My cousin Robert and I had been communicating since summer of 2011 and he, being an old hand at Mazatlan, had expressed an interest in doing some fishing this season. So, in late March we set a date . He will be flying into Mazatlan, and returning home from La Paz. This gives us the opportunity to fish while we cross the Sea of Cortez and do some exploring along the way once we reach the Baja side. But that will be the the next post once that trip is over. In the meantime, there was much more to do in Mazatlan while I waited for his arrival.
Mazatlan is such a great, fun place. It is sooo easy to get stuck here. I have made many friends, cruisers and landsmen alike.
Robert arrived on April 15th (I'll assumed he had already paid his taxes) and we spent a few days in Mazatlan, saying goodbye and getting the boat ready to leave. On the 17th we headed for the fuel dock, took on 200 gallons of diesel and headed out.
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| Robert in Mazatlan |
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| ALL HANDS ON DECK...!!!!! |
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| Cerralvo Channel |
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| Marina Palmira |
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| The Shack |
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| Shack Burgers |
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| Muertos |
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| Malecon de La Paz at sunset |
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| Ensenada de los Muertos The next morning we rose at O-dark thirty and left for La Paz via the Cerrvalo Channel. The seas were completly flat and we made 8 knots. About 1pm that afternoon we closed with the San Lorenzo Channel, which is a narrow passage between two reefs at the eentrance to La Paz Bay. La Paz Bay is very shallow on the south side, which is also the channel that lead towards the city itself and the marinas. We radioed Marina Palmira and were issued a slip. I had been to Marina last in 1998 and there were some changes. Many new buildings, a restaurant and even a small store with some VERY expensive boating supplies. But mostly it was the empty shops that got my attention. While Robert and I were having breakfast Friday mornig at the local restaurant, several friends/cruisers from Mazatlan, Ed and Anette, Alan and Christine, showed up and recommended a local burger joint called "The Shack" in town. Not having had a great burger in sometime, we headed into town that evening aboard the shuttle that is provided by the marina. The Shack is owned by an Expat named Travis and his Mexican wife who make a truly remarkable burger. It's a challenge to get one's mouth around it. After stuffing our faces, we walked down to the town square and down to the malecon' for some foto-ops for Robert's wife, Denise, as she is a watercolor painter of some note. The next day was Saturday and at noon it was time to say adios' to Roberto at noon for his flight home, with a promise that he will come back for another visit. Nothing better than having family visit and catch up on old times....... The weather on the Baja side is quite different than the mainland. It gets warmer but the humidity is far less. I have cabin doors that refuse to close on the mainland, that shut themselves when in Baja. I think I prefer the dryness, but thats just for now. So, now I sit in La Paz, soon to be changing marinas, awaiting what/who is next..And then I'll head further into the Sea of Cortez to see what further adventures await.......... Next up, Captain Sam takes on the Cartel..!!!!! |
