North from Escondido and Across the Sea

Over the point the full moon is rising, reflected in the black waters of Catalina Bay. An occasional puff ripples the surface, scattering the reflected light. The friendly ruby glow of a chart table light reaches us from the far side of the anchorage where Plume, a stout Lyle Hess-designed North Sea 27 lies at anchor. She flies a Swiss flag and earlier over drinks and appetizers, we had enjoyed the company of the young family that sails her. The bright moon outlines rolling hills, white sand beaches, and the jagged rocks that guard the entrance to the bay. It is a tranquil and lovely scene and I feel sad to know that soon we will be far away from here and Ladybug will be like a fish out of water, propped up to rest in a dusty boat yard for the summer.


Cruising north from El Gato.


View from atop Isla Coronados over the anchorage.


Isla Coronodos - Rani is looking at ancient shells, which are found in the raised ocean bed below the volcanic peak.


Chris sits 'under' one of the dwarf trees on Coronodas - a Torote Blanco, the sign says.

The 100 mile crossing from San Juanico on the Baja took just over 24 hours with light north westerly breezes for much of the sail. Earlier that morning we said good bye to our friends on Speck. We had finally caught up with Gary and Beth at San Juanico and spent a few days there catching up on the goings on in their lives, hiking, and sharing meals. Speck headed south an hour or so after us. They had reached their northern turn around point and would return to La Paz where they would put Speck away for the summer and drive their elderly van back to Eugene, Oregon. Gary and Beth were expecting their first grandchild and they were clearly thrilled by the prospect.


Ladybug at anchor in emerald waters.


Gary and Beth visit us on Ladybug - no Gary does not (willingly) play the ukelele.


A slew of boats of all sizes were in the San Juanico anchorage, ranging from a micro tug of about 20 feet all the way to 'Ocean', a charter boat that carried two large fishing boats on her deck.

On this leg, we also met up with our friends Dennis and Lisette on Windward, when we sailed into the lovely beach lined anchorage at Isla Coronados, our first stop after leaving Puerto Escondido. We followed them the next day to San Juanico and Dennis and I enjoyed hiking an extended version of the ridge hike that we had all done the previous year when we had first met Windward in this anchorage. Windward will continue to cruise north before following us across the sea to haul out for the summer.


Beth and the ample spread at a beach potluck in San Juanico, organized by Rani.


Dennis and Lisette toasting marshmallows at the San Juanico potluck. Chris plays uke in the background with a little help from his friends.

One of the hardest things has been to say goodbye to friends, but knowing we will be back next year makes it a little easier. We are currently getting Ladybug prepared for summer storage, cleaning and oiling the teak interior and removing the stains from our 'stainless' steel (stanchions, winches, blocks, dorades, etc.). Tomorrow we will strip much of the deck and finish the stainless cleaning and the next day we will tie up in the Singlar marina in Guaymas to do all the things that are easier done alongside with access to running water.



Chris bakes ginger snaps underway on the crossing - note the angle of heal indicated by our gimbaled stove! We are close hauled and it was literally an uphill battle to work in the galley.