Mexico!

We sailed into Mexico this morning in the dark. Lots of vessel traffic in these waters—fishing boats of various sizes, a cruise ship, merchant vessels, and naval ships—kept us watchful. Ashore, a string of yellow lights, which we presume marked a border fence, crept up the hill and followed the contours of several hills beyond as far as we could see. And then the sun rose over Mexican mountains and the breeze began to fill in. After 6 days in San Diego, it was good to be underway again!

 

Sailing (and reading) wing-and-wing in Southern California. The windvane is steering.
The seal weighs about 4,000 lbs more than the dinghy.

Some of our favorite spots so far have been in the Northern Channel Islands. At San Miguel Island we anchored in a cove with about 3,000 elephant seals declaring all sorts of things loudly all day and through the night. I appreciate our friend Glenn pointing out the humor of the scene as we rowed up

and down the least populated section of beach looking for some real estate to land on that hadn’t been claimed by an elephant seal bull. On one end of the beach we realize that the gap between bulls at the other end of the beach is just a little bit bigger. Once we row back to the other end, we are certain that the gap we’d just left behind offered a little more space. But when we look again, it seems very tight and we think about trying the other end again Somehow we do get ashore alive—through the surf and beyond the bull seals. Of course, following a hike, we return to find one of the seals has up and moved his 4,000 lb bulk directly between our path and the dinghy. I appreciate Arlo for pointing out the humor in this moment.

Santa Rosa Island tidepools

Other highlights of these three uninhabited islands: tiny anchorages, whales and dolphins, tide pools and more tide pools, and several types of kelp, which Arlo and Alma identify and cook in a variety of ways. On the downside, it turns out that California has a mylar balloon problem—over the course of about 120 miles we spotted 14 mylar balloons floating in the waters between Los Angeles, the Channel Islands and San Diego.

Catching crabs.
Lamp polishing meditation.

San Diego was a world away from the Channel Islands, but we felt right at home thanks to friends of friends who hosted us and lent us their car and generally supported our week of logistics.

Water, diesel, propane, laundry, groceries, marine hardware, a dodger repaired, new foam for our bunk, miscellaneous galley items, and, maybe most importantly, Jason’s first pair of flip flops in years.

 

Our Mexican courtesy flag and the Q flag fluttering beneath it still have creases from being stored for so long. Tomorrow we’ll head into Ensenada to check in with customs and immigration and the Port Captain, we’ll find an ATM, some showers and I’m sure, as it turns out that we arrived during the week-long Carnival celebration, some music and tacos.

We all loved reading your kind words on our first blog posts. Thank you! Do feel free to send any questions you have—large or small—our way. And we’ll keep you posted.

20 thoughts on “Mexico!”

  1. how cool!!! Ingrid and I will be around Puerto Vallarta/Sayulta Feb 19-24; any chance you’ll make it over that way?

    1. It would be great to see you and Ingrid! We expect to be on the west coast of Baja then, arriving in Bahia Magdalena just as you leave Mexico 🙁 Let’s coordinate next time!! Have a great vacation!

  2. Have you not been using AIS? I’m trying to follow you as far as possible, but haven’t been getting a signal. Be well and stay safe.

    1. Tom,

      We are transmitting via AIS. If you search for DEBONAIR on marinetraffic.com you’ll see us tucked safely in Ensenada now!

      Caitlin

      1. I found you guys via AIS! I was hoping I could follow you on your adventure and see where you are week by week! Yay!

  4. George & Karen Daon
    What an amazing journey you all
    are on. It will make a great book.
    “Fair winds and following seas”

  5. Oh how wonderful to live vicariously through your blogs. We are too old for the real thing , but we are getting a thrill reading about your adventures and seeing the great pictures. We hope the weather favors you the entire way and the boat behaves itself! Can’t wait for the next installment. Love, Harriet and Bill

  6. Hey Caitlin!!
    I love hearing about your status and seeing the pics! Thanks for sharing your adventure:)
    Be well!
    -Kelley

  7. Your writings are so poetic and lively Caitlin, and Alma! We absolutely love getting news of you all and the places you visit. The photos are terrific too 🙂
    Looking forward to reading you again soon. Happy sailing! xoxo

  8. Hey guys! Hope all’s well. It sounds like it is. I sailed today too, but it was on a ferry and we just went back and forth a few times between Seattle and Bainbridge Island. Not quite as exotic as Mexico. I look forward to reading more of your posts. Cheers!

  10. Are you guys checking email? Anyhow we are cruising down to Baja next week: Tuesday Cabo San Lucas, Wednesday Loreto, Thursday La Paz. Any chance you are there on those days?

  11. Great stuff. Mimi and I visited the elephant seals by land several times (did you and I go that time?). I remember my shock and awe when the ranger told us to stay at least 20 feet away from these impossibly huge and seemingly blobby animals on the sand, because they could cover that distance in two seconds. Glad you all took precautions.

  12. Caitlin,

    Thank you for sharing your journey with us! We are following closely, as we are only a few short years from cruising as well. We look forward to reading more as your adventure continues!

    Fair winds,
    Becca (Wilmot) Kosakowski and Family

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