sail to Puerto Don Juan. All in all, it was a great trip…however at 3am the winds and current started to change and created the washing machine effect all up until we anchored in Puert Don Juan. BUT….Trevor hooked some sort of Sail Fish!  No photo…I only wish.

We anchored in the natural hurricane hole, Puerto Don Juan, and immediately took a nap! When we sailed down the pacific side of the Baja, we did mainly night sails but it has been a while since then and we felt a little out of practice.  We laid low and decided to go into the BLA the next morning and try to hail SV Kenta Anae then.

Bahia Los Angeles (aka BLA)

The view from the anchorage in the Bahia Los Angeles
The view from the anchorage in the Bahia Los Angeles

When we got to BLA we immediately saw SV Kenta Anae and anchored right next door.  We were glad to see them, really anyone at this point being it just Trevor and I on the boat for a while.  They gave us the down low on the town: When and where to get groceries, fishing gear internet, and the museum and their hours of operations.  We quickly made plans to visit the museum and dinner aboard Kenta Anae…Merle, Alison, Shandro, and Matero.

Alison and Merle, photo taken by Kenta Anae
Alison and Merle, photo taken by Kenta Anae

Dinner was full of surprises!  First, we had Matero provide dinghy “valet services” and then he served us appetizers.  Dinner was AMAZING and Alison even brought out home made ICE CREAM for dessert!

The next day we woke up to singing fishermen at around 6am.  About 8 pangas were catching bait fish near our boats for the days fishing trips.  Most just talked but there was one boat that would sing in unison…it was great (or not if you wanted to sleep).

In the Bay of Los Angeles we heard singing and headed out side....we saw about 8-9 fishing boats surrounding us catching bait fish then headed out for the "big dogs"....but the singing was hilarious and totally unexpected...not that we could understand a word....
In the Bay of Los Angeles we heard singing and headed out side….we saw about 8-9 fishing boats surrounding us catching bait fish then headed out for the “big dogs”….but the singing was hilarious and totally unexpected…not that we could understand a word….

Friday we all took a trip to the museum, a must see for anyone who travels to BLA (hours Friday-Sunday 10-2)!

The museum at the Bahia Los Angles
Whale skeleton at the museum at the Bahia Los Angeles

There was a restaurant named Guillermo (spelling may be in correct) right at the beach where we would park our dinghies.  Guillermo’s had good wifi so we would often sit and have chips and salsa and a few beers.  One day Merle decided the wind was good enough to kite surf so he grabbed his gear and WOW…it was amazing to watch…..even all the locals were in awe!!!!

Merle kite surfing
Merle kite surfing

Isla Partida and Trevor’s 44th Birthday with Kenta Anae

The bay at Isla Partida with SV Kenta Anae and Slow Flight
The bay at Isla Partida with SV Kenta Anae and Slow Flight

We all planned a short trip to Isla Partida, about 22 miles away from BLA with with Kenta Anae.  They knew the area well and knew where to snorkel and spear fish…. to sum it all up we had a BLAST!!!! We snorkeled twice a day, almost every day, spear fished and thanks to Merle, we all ate really well! Trevor speared something….but Merle must of had 4 groupers (good eating by the way) on his line just after a few hours.  We saw lobsters and scallops, lots of fish, even a crazy big morel eel actually swimming around (usually you see just their heads sticking out of a rock).  Merle, Shandro and Matero were increible free divers and to say the least, we learned a few things from these guys!  We even had a bonfire ashore.

Merle spear fishing
Merle spear fishing
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Lobsters
Bon fire-enjoying the sunset
Bonfire-enjoying the sunset
Bon Fire with Shandro and Matero and the monsters
Bon Fire with Shandro and Matero and the monsters
Kenta Anae's crew: Alison, Matero, Shandro, Merle
Kenta Anae’s crew: Alison, Matero, Shandro, Merle
Gathering fire wood, we found this dried up guy....a sea lion!
Gathering fire wood, we found this dried up guy….a sea lion!
we also found this guy.....seagull?
we also found this guy…..seagull?

Trevor’s 44th Birthday

On the morning of October 10th….it was sunny with a light breeze.  Nothing fancy was going on just the usual cup of coffee.  We headed out side and low and behold found this!

On Trevor's birthday, we woke up to this birthday sign and ballons....culprit...Kenta Anae at 6 am!!!
On Trevor’s birthday, we woke up to this birthday sign and balloons….culprit…Kenta Anae at 6 am!!!

Birthday dinner was potluck style aboard Kenta Anae.

Birthday dinner on SV Kenta Anae: Ceviche style fresh fish (grouper caught by Merle), 3 types of hummus (wasabi, roasted red pepper, and regular), and curry rice dish.
Birthday dinner on SV Kenta Anae: Ceviche style fresh fish (grouper caught by Merle), 3 types of hummus (wasabi, roasted red pepper, and regular), and curry rice dish.

Trevor was presented with GIFTS!!!

Trevor's birthday "ribbon" from Kenta Anae
Trevor’s birthday “ribbon” from Kenta Anae.
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Balloon, canadian flag, and a hand drawn card from Shandro and Matero

And of course Trevor’s favorite dessert…rice krispie treats…rather actually corn pops treats as I couldn’t find popped rice cereal anywhere in Mexico.

Make a wish!!!!
Make a wish!!!!

Alison has a tradition which is to read the “Birthday Monster” story with a photo….it was read to them at 6am by another cruiser and decided to share the tradition with us.

isla-partida-trevors-birthday_photo-with-the-birthday-monster-book

We can’t get enough of Kenta Anae and can’t express in words how much fun we had with Kenta Anae and how wonderful the entire family is!  We so look forward to spending more time with them soon!

 

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