The La Paz Update Catch-up
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It’s time to catch-up on our arrival and activities in La Paz. Our boat computer bit the big one at our last anchorage north of La Paz (Celeta Partida) Wednesday night. Our sail to Celeta Partida was a windy leg with the wind first at our backs from the north that was blowing during the night at San Evaristo.
No luck in getting a slip/end tie for the night so we anchored in front of the malecon and all of La Paz’s night lights. We’re back to civilization and the crew is ready for a shore party.
Friday evening.. after our big happy hour on the , with Bill, Saturday.. Slow lazy day with the crew hanging at the marina cafe for breakfast until 11ish. Some last minute shopping before Bob, Chris, Kerry, Sydney and Chuck head for LA at 1:30.. Sad to see them go especially Kerry who’s been with us for 2 weeks ( some tears).. Sunday morning and we’ve launched Gato Loco northward on Leg 5 with Bill, Lindsay and Eve. Weather today is light winds from the SE which give them a smooth first day of sailing. Lindsay should be the blog master as they go north and hopefully they get one update out before they go out of cell range after their first anchorage north. Frankie & I have decided to stay in the La Paz area tonight heading to the north cape area above La Paz and parking on a public beach in Pulguero. We pulled in late morning finding firm ground near the Well that’s your catch-up.. We’re heading to the south east cape tomorrow.
Gato Loco Crew by land…. Lowell, Frankie & Neely
Leg 1 April 11-19, Crew: Lowell, Bill, Dave – Puerto Penasco to San Carlos . Remember to click on the contact us link below to send us email. We won’t receive replies to our emails and keep emails small so our slow cell phones can mange. Subscribe to receive email when new Updates are posted click here |
We tacked across San Jose Channel into Isla San Francisquisto’s white sand beach that creates a beautiful turquoise bay on the south tip. 6-8 boats were anchored off the beach and I noted one cat was setting in the shallow waters inside the gravel spit at the very south end. This anchorage would be protected from the night time westerlys that blow in the La Paz area. Sailing in to clear air south of the island the wind switched to the east giving us a LOVELY 8-9kt broad reach towards Isla Partida. After two days of cloudy light wind weather this day is a big treat. Winds held through the day and was on our nose as we turned east to entered the channel between Isla Partidida and Spiritu Santo that form the Celeta Partida anchorage. Winds backed down of the evening allowing Neely and I to explore the beaches.
Thursday.. Our last day of sailing so we’re in no big hurry to pull anchor. We decided to explore the sand spit and fishing camp that almost connects the two islands. There is a shallow channel running between the islands that the fishing pangas know how to navigate although I don’t think any sailing vessels ever attempt it.. 
We pulled anchor and moved Gato Loco into 4′ of water to get closer to the spit still 400 meters away from shore in white sand & turquoise waters. After exploring, we finally gave in and pulled anchor for La Paz 11’ish and another great sail with east winds into the La Paz Bay. Bob had his biggest fishing hook-up of the trip and worked hard to bring in the “big one”. Unfortunatly the fish got the line wrapped around the ruder and was able to break free much to Bob’s disappointment. More potential hook-ups as we sailed at 8kts toward La Paz channel. 
The La Paz channel was pretty quiet except for one of the mainland Mexico ferrys departing from Pichilingue the La Paz sea port on the cape north 
of La Paz in deeper water. La Paz itself is surrounded by shallow water with a channel dredged for marine traffic. A quick stop at Coasta Baja Marina at the entry of the channel for fuel and then on to Marina de La Paz the only marina in walking distance of the downtown malecon.
Friday.. Dinner last night was at an upscale outdoor taco stand near the marina. It only seems appropriate to take Kerry to such a Mexico tradition. The word this morning was the food was a little hot for her. A long walk on 
the malecon keep the crew awake later than the past days at anchorage.. Today we first moved onto an end-tie near the fuel docks at the marina. Before long the girls have big shopping plans and I will hang at the boat and wait for Lindsay and Eve who are arriving 3ish bringing lots of excitement as well as our replacement computer.
Sydney & Chuck back from the south and Lindsay and Eve here, we headed down the malecon to find a dinner spot for this big crew (10 + Neely). Everybody is willing to eat outside on Carlos & Charlies patio so Neely can join us. Neely had a great time with a cat also joining us for dinner.
The rest of the day is spent provisioning and getting the new computer up and running for the cruise north tomorrow.
beach. Arriving there’s quiet a few beach goers but we didn’t have any idea what would happen as the afternoon progressed. People came in waves, first filling in the beach car door to car door then another layer in 4 wheel 
drives move in front. Music everywhere, food smells, beach vendors selling shaved ice and frozen ice cream, kids swimming in the warm shallow waters. All a very friendly experience. We loaned our table and umbrella to two families setting right at our front bumper with young children trying to stay out of the sun under a sheet. A true La Paz cultrural experience. Having experienced this somewhat in Cholla Bay we relaxed all afternoon reading and enjoying the beautiful weather. At sunset their gone except Danny and Tera a couple from Seattle who camped over night with us. They’ve been on the road for a couple of weeks with two very nice dogs and just came in on the ferry today.
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