Hola from Chamela Bay

It's been a beautiful past week or so.  Friends Glen and Carol came down from Seattle, where we met them at the Puerto Vallarta airport for the bus ride back to the boat at La Cruz.  And miracle of miracles, they had an enormous box with them....our new inverter/charger!!!  The update:  we couldn't fix the old one, so we bought a new one in Seattle.  Needed that "TIP" mentioned in the last post for G&C to get it through Mexican customs without paying the 35% duty.  Well, the TIP arrived the day prior to their departure.  It was scanned and emailed to them, where they printed it, and had it ready for customs when they arrived.  It was necessary, and it did the trick!!!  The customs guys didn't know what it all meant, but it looked really pretty and all official with lots of stamps!!!  Official looking stamps seem to be the key around here.   Bingo, a new widget is now in country, and we installed it the next day, no fuss, no muss!!!  



 Spent a few more days in La Cruz with G&C, finishing projects, exploring, and provisioning for the next couple of weeks.  Went out to Punta de Mita for a couple of days of swimming and kayaking.  Glen and Cindi went kayak surfing while Adam and Carol focused on being the hunter gatherers...surfing proved more fruitful than fishing!!!

Then off to explore Islas de Tres Marietas.  Beautiful, wild islands at the mouth of Banderas Bay.  Much wildlife on and around these nature sanctuaries, both bird and marine critters abounded.  Saw many whales (humpbacks), and enjoyed snorkeling in the still rather chilly waters.  After a couple of days here, it was time to head south.  We did a night passage, leaving Tres Marietas at around 7pm, in order to round Cabo Corrientes (famous for challenging wind/sea combinations when the breeze is up) after the afternoon land breeze died down, and reach Chamela, approx 90 miles south, in daylight.  The night sailing was great, with fairly steady breezes after rounding the Cape of around 15 to 20 knots most of the night.  Arrived tired but happy in Chamela Bay at around 1pm.  All enjoyed a brief siesta!!!

Carol with 2 on at once!

Chamela has been a great spot to explore.  The water has warmed up nicely from the chilly 67 in Banderas Bay, now averaging 74 degrees.  We've been snorkeling every day, and kayaking among the nearby reefs.  Adam went scuba diving with friends Mark from Southern Cross, and Chris from Rocket Science.  Chris has a dive compressor, and with the Southern Cross gang they've been hitting the diving with gusto!!!

"Danger. Don't risk your life. Presence of Crocodiles"

 The beach hiking is great here.  Passed an estuary with many signs warning of crocodiles.  We saw one big guy, but he was a safe distance away.

Adam and Glen wondering about the remains found on the croc beach..."if hats could talk....."

The snorkeling has been good, though visibility has been only so so, perhaps 10-15 feet max.  Still it's nice to be in the warmer water, with thin shorty wetsuits.  For scuba diving, though, we've been wearing 7 mil wetsuits   ;-[   (that's what we wear in Puget Sound!!!!!) 

We're enjoying playing around with the new waterproof camera (good to 33' depth)

Cindi says "Hi" from Chemela!

 Glen and Carol left today, heading back to the soggy Northwest.  We'll be heading south in the days ahead, checking in to Tenicatita, Barra de Navidad, and points in and around there.  Not sure how far south we'll go before heading back north into the Sea of Cortez for spring and summer.  Perhaps down to Zihuatanejo, perhaps not.....These are the tough decisions we agonize over these days!!!  We love it!!!