Welcome to Honeymoon cove (Sunday May 3rd).

I’m writing this while playing Mexican Train, a dominois game, in Isla Coronoda. It’s Wednesday night and I’ve fallen behind on our blogs with all the fun we’ve had with Bill’s birthday adventures. Actually Loreto Fest got things behind.

Our first anchorage of leg 4 was at Honeymoon cove a short 4 miles from Puerto Escondido. We sailed north to Bahia Marquer anchorage on the SW end of Isla Carmen but north winds were causing a slight swell into the anchorage so we retreated to Isla Danzante and the first anchorage we visited during our 1990 “You Be 40” Moorings cruise with Frankie, David, Steve & Murril for my 40th Birthday. Our arrival then was with a mother and calf whale swimming with us. This visit is very quiet with two other boats anchored. We took the anchorage in the middle of the bay with a sand bottom and beach. Bill broke his dry fishing spell with the catch left.

Monday, It’s Bill’s birthday. The top photo was in early morning with the great light. Frankie, Chris & Neely exercise on the beach while Bill contemplates his day.

The ladies decide they will sail Bill to our next anchorage. We’re off for Isla Monserrate to checkout southern anchorages we learned about at Loreto Fest. Bill’s quite happy with his crew in the photo right. He gives them encouragement to raise the main manually to save batteries for the party later tonight.

.

.

.

Winds are light as we motor sail south. The south anchorages of Monserrate looks good for north winds but wind has shifted to the SE and is up to 8. Looks like the anchorage will not work but we will have a good beam reach to Agua Verde 8 miles south on Baja. Kerry’s ready to take her turn steering us towards shiprock setting at the entrance of Agua Verde. There’s lots of rays jumping and Neely decided to go forward and watch the show.

.

.

The beaches and snorkeling were interesting back at Monserrate and we will have to return another day.

.

.

Bill’s fishing luck continues with his jack tuna that he caught and released.

.

Frankie is enjoying the great music and gives us her best dance moves.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Surprisingly, Agua Verde is not very crowded with only 4 other sailboats in the north anchorage. Lots of tents on the beach, apparently tourist fishermen that head out for some late afternoon fishing in pangas.

.

.

Frankie, Chris, Kerry, Neely and I head into the village to the local tienda store and find chocolate cup cakes for Bill’s Bday dinner.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Above, village goats are being run out of a ladies garden area where they were trying to eat something special. The little girls were walking the beach with their mothers and stopped for some cookies we just bought.

.

.

.

.

Okay, It’s time for Bill’s Bday dinner. Shrimp fetachinne, good wine, frozen bananas, chocolate cupcakes with whip cream. Gota keep that old body nourished.

.

.

Tuesday..

Our Agua Verde anchorage from the hill top. There’s goat trails all over the mountains so it’s easy to hike the area.

.

.

.

While hiking we’re watching fog roll up the Sea from the south. As it disapates winds build from the south giving us our ticket to head north. Humidity is up and sailing with the wind is a little warm. Our first anchorage option is Candeleros Chica but as we approach there’s already two boats and that’s all it will hold comfortably.

.

South winds give us the option to try Marquer again on Carmen. Four other boats are anchored with a stiff breeze offshore, very refreshing after our down wind leg. An added bonus, we have dolphins playing in the anchorage. Neely is very happy watching all the activity.

.

.

.

Weather is perfect for another nice dinner and the open water to the west provides a sunset remminis to what we see on Cholla Bay. It’s going to be a cool night.

.

.

Until the next Update… The GatoLoco Crew