Baja Birthday Girl

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By Lowell | May 29, 2018 | Category Baja 2018

 

 

Tuesday May 29th

 

I’m writing this blog setting in an anchorage south of Loreto with palapa homes lining the beach. It’s just Frankie and I on board now after Murril, Al and Rob left us Sunday afternoon. Anyway enough about us this blog is all about Allison Gash our birthday girl on board for Rally week. It took a bit of encouragement to get Al to pose for this photo, maybe because she knew I would feature it in her birthday blog. You can tell by her expression that she is saying “okay Lowell but”  hee hee. So we will flash back to her birthday DAY.

Friday May 25th

Anchored in San Juanico

 

Allison is known to celebrate her birthday for a month straight and if this past week wasn’t Rally week it would have been birthday week. Actually she had a great time getting to know the Rally sailors probably knowing most by the end of the week. Our original plan today (Al’s Bday) was to leave San Juanico and head to Loreto for a birthday evening. As we mentioned in the last Rally update strong north winds were in the forecast and most of the fleet decided to stay another day. The Gato Loco crew and especially Al decided this was an awesome spot to have a birthday DAY.

 

She had a restful night and very happy that Murril is feeling better. He’s been a little sideways and hasn’t been eating or drinking much with us. He’s ready for the DAY. Above – Al gets her creative juices going designing our cruiser tree offering. We get news on the radio that the nearby farm is open today so we organize a  2 mile birthday hike to the farm.

On our way we run into some fellow Rally sailors and break in to our first happy birthday song for the Bday girl. Above – Jose greets us at the gate and invites us to see his little farm. I’ve been anchoring in San Juanico for years and was unaware of this cool little place. Jose offers some supplies from the farm like eggs, goat cheese and meats. Today he is out of everything as he had a huge party over the past 2 days and some of the cruisers cleaned out his retaining store earlier this morning.

We found out he and his farm is part of the beautiful house that overlooks the San Juanico anchorage and provides some of their supplies and activates like horseback riding and parties here at the farm. We see a few very nice saddles and tack hanging in the huge palapa area.

Out in the farm yard he has turkeys, goats, chickens and a beautiful peacock. The male turkey was hysterical with his puffed up antics. There’s a heard of goats out cruising the desert returning for feeding.

The farm visit and hike was just what the birthday girl wanted to do on her DAY

 

 

 

Everybody was pretty toasty from the walk and some swimming time soon cooled us down. There’s no sign of that strong wind forecasted making for an awesome day to chill and enjoy the anchorage.

 

Fresh damsel fish cooked on the grill for Al’s lunch. Thank you Rob for spearing a fresh lunch.

Near sunset and it time for the Cruiser Tree ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

For the Gato Loco 2018 Rally week our offering is a whale flipper shoulder blade bone we found last season on the east shore of Isla Carmen. It worked perfectly and should hold up to the harsh weather the tree endures year round. The Bday girl is very proud of her offering.

 

 

 

 

After the ceremony it’s time for a walk on the north shore beach. The Bday girl lead a little yoga as the sunsets over the bay with the fleet resting on smooth water. That wind never came providing a perfect DAY.

 

 

 

After a wonderful walk on the beach and yoga at sunset we made back to the boat for dinner and the Snicker birthday treat. All in all the Bday girl thought it was a very special birthday and we had fun making it a special DAY.

 

Happy Birthday Allison

 

 

Saturday May 26th

 

Warmer evening last night with the usual west breeze off Baja. We’re finally off for Loreto today. AND that big north wind forecasted yesterday shows up just as we haul anchor. Heading south we find wind up to 27kts and 5’ following seas. The 25 miles south passes quickly. We jib inside Isla Coronados to run for the big rollers and find flatter water but winds still gusting. There’s no chance to anchor in front of Loreto under these conditions. The best thing to do is go into the little breakwater Loreto Marina and dock for the night. It’s not a practice that other boats do but this will be our 4 visit. They rent the dock by the hour. With Gato Loco’s 33’ we purchase 20 hours for $75 from a very friendly Francisco. That lets us rest here until 10:30 tomorrow and more importantly enjoy Loreto tonight.

 

And YES the Bday girl got a proper cake in Loreto

Early morning Loreto Marina activity getting ready for the fishing charters

 

 

 

Good Bye to our awesome Rally Crew. What a great fun time.

 

It’s now just Frankie and I for the next week.

All good on Gato Loco

Until the next Update