A certain sameness...

We're at anchor, in the main bay of Isla San Francisco. This is such a beautiful place we just had to come back. We've even managed to secure an anchorage spot quite near the northern cliffs of the bay and, as a result, we've good protection from the north winds that continue to blow. But it really is beautiful here. The beach is a combination of sand and small pebbles (they say there are agates on the beach a short walk across the island) and there are several rough trails that lead up to the ridges surrounding the bay and from which you can see almost all the way back to La Paz. One of the trails also takes you through a natural 'cactus garden' and the old salt flats used long ago for collecting sea salt. There's lots to do for cruisers stopping to visit and the largish bay we're anchored in is one of the few 'good' places in the area that provides protection from the northerly winds. The bay can apparently hold 21 boats of various sizes and we had 17 here last night (winds are predicted to blow for the next few days).

With the exception of the cool weather (we've been assured this is an unnatural year for weather and that next year will be much calmer and warmer) we're finally feeling like we've 'arrived'… like we're cruising in the Sea of Cortez… There's a certain calming sameness to each day; starting with the 0700 and 0800 weather predictions available via SSB radio, then the challenge of producing a suitable breakfast before heading out on whatever excursion has been decided on. Yesterday we headed to the south beach where the water is shallower and (we thought) therefore warmer for swimming. We'd also heard there was a place where cruisers could burn their paper garbage. We found it all, took care of business, and then cavorted with Sophie on the beach for a couple of hours. We were joined by other cruisers (friends from Canada) who were also anchored in the bay and had a chance for a nice visit. Yesterday ended as many have, with a gathering on the beach to share a 'sundowner', meet and chat with other cruisers, and generally wind down… returning to the boats by dark to prepare something for dinner, check all the lines, and turn in.

Today will be a variation of the same theme… there's a little more wind right now so plans for an early morning fishing excursion have been cancelled… for now. But there's always lots to do. Our batteries are down a bit so I'll run the generator for a while this morning… and we've invited a few folks over for happy hour this afternoon so there'll be some house-keeping to do… and there's agates to hunt and fish to capture… and boats coming and going… many who want to anchor right on top of us (I'm learning to be a little more tactful when I explain to them what it will be like if we have to meet in the middle of the night :-) And so the day(s) will continue along this certain sameness as long as we're here.

We don't want to travel too far afield as we need to be back in La Paz by months end. There are a couple of anchorages near by we want to check out and will, provided the winds die down as predicted… hopefully this weekend. For now, we're content to hang out at Isla San Francisco, reading, writing, fishing, exploring and visiting with friends. We've finally caught up with a few of the folks we'd trained with in BC over the past several years (we know about half the boats that are currently anchored here and are enjoying catching up with old friends).

That's the news for now… hope all is well with all of you… we are content and safe living our cruising life… and enjoying the certain sameness of each cruising day. ttfn CJ

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