Well, we have certainly lived up to our name. Since we left the dock in
La Cruz – the favoured anchorage in Banderas
Bay . We have spent a number of nights here and
although it can be little bumpy and the water is a little murky, it’s been
fun. The Sunday Market is fabulous, with
the best tamales we’ve ever had, and the fish market is amazing. Kathy and Anja can be seen swimming from boat
to boat in the anchorage most days during their 3
pm exercise hour.
Paradise Village – in Nuevo Vallarta, is an incredible
marina connected to a 5 star resort with 4 pools, shopping mall, Starbucks,
ping pong tables…you name it, they got it. As its nickname (the Velvet Prison)
suggests, once you arrive it’s hard to leave and we’ve spent too many very
comfortable days here. Unfortunately, as
it always is when you tie up to a dock, there have been lots of chores to do as
well as relaxing by the pool and drinking banana daiquiris.
Nuevo Vallarta – home of Walmart…..cheap groceries, wine and
cervezas. Need I say more?
Sayulita – the quaintest little village we have found in Mexico
thus far and Bryn and Tanner’s home away from home. We missed the bus getting there and accepted
a ride from a random Mexican (completely ignoring the “never get into a
stranger’s car” rule) who turned out to be a very nice policeman (thank
goodness) whose wife is a Canadian.
Small world. Being taken out for
lunch at Fish Tacos was a real treat….thanks Bryn and Tanner.
Tres Marietas – we took Bryn and Lea, Tanner and his family
(Nancy, Lyle and Brianne) and friend, Louis, out to Tres Marietas, 3 small
islands a couple hours NW of La Cruz.
Snorkeling, kayaking, and beachcombing were excellent despite the fact
that a number of the crew were feeling under the weather (from a bumpy ride or
too much “fun” the night before?).
Visited by whales and dolphins, much to everyone’s delight, and had a
great sail back.
Highlights of the last couple weeks:
Beaching Vakasa to install a new depth sounder was a scary
but exciting adventure. There’s just
something wrong about driving your boat up onto the sand, but we took advantage
of a 4 ft tide and grounded the boat for almost 24 hrs so Tony could cut a hole
in the hull and insert a new sensor. At
the same time, we cleaned the hulls and props, scraped off some barnacles that
were freeloading on the hull, and did some waxing on….waxing off. Freakiest part was listening to Vakasa groan
and moan as she slowly pulled her keels out of the sand as the morning high tide
lifted her.
The arrival of a very tired but happy Lea was definitely a
high. After a 21 hour flight itinerary
with an 8 hour layover in Houston - where she got zero sleep because the fire
alarm was going off every 20 mins - she was collected at the PV airport no
worse for the wear. It’s so great to
have her onboard and to catch up. She
even brought us a Christmas tree!
La Cruz anchorage
Sun rising.....we don't see that very often!
Lea arrives with a Christmas tree in her luggage
Market day at La Cruz
Quanto questa?
La Cruz anchorage from the beach
Lunch at Ya Ya's after the market...Silvers, Lamonts, and Louis
Paradise Village Marina
One of 4 pools at the Velvet Prison
Gotta love the crocodile slide!
Sailors all...headed to Tres Marietas
I'm going snorkeling......but I really don't like fish!
Brianne and Tanner head out to explore some caves and arches
Sleeping it off
Shore leave...poor Hoop looks a little overloaded
Our girls.....
An island of caves and arches
The crew heads overland
Made it to the top
Vakasa at anchor at Tres Marietas
A local hermit crab makes Lea homesick for Perogy and The General
OMG....we're beached
Cleaning the hulls was never so fun
How come she gets to just lie around when there's so much work to be done?
Just plain weird!