Three Stars
Over the last few days we have enjoyed three types of star sightings.
Making our way north.
We are currently anchored in a beautiful bay named Bahia San Franciscito. (aka, little San Francisco..to which it bears no resemblance). Since my last post, we have passed through (in south to north order)
It's raining boobies!
Just now, I was in the galley and I heard Eila shout, "Mommy, it's raining boobies!" I came out, and so it was. Blue footed boobies, to be exact. They circle, then flatten their wings along their bodies and plummet like a narrow torpedo straight down into the water, resurface, then repeat.
Things That Go Bump in the Night
Our first night back to the boat last week, we were awakened by repeated noises at random intervals. As boat dwellers, we are used to noises of all kinds. There are repeated thwackings of rigging ropes; there are water smackings; there are sail slappings; and there are thunks and bumps of canned foods or loose bolts rolling in their cupboards. These sounds were of different intensities, hard firm bumps and also fluttery gentle bumps. Brian was up in the dark wandering around the topdeck with a bright flashlight for a long time. The unique thing about these noises was that they were not emanating from one location. It was as if they were happening at every corner of the boat. After many hours of dozing, then being awakened by a particularly loud thunk, then dozing again, I realized something. Some of the noises were accompanied by a flippery, flappy sound. Could these be fish?
News from Rancho Abierto
Hi Folks, we received this update yesterday from the Ranch where we will be doing our DTS in April. WOW!
Back on Board
When we left Skagua on Dec 18, our plans did not include traversing half of the United States twice, nor did our plans include Brian joining us. It was supposed to be 3 weeks and now six weeks later, we just returned to our floating home yesterday. Here is a brief recounting of our December and January. Girls and I flew to Colorado in time to put up Christmas decorations with my mom, and spend lots of time with my brother and his family. After Christmas, we drove to Kansas the same day Brian flew in. After the New Year we drove back to Colorado for a few days, then on to California. In California, we took care of a few appointments, checked in on our home, saw friends, visited my sister, got our car repaired. Then we drove back to Kansas in sub-freezing weather. Five more days in Kansas allowed us to see Deje’s ability to swallow and eat improve greatly. We also celebrated his birthday. Then BACK to Colorado to drop Eloise off at my mom’s house, say goodbye. Then we flew to LA and down to Loreto, Baja Mexico, yesterday.
Navigation
On our previous ocean travels, we had a handheld GPS which told us our latitude and longitude. Using these, we plotted our location on a paper chart using a pencil and a splitters and a ruler. When near land, we plotted our location more frequently than when further away. Using these marks, our own reckoning, cruising guides (books with diagrams and instructions how to enter an anchorage), and our radar (to see our situation in relation to land or other boats), we navigated to and from, in and out and around.
Perfect days
Yesterday, Eila and Brian zipped around in the dinghy and checked out the different lobes of our 3-lobed bay, Ensenada Grande. Meanwhile, Eloise and Paddleboard snorkeled. What that means is what you might imagine. The water is SO clear that standing on our boards looking down, we can see the bottom of the bay, 20 feet deep. We saw rays and coral heads and so many fish! Then Eloise saw a most unusual thing. At first she thought it was trash, then as we got closer it was not trash, it was a creature. It was about the size of a loaf of bread, tube- shaped and clear except for bright purple dots seemingly like beads on strings all around the outside of this clear jellyfish (that's what we assume it was). I can't find it online, but I sure wish I knew what it was.
Made it to La Paz area
Well, after many months of saying, "we are heading to the Sea of Cortez area, here we are. The water is warm, the beaches have almost no shore pound (making landing the dinghy very easy); there are many other sailboats and sailors in this area. Yesterday we got to meet our new friends on S/V Nike. They are friends of a Santa Cruz friend. Dorothy and I have been messaging back and forth for many weeks looking forward to meeting each other in person. Yesterday, our kids paddled to shore and played in the water and sand together. Eila was beyond happy to have someone else to make friendship bracelets with, swim and talk to. She's our extrovert! Brian and I sat with Dorothy and learned a bit about each other. Later, we had a progressive dinner...first dinner aboard S/V Nike then dessert aboard S/V Skagua. What a joy when Dorothy read out an Advent reading, and then we all sang 'Silent Night' together.
Changes
As we make progress southward, here are some different things we have seen that herald our arrival in warmer latitudes.
Thanksgiving Day
Today I am thankful for this beautiful wood table which Brian cut down from the original to fit our settee area up in the pilot house. I’m sitting here as we slowly and gently sail downwind south toward Magdalena Bay on the outer southern tip of the Baja Peninsula.
Water Water everywhere
Salty Water
The Lord.. brings out the wind from his storehouses. Psalm 135:7
Create Your Own Website With Webador