Imperial Beach Day

 Imperial Beach. We got together with John and Marlene , who were staying in their land yacht at Imperial. Beach Day! The beach stretches all the way from Coronado to Mexico.

 YMCA has a portion of the beach for family activities.

 To get back to the mooring I need to pass by the USS Midway. It is now a museum. Hope to visit before we leave for Mexico.

Life on a Mooring

 We are still in San Diego and hanging on the Laurel Street mooring. We plan to join the HA HA in late October. It is very noisy during the day due to CG and the airport . We try to visit other anchorages when we can. The A1 and A5 are both good to get some quiet.

 Nice display of local craft on the mooring despite the noise.

By sunset most nights the noise abates and all is well.

San Diego and on the Boat!

The pride of The San Diego Maritime Museum

The Star of India

 One of the visiting tall ships.

 HMS Surprise. This vessel was featured in the movie Master and Commander.Very authentic except on gun deck the walkway around the twelve pounders did not exist.

 Surprise at the gun deck.

 A Russian submarine that was built in 1972. One of the last non nuclear subs built by the major powers.

 Inside the sub. While in New London I toured an old diesel boat and was amazed at how cramped the quarters were.This submarine was spacious by comparison. The Ohio Class of todays fleet are huge by comparison.

 On board the replica of America, built in 1965 was a copy of the schooner that one the Auld Mug for the first several times and became the Americas Cup.

 In the main salon were the half models of past Americas Cup winners.

 Another view of the Russian attack sub. Built in 1972.

 Skyward on the Star.

Mesa Verde

 The office of the Mesa Verde National Park has a decidedly SW look. After leaving Bryce Canyon we decided to visit the Mesa Verde National Park in NW Colorado. Our first choice was Chaco but it was 60 miles down a dirt road so Mesa Verde was the destination. On a motorcycle dirt roads do not equal fun.  It was a stunning ride up the mountains on paved roads. We were dodging rain squalls the entire way but made it to the park without getting wet.

 The pueblo is well protected from the elements as well as potential enemies. Historians are unsure why the mesa was abandoned but it appears a seven year drought may have been a big part of the decision to leave.

 No indication of a drought this time as the stream was flowing and foliage looked healthy.

Bryce Canyon National Park

 We left the boat on a mooring in San Diego and decided to go on a motorcycle trip and visit the National Parks in Utah. A grand Adventure to be sure. Larry Johnson joined us on his Harley.

 Bryce was a pleasure to the eyes. Around every corner and with changing light it was constantly changing.

 The hoodoos stand like sentinels in the high desert.

 This is called Thor's Hammer.

 Vistas are of the big sky variety.

THE BASH.....Bahia de Tortugas

After rounding Cabo Falso to go north to San Diego there are very few really good anchorages on the Pacific side of the Baja. Once  past Cabo  Falso we never saw a white cap all the way to Turtle Bay aka Bahia de Tortugas. Normally on a bash I would stop at Bahia Santa Maria or Bahia Magdalena, but when it is calm you just keep going. We pulled into Bahia Tortugas and we were here for seven days waiting for a decent window to go North. 

 

Bahia de Tortugas is one of those places where you ask yourself why anybody lives there. Apparently there used to be a cannery set up upon the 19th century company town model. The workers threatened to go on strike to get paid and the owners closed the cannery . Jobs today revolve around the fishing industry.

 

 Turtle Bay is one of the few good natural harbors on the coast with almost a mile at the opening. We actually entered at night without any trouble.

 Northern point of the harbor.

 This orphan seal pup was a constant presence in town. Chuck and Jan of Wind Watcher were constantly trying to keep the pup off their boat. They sleep with the bottom hatchboard off and one night Chuck woke up and the seal had crawled into the boat and was snoring on the cabin sole. Took quite an effort to make the sleepy seal get out of the boat. The locals at the fuel dock have been feeding the seal and it will lay in your lap and sleep if you let it. I am not sure if it will make it as it is quite young to be separated from it's  mother but hopefully next Fall it will be there. I am not a big seal fan but this youngster does pull the heart strings.

North from La Paz

 The Baja reminds me of the SW United States with water. As one travels North from La Paz the scenery becomes very rugged and constantly changing as the sun makes it's transit.

 Another shot of boat with village of Agua Verde in background.

 Roca Solataire, entrance to Agua Verde.

 Passing by the anchorage of Dos Gatos.

Las Frailles to Bahia de Muertos

 Approaching the Baja Peninsula from the east, Frailles is the usual first stop for cruisers who sail from Mazatlán. If you motor you can make points further North but the best I have ever achieved just sailing is Los Frailles. Of course if you were to get a Southerly a more northerly point can be achieved. When you leave Mazatlán for Baja , early on it appears you can sil more Northerly but the four times I have made this trip as you close the coast the wind tends to blow more NW to West.

 Anchored in Frailles. The beach landing can be rough here as the Pacific swell reaches his far into the SEa of Cortez. As you go North the swell disappears.

 The beach at Los Muertos ,which is about 40 miles North of Los Frailles.

 Looking the other way on the beach.

The Gran Sueno Resort is in Los Frailles and is very friendly to cruisers. WIFI is good and the bar has a great train collection. Unfortunately those pictures of the resort are so blurry as to be useless. Cannot remember if drinking commenced before or after I started taking pictures.