From Mexico to California, USA. Another Granddaughter.

We are on the water. Sal Darago was launched on 28^th February, after twelve days of hard work. Jeremy tried to salvage our third battery. After a few days he decided to buy another one from Malpa. I discovered that the curtain liners had all disintegrated in the sun. Paul, from the motor boat Frayed Knot, had a partner who was a modista (dress designer). She made new curtain liners for us.

On the way to the water

We found our heater at the bottom of one of the stern lockers and used it in the mornings and evenings. Jeremy worked on SD’s hull, preparing her for antifouling. We used the Subaru to drive to various tiendas and compare prices. We chose Comex at San Carlos.

We were disappointed that Kyotil, the restaurant that we used last year was only open in the late afternoon and evenings. Fortunately, after asking around, I found another local restaurant/take away nearby and used it most lunchtimes. We liked tacos carne asada and quesadillas cameron.

Yes! She's afloat

Other jobs on SD included putting on the mainsail, lazy jacks and reefing lines plus all the running rigging followed by the solar panels and the dodgers. A bolt had broken in one of the wooden grab rails on the roof. Jeremy spent hours and many broken drill bits trying to remove it. Eventually, serious hammer blows did the trick.

This task prepared him for the banging, bashing and straining required to remove the seized Blakes seacock from the heads compartment. SD’s lockers were searched for a second hand seacock given to us several years ago by the owner of a Westerly yacht called Badgers Sett. After a full day of tremendous physical effort the seized seacock was removed and replaced.

Our daughter-in-law, Erin, reached her due date but the baby was not ready for the outside world yet. Meanwhile, a nail was found in one of the Subaru’s tyres. We took the car to a tyre place, where the nail was removed and a patch was put inside the tyre in bicycle repair fashion. The cost was 70 pesos (just under £3).

The best view of the Carnival Queen

Although there was still more to be done, the underwater jobs were finished and we launched on a hot day. We motored two miles to Marina Fonatur, tied up and went to meet the capitan, Eduardo. We stayed four nights just as the Carnival in Guaymas started. Unbelievable decibels blasted across the marina from 7.00pm until 3.00am.

The Subaru Forester

The Subaru was great for provisioning and we made several trips to Wal-Mart and Leys. We were sad to return it to San Carlos. Thank you so much for the loan of it, Ann and Barry.

We paid our bill and cast off on Monday 4^th March. There was a brisk wind blowing, which continued to rise so we put a reef in the mainsail. The sea was quite rough with water coming into the cockpit from time to time. As predicted the conditions eased overnight until we were sailing gently. I had to call a ship on the VHF as it was on the same course and would be too close for comfort. The ship altered course and passed us one mile away.

First sail this trip

Just as Jeremy was making a hot drink at midnight, the cooking gas ran out and he had to change the  bottle on the stern in the dark.

By morning we were motoring and continued all the way to Isla Partida. As it was so calm, we decided to motor the last 25 miles to La Paz. However, a 15 knot headwind sprang up and the sea became choppy. We changed our minds at 2.30am and turned into the bay at Isla Partida, entering under GPS and radar. We had been there last year, but it was still quite challenging to find a spot far enough away from the other yachts and catamarans anchored there.

Marina Cortez, La Paz

Around mid-day the next day we were motoring away when a call came over the VHF. It was our Canadian friends of five continents, Ann and Barry, on Cat’s Paw IV. They were anchored across the bay. It was great to see them again. Both yachts motored and sailed down to La Paz. Once anchored, we were reunited properly over beers and snacks on SD.

The Cathedral at San Jose del Cabo

Over the next few days, we went out for dinner at Bandidos, lunch at Claros and played Bridge on Cat’s Paw IV, where the girls won once again!

Isn't she gorgeous?

Our third granddaughter was born early in March , weighing in at 8lbs 13oz. She’s called Nina Lorna. Both mother, Erin, and baby were doing well as was Simon. We were delighted.

Proud Granddad

The next day, our granddaughter, Sophie, in England celebrated her 3^rd birthday. Happy birthday, Sophie.

Proud Granny

I am writing this in our Airbnb in Sunnyvale, California, just 5 minutes up the road from Simon and Erin’s apartment. We have held Nina and given her lots of cuddles and we have hugged Simon and Erin. We are so glad to have made the journey from La Paz, which started with a two and a half hour bus journey to San Jose del Cabo. We stayed one night in Hotel Posada Senor Manana and took a taxi to the international airport the next day. We had not been given tourist visas when we crossed the US/Mexico border on the bus from Phoenix to Guaymas and learned later that we would not be able to leave the country without one. Fortunately, the Immigration Officer at the airport was very pleasant to us and we were able to buy visas for 560 pesos each (£22).

Simon, Erin, Baby Nina and Kathy

We flew to San Jose, California and Simon picked us up at the airport. Tomorrow, we have one more full day with our USA family; then we return to La Paz to prepare for our crossing of the Pacific Ocean.