Anchored In Puerto Refugio..
Wednesday June 18thJust after noon, we’re mid way up Canal de Ballenas on our way from Bay of LA to Puerto Refugio and the excitement on the boat is at a fever pitch. A huge pod of dolphins are putting on a great show. There are hundreds racing south down the channel and we tacked towards the middle of the channel to intercept them. They’re surrounding the boat and surfacing in groups of 5 to 10. The young ones are flying out of the water with youthful exuberance, but hanging close to a parent. Sally has 10 swimming in front of her on the foredeck, thanking them continuously for their show. The entire pod  turned north with us for 10 minutes before pealing away. As you might expect, I’m taking what I hope would be one money shot after money shot especially with Sally forward. As the excitement settles I check to see how much photo space is left on my camera and XXX!!!!XXX there’s no memory card in the camera. Okay I’m an idiot and seriously bumbed.  Lew did get proof with his camera.
. . . Bay of LA
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. . . . . . . The Gato Loco Crew Leg 1 April 11-19, Crew: Lowell, Bill, Dave – Puerto Penasco to San Carlos . . Subscribe to receive email when new Updates are posted click here Contact us at emailsailors07@gatolocosailing.com Read more about Gato Loco cruises www.GatoLocoSailing.com |
Our visit to Bay of LA was a good overnight anchorage starting with the traditional spinnaker ride in arriving around 3 yesterday. Since we hadn’t sent an update since Friday, the first order of business was to make some calls and send out the past days updates to let everybody know we are still afloat. Weather is beginning to dry out after days of heavy marine layer and fog on Partida. The local tienda was well stocked so we made a big haul including Lew’s supply of diet coke. Sally arranged to get us a ride to avoid a 1/4 mile walk loaded with supplies back to the boat anchored in front of Guillermo’s .
Dinner at Guillermo’s restaurant on the water with Guillermo setting at our table and giving us the Bay of LA fishing report. Yellowtail and White Seabass is the catch of the day that he cooked personally. Things are slow and his business hasn’t been this slow since the 70’s, which 
Guillermo blames on the Tijuana bad press and hopes it will improve. Quiet night with the local fishing fleet waking us up at sunrise as they head out to the islands to fish. Full moon overnight and the tide starts to rise just after 8 giving us time to have breakfast ashore and head up the channel towards Puerto Refugio on the north end of Isla Angel de La Guarda 38 miles north. With the big tide swing we get a 2kt kicker in our favor. Smooth sailing up the channel with 10-14kts at starboard back…
Puerto Refugio is beautiful as usual and the crew agrees it’s the most scenic anchorage yet. It can be buggie with all the bird life, but nothing apparent as we arrive around 4. A motor tour of the east bay and then we anchor just inside the pass to 
the east in our usual spot with the seagulls a little upset making lots of noise (get over it). Nice breeze and calm water, but poor visibility for snorkeling. Lots of very young birds around with noisy parents so we back away from walking the near by beach. Sally and I joined Suzanne to light a candle at the anchorage shrine to ensure we have safe passage to Penasco over the coming days.
Big surprise when we return to the boat where Lew has been fishing for dinner. He is surrounded by bees. Climbing on board is an exercise in slow easy movements to keep them calm. We’ve heard that lots of anchorages have been experiencing bees but this is my first time. They aren’t aggressive and are gone as the sunsets. Another cool night sleeping, Sally even pulled up a blanket. We hear it’s 113 in Phoenix and much prefer this weather. Bees return in the morning so we’re off to Alfonsina’s at Bahia Willard.
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