Monday, July 25, 2016

Back to the Barn - 2015/2016 cruising season wrap up

It is hard to believe that Year Four of cruising Mexico is a wrap.  It seems like just yesterday that we rounded the Baja cape with the 2012 Baja Ha Ha fleet and started exploring Mainland Mexico and the Sea of Cortez.  When I review our photos from each year though  I'm amazed at how much we have done and seen and how many wonderful Mexican and Expats we have met.

Our cruising season this year was different than prior years.  We drove our car down and spent more time in La Paz and La Ventana.    Having a car really changed our experience in Mexico.  It made everything easier, just like home.  Getting groceries, going to the movies, finding a special boat part, visiting friends, going out to eat.  No problemo!

This years we also encouraged many guests.  Hotel Shindig was open for business and we enjoyed many visitors, showing them around La Paz and the nearby islands.

Our final project before putting Shindig to bed was a haulout.   New bottom paint, new cutlass bearing and a new thru-hull fitting were the big items.  All went well at the boat yard and we won't have to haul out again for another 2+ years.

Shindig is now safely tucked away in her slip at Marina Palmira.  She is hibernating for the hot Baja summer.  While we are gone Tom and Jeanne from La Paz Cruisers Supply are watching over her .  She is in good hands.

So, what is next for the mighty Shindig and her crew?
This summer we are setting up a new home base in California.  After being homeless for the last several summers it is time to get a new place we can call home when we are not on the boat.  That process is coming along nicely and we should have more to report in August.

Our cruising plans for next season are taking shape too.  We plan to spend another 1/2 season in Mexico and then Puddle Jump to the South Pacific in 2017.  There are several boat projects to accomplish before the big trip but for the most part Shindig is ready to go.  She has a new bottom, the mast, standing and running rigging are all in tip top shape and all systems are go.

Here are a few photos from the boat yard.





Monday, July 18, 2016

Sea of Cortez Continued


Following our visit with Elaine and JD in April we headed north into the Sea of Cortez.  Our plan was to make it as far North as Conception Bay and rendezvous with Mom and Dad (Bert and Alice) aboard Elegante.

Just as we were leaving the Loreto area our AIS indicated that a buddy was close by.  Cool Change was in the neighborhood.  Rick and Cindy are friends from Sausalito where Shindig called home before we left in 2012.  It was great to catch up with old friends and share stories about our Mexican adventures.  Rick and Cindy have been doing a lot of inland travel and had a wonderful season on the Mainland.

The crews of Shindig and Cool Change at San Juanico

We keep in contact with Mom and Dad on the ham radio and made plans to meet up at Punta Chivato at the north end of Conception Bay.  They were traveling south after enjoying the Bay of Los Angeles for several weeks.

Shells of all types can be found at Punta Chivato.  It is an amazing beach to explore.

Shell Beach at Punta Chivato.

Mom and Nancy are busy collecting specimens

Dinner on land with Mom, Dad and Senor Paloma (Jerry)

Beautiful beach at El Burro Cove

Rob out on the SUP for a little trip in the shallows

Shindig and Elegante near Santispac

Calm morning conditions are ideal for paddle boarding

There was enough wind for Rob to get out on the kiteboard.  Miles and miles of bay to play on.

Some of the beach combing treasure

Agave Azul, Robin and Katie join the party

Elegante, Shindig and Agave Azul


Nancy playing some tunes at Jerry's Sunday get together

A hot spring..... more like a hot puddle.  145.7 degrees Fahrenheit 

Mom and Dad at Playa Santispac

Katie, Nancy and Mom (Alice)

Playa Requesón  was a new anchorage for us.  It is located about 10 miles south of the main anchorages in Conception bay.  Beautiful! 

Dad had piled rocks on this monument in 1992.  We found it and added a few too

Rob and Bert at the monument. Playa Requeson


Shindig and Elegante at Pulpito


Bert and Nancy hiking up to the top of the bluff at Pulpito 


On the way to the top!

Nancy near the large veins of obsidian rock


Rob with and obsidian sample




Having a nice mean at the Villa Palmar resort near Loreto

Gearing up for a hike with Pamela and Jeff(SV China Cloud) at Candeleros Chico.
Shindig and China Cloud kissing

Lunch in Loreto with Mom and Dad













Friday, April 22, 2016

March into the Sea


We left La Paz early March with a pretty free calendar. Sure was nice to untie the lines and head North.
The only commitment was to be in the Loreto area in two weeks for Elaine and JD's visit.  
First stop was Ensenada Cardonal about 25 nautical miles north of La Paz.  We spent a few days there with our good friends, Sylvia and Tom from SV Cinnabar. Snorkeling, paddling, eating and saying our goodbyes.  They left to sail to the South Pacific just a few weeks later!  

Tom and Sylvia on a snorkeling adventure with Rob

Cinnabar at anchor.  Tom and Sylvia waving goodbye to Shindig.  They left for the South Pacific 7 days later.


Punta Salinas once housed a large salt mining operation.
Now it is abandoned, but with old trucks, heavy equipment and decaying buildings remaining. 



This season we have seen an unusual amount of jumping rays.
Here's one caught mid-air, before slapping down hard on the water 
Happy Anniversary!!  Aboard Shindig near Puerto Escondido
Rob and JD on hike at Isla Coronado

Elaine and Nancy in full wet suits for snorkeling 

Closeup of Osprey chick in nest

Exploring Sea Caves at San Juanico

Lots of SUP time

Nice hike to admire Shindig & new friend Kyrnos @San Juanico 

Need to identify these (snail?) shells which make pretty jewelry pieces.. or tiddly-winks

Rob's puffer fish is proudly mounted atop a cactus overlooking San Juanico


Katie & Mike from Pangaea met us on Isla Carmen on their way up in the Sea.  Girls having fun. 


A Window into the Past - or Office with a View
Who remembers pulling the lever for a "carriage return"

A short drive up from Loreto is the nearly 300 year old Mision San Francisco Javier de Vigge-Balundo

Mission San Javier (built 1744-1758)  

Farewell Dinner in Loreto