Cabo San Lucas to Puerto Vallarta

We left Cabo at 1pm after a snorkel at Los Arcos and a stop at the fuel dock. The crossing to Banderas Bay would be our furthest off shore so far. It was supposed to be a downwind sail with choppy seas but ended up both being on the beam. A good reminder that the weather gurus(AI) at Predict Wind(our primary weather routing app) can’t bat 100 and you need to be ready for it. Even I don’t bat 100; confirmed by the fact that I’ve tied thousands of bowline knots, but on this voyage the one on the main halyard separated from the sail which dropped as fast as the halyard ran up the mast. The whipping at the end of the line jammed in the shive at the top of the mast. The fact it jammed up there meant I wouldn’t have to haul the line up with me and try and thread it through the top of the mast. Having to climb the mast in rolly seas was my punishment for tying a shitty bowline.

HI DADDY😘 love you ♥️ (Sorry, Syd snuck in while i was distracted. Not gonna be able to delete her comment.)

I don’t think we’ve had a voyage yet without our friends showing up. I wish they showed up to visit me, but it’s just a way for them to have a little fun and move a little faster. Helps with hunting up lunch too.

Another sunset moon photo. This must happen at home too. Just too busy to notice.

Red Footed Boobie. Hung out all day 100 miles from shore.

Arrival in Marina Riviera Nayarite in La Cruz

Our first sunset in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle

Syd ready for a little adventure! Plaza La Cruz

Iguana on the lookout for a treat and a 6’ croc thats eyeing him for a meal.

Syds first goal complete a block from the boat.

We arrived in La Cruz after a 2 day sail from Cabo. We had been pestering all the marinas in the area all day to find a slip and La Cruz was the only one to respond. Glad that’s where we ended up. The marina had all the amenities we needed and was on the main hwy(200) between Puerto Vallarta to the south and the small beach towns to the north(Sayulita, San Pancho, Punta Mita). I still love the old town part of PV and as a bonus it has all the big box stores, ie Home Depot, Costco etc.

First stop, as always, Pepe’s Tacos

We took the rest of the day to walk through the cobblestone streets. A community unencumbered by the myriad of building codes and the pressure to conform we have at home allows the color and the character to be on display. It may be chaotic and not as safety conscience as it is up north, but it sure shows off the city’s personality. There’s a beauty to the randomness of each person’s aesthetic and the necessities of life right in your face. Plumbing draped across an alleyway to the neighbor’s, a log from a nearby forrest used to hold up a corner of a deteriorating balcony, or a walkway with a 3-foot dropoff without a railing. You’re expected to use your head to negotiate life rather than have the establisment protect you. Less convenience, less concern about generational wealth, but I haven’t seen any homeless.

We did head down to the Malecon to join the rest of the tourists and locals strolling surfside. Great bronze sculptures, street food vendors, and entertainment. Then we went up Isla Cuale’s shaded path and vendors selling their wares before returning through the Zona Romantica to the beach where Syd and I found some waves to splash in.

The next day Susanna and Syd flew to Portland for a visit with Jammie and Cho Choo. Dad would be on his own for a week…what could go wrong?

Excited to see everybody! Next stop Target for some warmer clothes.

Dad’s first stop: My new favorite food vendor. Churrus on the plaza in Bucerias.

Dad Spent his week on boat projects, heading back to the Malecon and exploring new places to show the girls when they get back.

Had some free time to do a little rock stacking.

When the girls got back I had the itinerary lined up. First stop Sayulita, a remote little fishing village in the sixties until the highway and the hippies showed up. Fast forward 50 years and it has grown into a cute but crowded beach village. Everything a gringo could imagine a Mexican beach village would be, but I still love it. Good food (great tacos and curros;) ), great vibe, surfing,good beach (it would be a great beach with a couple thousand less tourists, but what am I?).

Diving los Arcos

The nearest surfing break. La Launcha

A 15 minute walk through the mangroves. Who’s afraid of a couple crocs!

If the crocs don’t get ya the termites will

Although Iguanasare all over the place this male and female we’re pretty stunning.

Besides great churros, Bucerias has a great swimming beach, great sunsets, and is pretty lively around the plaza in the evening. We ate a few times a a superb italian restaurant(Marcolinos).

The churro stand also makes a mean crepe!

Claras visit

The day before the girls left for Portland we found out that Clara Mulhall and her family were vacationing in PV. Bad timing but the girls got one day to play when they got back and the day before Clara was heading home.