PHOTOS :- https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuV4hRgHhrHk5KVN9
Off again, Christmas in Falsa Bay
After just a couple of days of stocking up, getting all we needed for Christmas
and doing other necessary chores we were once again off to Falsa Bay.
Our intensional was to spend Christmas Day there and then head off to explore more of Espiritu Santo.
Christmas Day was total relaxation, doing as few chores as possible and just enjoying reading etc.
We exchanged gifts, small items we bought each other and had a rotisserie chicken for dinner. All was very low key and enjoyable.
Our next bay was:
El Mezteno,
Almost 1/2 mile wide, this bay narrows between steep cliffs. It provides good anchoring shelter.
The scenery was spectacular. Anchored below steep, rugged cliffs with incredible rock formations,
the scene constantly changes with the sun and shadows through the day.
We went in the dinghy along the amazing shoreline gazing up at the differing formations and then headed into the beach.
The beach too was interesting with shells, and drift in the tide line.
We had read that at the head of the beach there was a trail leading over to the next bay.
Checking it out we thought we would follow it the next day.
The following morning, off we set to follow the trail.
To start with we had to “find” it as at first there was a salt wash area with mangroves.
John found the correct route heading up the left side of the canyon.
Well, this was a very rugged trail, over boulders, passing very thorny brush, huge cactus, steep slopes and many other obstacles.
We did quite well, but progress was slow for me and after an hour in we were still far from the end and we turned back.
It was actually a very enjoyable outing as it was challenging and totally different from any other trail we had even done. ( we found that the way was marked by cairns).
Plus the vegetation was so different to what we usually saw, there were even a few blooms on the vines.
The following day we headed to :
El Cardonal, (Carson grove)
This bay cuts deeply across the island east to west. However much of the bay is shallow….as we found out the hard way. We were going to explore the trail the next morning.
Seals
In the morning we were visited by a mother seal and her calf.
They zoomed about chasing fish and playing in the water near us and under us for a good while. It was lovely to watch them.
At times it was almost as if they were flirting with us by swimming past on their backs to look up at us strange creatures.
Next we were off for our hike.
The slopes on either side are very steep and rugged. John says, “I think I will climb to the top of that slope” and then he sees it up close.
The terrain is too rough and rugged to safely tackle plus the cactus and thorny plants rule. However there is a way, a pathway along a seasonal lagoon at the end of the gorge at the head of the bay.
We set off the next day to follow this path, leaving the dinghy anchored in the shallows……forgetting the tide was going out.
We were pleasantly surprised by the winding path that really had no obstacles to climb over. The path lead past a a large salt pond with mangroves.
While on the other side of us was a slope sweeping up to the higher inland. The pathway was well worn and mostly clear of boulders and cactus.
The vegetation was very interesting as well with all types of cactus plus the smaller prickly shrubs some being in bloom.
We were soon all the way on the other side which was an overhang above a rocky cove.
The nearby cliffs were of the dark reddish rock which glows in the sunlight.
Well back we walked, and lo and behold our dinghy was like miles from the water….
the tide in a shallow bay goes out a very long way……
Poor John was hauling that dinghy for ages. And we were both the treading over a muddy, mushy bottom.
La Paz
We needed to head off to elsewhere to renew our Mexican visa….our choice was San Diego, USA.
Off towards La Paz we headed.
This time we were able to complete the journey in a day as the tides and winds were favourable. We had made arrangements to go into the Marina Cortez.
Marina Cortez
Was to be our home for Aeeshah for a week or so. This Marina is large but quite empty as the docks are unfinished. During a hurricane a few ago the docks were destroyed and are still not quite finished.
Therefore our assigned dockage was on the outer wall along with the super yachts and several other cruising boats, many of which were from Alaska.
It was an easy Marina to enter and dock at, the staff were lovely, security excellent and we had lovely neighbours.
Behind us was Kevin and Melissa, on their boat, Dark Star. Melissa was a vet and happily agreed to feed and care for Chico while we were away.
John was amazed by a small cruise boat on our dock.
The Westwood
A wooden motor yacht built/launched in 1924. It is 86ft, all wooden, and has been restored in 2006 to it’s original state.
During WW2 the Westwood was used as a patrol boat/yacht. It still has it’s original engine. Many famous folks have been aboard the Westwood.
John was delighted that he was invited onboard by the Captain. He was shown all around the vessel, but the engine room was the highlight of his visit…..in fact that is all he photographed! The engine is 101 year old engine one of the oldest working diesels in the world.
Nowadays the Westwood takes passengers, normally a total of 8 on cruises in the Sea of Cortez in the winter and in the summer Alaska.
We enjoyed a few days in La Paz while also getting ready for our looming visa run into the USA….neither of us were looking forward to the trip.
Of course we had several fish and shrimp taco lunches….they are sooo yummy.
Then it was San Diego here we come no matter what may…….all in next blog
“Change is the essence of life.” — Anatole France
“People are opportunities. The gift is in the interaction and the connection with another person, whether it lasts forever or not.” – Colleen Seifert
