Kim flew back to Mazatlan on October 24th then spent a week getting the boat ready to sail it to La Paz with a friend named Bob, who agreed to crew for him. They found a perfect weather window that started on November 3rd, so left that day about noon. Kim and Bob motored on flat seas in 2 to 5 knots of wind for 21 hours, then the wind picked up to 8 to 12 knots so they were able to sail with half the main sail and full jib for another 10 hours.
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| Calm seas from Mazatlan to Bahia de Los Muertos |
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| Bob taking a nap before his night watch |
They then decided to anchor at Bahia de Los Muertos so motored 3 hours to get to the bay where they could sleep for a few hours after their 34 hour passage. They had a calm night but about 4 am the big swells started to come into the bay so it was quite uncomfortable. They eventually lifted the anchor and moved in closer to get out of the large swells. They said the beach looked very nice but there was no shade from the sun and the weather was supposed to worsen that evening, so they decided to head to La Paz which was another 40 nautical miles to the south. The wind increased to 20 knots and the seas were pretty confused and hitting them on the starboard side so the entire 8 hour trip was a bit uncomfortable. The trip from Mazatlan to La Paz took a total of 42 hours and they arrived safe and sound about 4 pm on November 5th.
Douglas and I left home on November 16th and arrived in Los Cabos on November 17th. Kim rented a car and picked us up at the airport in Los Cabos, then drove us to the boat in La Paz. It was about a 2 1/2 hour drive.
We spent the next 2 1/2 weeks exploring La Paz and meeting up with some friends we met in Mazatlan the previous season. We loved the downtown area of La Paz as it was very clean and always bustling with mostly local shoppers. We were invited to an American thanksgiving dinner at a nearby Marina and to our surprise, there were 178 people that attended. The food was delicious and we enjoyed meeting even more boaters. It was great!
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| Kim anchoring the dinghy at Peninsula De El Mogote - just a short dinghy ride from La Paz |
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| Jan & Douglas cooling off at Peninsula De El Mogote - a beautiful beach at high tide and we had it all to ourselves too |
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| Jan on the dinghy watching Douglas cool off - you can see La Paz and the Marinas in the background |
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| Jan and Douglas having a rest in downtown La Paz at a local coffee shop |
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| Kim by the pool at a hotel near Marina Palmira - the fish was painted on the bottom of the pool floor |
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| Kim made very colourful devilled eggs for the Pot Luck American Thanksgiving dinner held at Marina Palmira |
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| Time for a 'big' dark beer in a downtown bar in La Paz |
The La Paz Malecon (sea wall) is 5 km long and was built in the 1920's but we were told it has recently been remodelled. There are beautiful bronze sculptures lining the malecon. We enjoyed the gorgeous landscape and sunsets from the malecon, along with many nightclubs, hotels, restaurants and specialized stores that align it as well. We were in La Paz for Mexico's Revolution Day (Dia de la Revolucion). It is a national public holiday that celebrates a 10 year revolution that began in 1910 to end the struggle against dictator José de la Cruz Porfirio Diaz Mori. In La Paz folks dressed up as revolutionaries and participated in a parade that lined the malecon.
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| Kim playing ball with Douglas on the beach in La Paz. This is by far the thing that Douglas loves to do the most! |
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| Out for a stroll on the Malecon in La Paz. Douglas loves being carried in our towel bag. In the background you will see the Revolution Day Parade is underway. |
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| The Mexican Army formed a pyramid and the persons on top jumped down into a trampoline. They did this over and over again as the parade made its way down the Malecon. |
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| Lots of horses and their riders in the parade as well and yes, they did have people cleaning the horse poop up and there was LOTS of it as well! |
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| Kim on the Malecon. Douglas was on the beach but it was high tide so not much beach left. |
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| Kim in the Gazebo on the La Paz Malecon - it was a lovely place to check-out the beautiful view. |
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| Kim upstairs in the Gazebo - a lovely tropical view with palm trees and clear blue water. |
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| A night time view from the Gazebo - Douglas talking it easy in his carrier bag. |
Many of our boating friends told us it would be too cold and windy to explore the Sea of Cortez in December, and we quickly learned they were absolutely right. We stayed at Marina Cortes in La Paz which had little protection from the wind and waves. The northerly winds would come in and stay for 5 days then we might get a 1 or 2 day break from them, then they'd be right back again. The winds around the islands we had hoped to explore (Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida) were in the high 20 knot range most days so we decided it was time to head back to Mazatlan.
I had planned to accompany Kim on the return trip to Mazatlan but after a lot of soul searching, I totally chickened out! Instead I flew back to Mazatlan from La Paz, and Kim and Douglas motor sailed the boat back together. They left La Paz at 3 pm on December 3rd. It was the first long passage for Douglas and he did great! He didn't get sea sick and in fact was enjoying eating hard boiled eggs, Dreana's homemade cookies, granola bars and all sorts of other goodies along the way. The trip took 42 hours non-stop and ended up being pretty rough the whole way. So much for all the latest and greatest weather information! I arrived in Mazatlan on December 4th and Kim and Douglas arrived back in Mazatlan on December 5th at 8 am. I was at the dock anxiously awaiting their arrival and ready to catch the dock lines. It was so nice to be back!
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| Kim and Douglas leaving La Paz and heading to Mazatlan on their 42 hour non-stop passage. |
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| Captain Kim and First Mate Douglas. Douglas had to wear his doggy life jacket which he didn't enjoy. |
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| The First Mate had lots of lap time and did a lot of sleeping on the 42 hour journey. |
We are thoroughly enjoying the warmth of Mazatlan and the many, many friends we've made here over the last two years. We are keeping busy! In the first two weeks back in Mazatlan both Kim and I went for pedicures (yes, I talked Kim into it and I think he enjoyed it), played pool volleyball, enjoyed a potluck dock party, went on a gourmet 'hot dog' walk in downtown Mazatlan, attended the El Cid Boaters Christmas Party, made our way by bus to the Juarez Market, attended a Champagne Christmas Party aboard our friends sail boat, played both Texas Holdem in the Lobby Bar and Mexican Train by the pool, dropped by the Marina Mazatlan swap meet, and went for several lovely dinners with friends too. Most of these activities Douglas was able to partake in. We certainly have no complaints except that we do miss our family and friends back home. On that note, we understand Jason and Tanya are planning a trip to visit with us here in either January or February, and my parents have already booked a trip here from March 11 to the 25th. We are so looking forward to their visits!
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| Kim busy making Mexican courtesy flags with his Sailrite Sewing Machine. We give them to our boating friends as Christmas gifts. |
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| Kim's first Pedicure at Gabby's Salon. |
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| Douglas LOVED the fish in the aquarium at Gabby's Salon. They kept him very entertained and the staff had some good laughs at his excitement over them. |
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| Ted, Lynn, Sandy and Donna at our first Potluck Dock Party this season. |
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| Ann and Eva enjoying conversation and delicious food at the Dock Party. |
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| Gene, Orlando and Bruce at the Dock Party, |
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| Linda, Debbie and Rene at the Dock Party. |
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| Barb, Marilyn, Evelyn and Jana at the Dock Party. It was a great turnout! |
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| Lynn and Debbie at one of the Hot Dog Vendors on our Gourmet Hot Dog walk. |
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| Leif and Christian ordering their Gourmet Hot Dogs. The Vendors had all sorts of add-ons including bacon, cheese, chilli peppers, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes etc. etc. |
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| Kim enjoying a beer on the Gourmet Hot Dog walk. |
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| Kim deciding what to have on his Gourmet dog. |
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| Gary was brave and ordered the 'Mummy' Hot Dog. This gourmet hot dog was wrapped in bacon then placed in a tortilla shell. Cheese was added then it was folded and deep fried. After that it was split in half, more bacon was added, then placed in a hot dog bun and all the extra toppings were added. It's huge and cost 45 pesos (just under $4 Canadian). |
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| Our friends at the El Cid Resort Christmas Party for all Marina guests. |
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| Bub, Fay, Bruce and Orlando at the El Cid Marina Christmas Party. It was lots of fun and again, a great turnout. |
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| All Marina guests received a box of authentic Mexican made candy from the El Cid Resort. |
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| Jan and Gary in the cockpit of Sailing Vessel Chalet Mer for Jean and Barb's 4th annual Champagne Christmas Party. |
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| Debbie, Lynn and Kim aboard Chalet Mer. |
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| Folks enjoying food and conversation in the Salon of Chalet Mer. |
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| Sailing Vessel Chalet Mer decorated for Christmas. At one point there were 24 people aboard and we all had a place to sit. |
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| Jan and Douglas at the Marina Mazatlan swap meet. I was able to buy some lovely home-made greeting cards. |
We have dinner reservations at a nearby restaurant for Christmas Eve with 15 other boaters, then on Christmas Day our dear friends, Eva and Rene, have invited us aboard their boat for a traditional Christmas dinner with turkey, and all the trimmings. We have been invited to Luc and Tina's on New Years Eve and for the Super Bowl too. We are keeping busy. Life is good!
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| Merry Christmas from Douglas! He's sporting his 'Santa' suit that we bought at the Juarez Market for 45 pesos (just under $4 Canadian). |
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| I think it's fair to say Douglas didn't love his new Santa suit. Lol. |
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| El Cid Resort staff decorating their golf cart for Christmas. |
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| Jan inside La Gran Plaza Mall in front of the Polar Express Train. The Mall is decorated beautifully for Christmas. |
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| Jan at the Galerias Mazatlan Mall which is also decorated beautifully for Christmas. |
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| Kim at the Galerias Mazatlan Mall. The Christmas display and decorations are throughout the mall. |
We hope all of our family and friends are healthy, happy, safe and warm.
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and the happiest New Year ever from Kim, Jan and Douglas in sunny Mazatlan, Mexico!
