John and Judy return to San Carlos aboard SV Pegasus

• La Paz to Balandra
• Balandra to Caleta Partida
• Caleta Partida to Isla San Francisco
• Isla San Francisco to Punta Evaristo
• Punta Evaristo to El Gato
• El Gato to Agua Verde
• Agua Verde to Puerto Escondido
• Puerto Escondido to San Juanico
• San Juanico to San Carlos

May 7 to May 29, 2007

Y - Yankee: I am dragging my anchor
Our first night out was at Bahia Balandra, Schooner Bay, the bay of the balanced rock. Ten years ago we had to set a second anchor there, late at night, from the dinghy on our Moorings boat. More excitement than I needed this time, but the corumuel blew and we dragged about 400 feet during the night, away from Cambria; we let out more scope at about 0400 and held. In the morning, Michael called us on the radio from Cambria and asked, "Was it something we said? If you thought we were anchored too close we would have moved."
Ha ha, we won't be leaving the hook out at only 5:1 scope again.

CALETA PARTIDA

Judy took her first salt water bath of the season in Caleta Partida, even though the water was still in the low to mid '70s - chilly and refreshing.

The Caleta Partida is a popular spot with the Moorings boats so we had company there, but we didn't see anyone we knew except Cambria; we must be following those people.

After a couple of peaceful days at Caleta Partida we headed north again, across the channel between Isla Partida and Isla San Jose, and into the Hook at Isla San Francisco.

from Chart 21014S0: Cabo San Lazaro To Cabo San Lucas

ISLA SAN FRANCISCO

We were greeted by bees in search of fresh water, but they left after a short visit.The water here was the clearest of all the anchorages on this trip. Magic Puffers

We stayed here 3 days, the puffer fish crowded around the boat and played with Roger the Rubber Ducky.

Judy dangled her feet off the stern platform and those magic fish kissed her toes.

Back at San Francisco after 10 years.

EL GATO

May 16
After an overnight stop in the small bay north of Punta Evaristo we moved on, up the San Jose Channel to El Gato.

These photos don't capture the beauty of this place, the sandstone formations behind the beaches are very colorful.

El Gato's entrepreneurial fisherman brought us 2 great lobsters, for which we traded a little money and some double-A batteries.
A delightful dinner in a peaceful place.
We stayed here 2 days.

AGUA VERDE

Our next stop was at Agua Verde, after avoiding the San Marcial reef off El Gato and the San Marte Reef outside Agua Verde we anchored off the beach. The East Bight was prettier but too crowded for our skill level. Cambria came for a dinghy visit in the morning, on their way to the village for the local goat cheese.

We departed Agua Verde later in the morning, passing between the point and Roca Solitair.

Roca Solitair is a lot bigger and closer than it seems
MOUSE ME TO SEE ⇒

PUERTO ESCONDIDO

May 19
Puerto Escondido is even more beautiful in warm weather. Puerto Escondido sunset

We enjoyed the Sunday brunch at the Hidden Port Yacht Club, and lunched at the Tripui Hotel several times. Tripui is the only nearby place to get an internet connection, although we heard that you can hit the Juancalito gateway if you climb the hill on the north side of Escondido. Judy took a ride into Loreto one day, the streets were all dug up for some reason.

The Tripui store went out of business the last day we were there; the young couple who ran it were not happy about it, their electricity had been cut off, apparently by the property owner.

SAN JUANICO

May 25
We made the long run up to San Juanico from Puerto Escondido safely, but we fouled our dinghy painter in the prop as we tried to anchor. We got the anchor set, dove in and cleared the prop; all good practice, and we certainly won't make that mistake again.

The Grebes were still rafting up here, and we stayed for a few days.

A NIGHT CROSSING

Our vessel insurance policy requires that we be north of 27°N after June 1, and our dawdling found us still in San Juanico May 28, so we decided to make the crossing from there.

It is 90 miles due north from San Juanico to San Carlos; we departed San Juanico late in the afternoon, headed north, and after it got dark we just followed the north star.

+
N 27° 30'
W 111°