Hello!

Welcome to our mid-life crisis! These are the chronicles of Laura and Patrick, their young son Jack, and their goofball Labrador Retriever named Evinrude (Rudy), as they travelled the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific coast of mainland Mexico in their catamaran. We went cruising in search of a change of pace, a closer knit family, and peace of mind. We found all three and more. The fun all started in October, 2008 and nearly four years later the Mexican adventure came to an end August 3rd, 2012. With our mid-life crisis cured in Mexico, we are excited to start a new adventure - life back in America.

Candeleros Chico

Candeleros Chico
Just another beautiful day at anchor on the Baja. 2010

Dolphins at play in the bow wake 2011

Dolphins at play in the bow wake  2011

Thursday, February 2, 2012

5 o'clock in the morning

It's five o'clock in the morning here in Santiago Bay, just outside of Manzanillo. The sky is pitch dark without a hint of light, and sunrise won't happen for another 2 and a half hours. The water is absolutely flat calm without a breath of air. A small surf is beating rhythmically on the shore and the boat is very gently moving in the ocean's swell. Next to our boat, a family of dolphins is fishing for their breakfast. I can hear their breaths, then silence, and then the water explodes in a sudden lunge or tail slap. With my steaming, first cup of coffee poured; Rudy fed, petted, and now warming my feet; internet running; and two fast-asleep crewmates, the boat is all mine. Life is currently about as good as it gets.

We came down to Santiago two days ago on the afternoon's sea breezes. It wasn't enough to push us along without an engine running too, but that just means the seas were relatively flat, and the going was easy. Yesterday we provisioned up and today we will set sail for points further south. We are headed another 180 miles south to Zihuatanejo in time for their sailing festival. Zihuatanejo is a name has always hung in the back of my mind as an exotic destination and refuge, ever since watching the old movie, Shawshank Redemption. I can hear Tim Robbins' voice saying the name in my head even today, years later. Zihuatanejo will be our furthest south port this year and then we will turn around and head north again.

2 comments:

  1. Absolutely love those pictures and when Zada awakens in the morning, I know she will as well. Can't wait to hear about adventures south. If it makes you feel better (in the event you're tired from an all nighter)....just think of Rich at the Seattle Boat Show, sick and fighting a cold and trying to sell the goods....urgh....real life....so enjoy the open water! xox

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  2. Thanks Nancy!
    Actually we haven't had to do an oversnighter yet since we stopped at a couple anchorages - Cabeza Negra, Maruata, and Caleta Campos south of Mazanillo. All very cool, very exposed to the swell, but pretty nice. Tomorrow we leave at 3 am to get to Zihua by sundown.
    Laura

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