December 8th, Play el Burro to Punta Pulpita, anchored, 45nm

Departed El Burro at 810am arrived Punta Pulpito at 3pm.

Sailed, steeps seas about 6ft 6sec. Winds from NW at 15-30knots at bit chilly

We left around 810am from Burros, not much wind, Cam and Jaine left about a 1hr before us.  We saw Bill, cant remember the name of his boat, he was next to us in the yard at Marina Seca, hes from Bellingham WA. At the mouth of Bahia Concepcion we had to dodge several fishing nets and as we rounded Punta Domingo the wind picked up.  We had a great sail most of the 46nm, it was rough though with steep seas 6ft at 6 sec.  When we got to Bahia San Nicholas near San Sabastian the winds were blowing 25-30knots we had full sails up.  I was not comfortable, I had a hard time trying to steer Rainshadow, Brian had to take the helm.  We did bring in the staysail and rolled the main jib in about ½.  We could not reef the main, because we haven’t put in the reef line yet.  The winds let up a bit as we neared the point and then we pulled in a Skip Jack Tuna!!  Our first fish this trip!!  We anchored at Punta Pulpita, its not a very pretty anchorage but a nice stop for a over night break.  Brian put the dink in and Picked up Cam and Janie and brought them over for fresh fried tuna, with Cams mac and cheese.  Good dinner.  Off to San Juanico tomorrow after we explore the obsidian vein in the rock cliff.

December 7th, , Playa el Burro @ Bahia Concepcion

Winds calm in the bay in the morning and evening, picked up a bit during the afternoon as usual

We worked on the boat only about 1 hr then took the dink for a ride and a little fishing. We didn’t catch anything. Today is my 2 month anniversary for quiting smoking!! So we went to Berthas for lunch and cervas. We met 3 different couples all from Canada, the first couple drove down with their kite boards and surf boards, nice young couple, the second couple Jack and Megan on S/v Moon Raker and Eien and Diane both couples were on sailboats. We then went to Kerrie and Eddies and played bocce ball using golf balls and clubs, it was fun. Then off to our boat for dinner with Cam and Janie, Janie and I made homemade corn tortillas, they turned out great! Tommorrow we leave for Punta Pulpita.

December 6th, , Playa el Burro @ Bahia Concepcion

Winds calm in the bay in the morning and evening, picked up a bit during the afternoon as usual

Today Brian sanded the rails on the top side, I went fishing with Cam and Janie in their dink. We used yellow marshmellows to catch some small fish to use for bait to catch bigger fish. We caught 5 small fish but never caught any big fish. Quite night tried to get my email going , the driver I downloaded worked, but I guess I didn’t download airmail for Hams only the sailmail version so I don’t have the stations or frequencies for WL2K (this is who recieves and sends my email via Single Sideband Radio). I spent the night updating this journal and Brian played solitare. Nice relaxing evening.

 

December 5th, Playa el Burro @ Bahia Concepcion

December 5th, Playa el Burro @ Bahia Concepcion


Winds about10-15 in the afternoon, calm night

Today Eddy took all of us to Mulege to get provisions. We stopped at Doneys for a taco and margarita, it was great.  I got on the internet while we were at Doneys and downloaded the driver for our modem, hope it works. I emailed family and sure do miss the kids and hope everything is fine at home! Eddy took us to a store that had mostly Costco products so we were able to get US items we don’t usually have access to. We wanted cheddar cheese but it was $20.00 usd for a 2lb block. A can of cream soup is about .90cents. When we got back we put stuff away then went back to shore and I finished sewing the curtains for Kerri and Eddy took the guys in his dune buggy to a friends place that Brian says was pretty incredible. After the curtains were done and the guys were back we went to Berthas and played volleyball on the beach, then headed back to the boat for the evening. The night was calm but a big pelican decided to campout on our swim step that’s located right outside our bedroom window. Between the bird and our dink hitting the stern I didn’t get much sleep.

December 4th, Playa el Burro @ Bahia Concepcion

 

Stripped the old seatol off the toe rails, I held the heatgun and Brian scrapped the stuff off.  Then we went to shore and started the curtains for Kerri and Brian helped Eddie with a door he was making for their Palapa.  It took along time to get the curtains done, my machine does not like thin fabric, its really for heavy sail fabric and canvas.  I only had one more to do and my needle broke so I will finish them  tomorrow, its dark now anyway and I cant see very well.  Had a nice day and great visit with Kerri and Eddie.

December 3rd, Posada to Playa el Burro @ Bahia Concepcion

Departed Posada around 9am and anchored 15minutes later at El Burro
 Beautiful hot day, no wind, calm water

Today the guys stayed at the boats this morning and did projects while Janie and I hiked the mountain/big hill. We first stopped at Berthas and met the new owner, Ceclia, her daughter and a friend. They made us feel right at home and the restaurant has really improved from the last time we were here in 2009! She has done a great job making it nice. We had a cervas and helped Celia's daughter create a sign for their Christmas party they are going to have on the 15th. Celia gave us our cervas for helping her daughter, then we hiked the mountain. It was hot and steep all the way to the top. We saw a small group of goats with a couple babies. Once on top it’s a spectacular view of Bahia Concepcion!! In 2009 when Brian and I hiked up there was a dead bush on top people put a rock in to show they made it to the top. The rocks were gone, Im guessing because of the Hurricane Jamnina the summer of 09, so we put our rocks in to start the tradition again. Once down we went back to Berthas to meet the guys, they were on the beach working on our dink motor, it doesn’t want to start unless brian messes with the chock or something. Anyway they never came over so we walked over to them. They were in front of the palapas that line the beach. People live in them during the winter months, some year round. The palapas are all different and unique, people lease them for 20+ years and pay yearly.  We met a couple, Eric and Kerri from Canada, they winter in the one right in front of where the guys were working on the dink.. Very nice people invited us in for drinks. This palapa is cool, the walls are make of frames with a mesh type screen you can see out but no one can see in . Inside is a bar, shower room and a door that leads into their 5th wheel trailer, pretty cool and only steps from the water. Carrie was saying she wanted curtains made from some fabric she had and was trying to get them made for two years. I offered to make them for her, for being such great hosts and providing all the drinks to all of us.

Heres the rocks we put in th bush, you will also see the palapas and our anchorage below.  This was a steep/straight up hike, too hot......but beautiful and well worth it!!

December 2nd, Playa el Burro @ Bahia Concepcion

Nice morning, winds picked up in the afternoon

Took the dink (thats our little boat/dinghy)  and went to Isla Coyote and walked the beach on the west side to get out of the wind. Then went to the north east side to clam dig. It was really windy and the waves were big but we dug anyway and got lots of Chocolatas and Steamers, a wet ride back to the boats, we were soaked, I wore my snorkel mask so I could see, cause the water was splashing right into my eyes and I have contacts in so the goggles looked silly but worked really well. We were all excited about the clams but wet and cold from the ride back.  Clams for dinner tomorrow night, yahoo!!