Hola amigos,
After 26 hours of wind and seas on the nose, and surviving the most fishing vessels we've ever seen yet, we are safe and secure in Marina El Cid. It seemed as if every apparatus in Mexico that could float was out fishing the waters the whole way from Matanchen to just north of Isla Isabel. The good news is we only encountered two long lines and were able to slide over them... all the rest were fishing shorter nets held near to their pangas... for those, lonely, fishermen... we'd coast up to their panga, wake the fisherman who was sleeping under a tarp, and accept his advice on how to safely avoid his net. They were pretty happy with us for caring enough to do that. Further north, as the net fishermen diminished, the shrimpers took over in droves; but at least they were large, well lit, and contained their nets around their vessels.
We also enjoyed numerous sightings of whales blowing and a fantastic display of breaching and huge fin slapping. Oh, and of course... there were the stars. My God how they could spill across the heavens...so thick it made finding the usual constellations difficult.
While the trip wasn't the most comfortable we've ever had... it did put us at Mazatlan's doorstep right on time. Exactly 26 hours after we'd left Matanchen (0900), we slid quietly through the entrance to the Mazatlan estuary, home of El Cid Marina, Marina Mazatlan, Fonatur Marina and the Isla Marina. Luckily for us... the dredge hadn't started working yet (which cuts off entrance to the estuary without regard to current or standing waves at the entrance.. (and we'd missed slack tide by about 2 hours), and there were no catamarans (carriers of vast numbers of tourists intent on a day at the beach... with promises of whale sightings and easy to use sanitarios) blocking our way. We made it in after slack tide but before the ebb was too strong. Our friends were waiting for us at the dock and we slid handily into B16 at Marina El Cid.
For now, we will focus on a few repairs that are needed, and on continuing our journey to La Paz once the repairs are completed and the weather Gods open the gate. Fairly high winds are predicted for the next week... so that may work out quite well. Time will tell.
For now we are content... and enjoying the familiar haunts of Mazatlan (couldn't resist a dinner tonight that came with "all the margueritas you can drink" :-) Tomorrow we will refocus and get SSpirit ready for her next several months.
Hope all is well with each of you. Adios for now... CJ
Posted by: Carolyn (via Kathy's Google mail profile)
