La Paz to Muertos
Checking out of La Paz early morning after two days at Marina Palmira, we were ready to get underway and make our way around the tip of Baja.
Our plan was to take a few day trips, stopping at some of Jay's favorite anchorages before landing in Cabo....and ultimately prepping ourselves for the long jog that would follow. Much of the Pacific side of Baja is pretty desolate with not a lot in the way of comfortable, if any safe anchorages/places to stop for day sails. So thought was to catch our breath after our crossing the Sea of Cortez, get a few restful stops, enjoy some time on the hook in some beautiful and remote anchorages, before we hit Cabo (see our post earlier this year during our first time in Cabo--Vegas on the Water as I like to think of it now) and then hunker down for "the bash" back home.
Of course, we wake up the morning of our intended day to leave with iffy weather and skies. Storm clouds were gathering and rain was predicted for much of the day. Darn.....
We debated back and forth for a few hours over our morning coffee as to whether we would leave and take anchorage nearby just to get out of La Paz (it's a few miles to just get out of the long harbor in La Paz) or wuss out and stay another night. Ultimately, we decided on making a quick run while there was a break in weather as there are a few anchorages nearby we could ditch into should weather not hold for the entire trip out out (we were hoping to make to Puerto Ballandra, which is a great set-up for our next leg to Muertos; an easy day sail with time to laze around with our coffee before needing to head out to make it before sundown)
*****Always have a contingency plan*****
Needless to say, we along with a few other sloops/cats, also had the same idea. Gunning the motor after getting out of the harbor entrance, the sky darkens and storm clouds gather in the southern distance, the brave few make a mad dash to stay ahead of the storm.
While in no real danger (Skipper Jay is always VERY aware of his surroundings and limitations--he is a pilot after all and with very precious cargo onboard, might I add) it was fun to watch the clouds cluster, building into a dark, low lying blanket-like mass, eventually giving way to droplets, and then opening up to a lovely, but quick tropical downpour. It was also at this time that, without humor might I add, Jay and I realize we will definitely need to finally fully redo our canvas this next season...
We heard the thunder first before we saw the lighting...at the same time I was getting texts from Richard about a wicked storm just by him in Todos Santos and moving east. No sooner do we call head into anchor, the lightening starts east of us. As I said before, always have a contingency plan especially when in questionable weather. With all the nearby anchorages we could choose from, we ducked into Bahia Falsa, which is just right outside La Paz harbor. Not as far as we would have liked (i think like 5 nm from La Paz), but no need to push our luck here.
We pulled into Bahia Falsa and being the only ones out, it was easy pickin's of spots. Being slightly rusty after 6 months out of practice, it was a bit hilarious to be moving so fast trying to get the anchor down and set before we needed to shut off all electrical with the lighting nearby.
Done and set within a few minutes, we shut off all electrical as the lighting danced in the distance clouds. The storm clouds had opened up and it was pouring now. We got down below, dried off and started discussing what we would now do with the rest of our day with nothing to do and the storm keeping us inside.
It's probably at this time that I should add, Matthew likes to bust out, full bravado Disney or show tunes at random intervals. I didn't know this about him, and I don't think Jay did either....but maaaaan is it
h i l a r i o u s as comical interludes to the often quiet boat that Jay and I are use to. With this in mind, we have now "batten down the hatches," so-to-speak, listening to the rain, each in our own world moving around the boat and settling into a cozy day inside.
"AAAAhhhhhhhh zeBenGAAAHhhhhhhhyahhhhh bahiti baba* "
*ok , he didn't actually start with Lion King, but a similar rumbling in a low bass that crescendoed into a high pitch wail of some other Disney song.)
What makes it even more hilarious is that if you catch his eye when he is singing, he will pause, give his big million watt smile as if to say, "hi. yep, Imma about to really belt this out loud now"
So we have been blessed with Disney songs and showtunes (another fan favorite of his) at all random hours of our sail.
While not a live example of his showtunes or Disney song, it's a good example of Matthew's vocal abilities :)
To close out our Bahia Falsa overnight, we had to reset the anchor once, shortly after we first dropped anchor. FIRST time ever we have had to reset, our Rocna has yet to let us down, so we are chalking this up to being a bit rusty AND rushed. Reset in a few short minutes we were snuggly in our spot and spent the rest of the rainy day reading, writing, Matthew learning the Ukulele, ate an early dinner and then off to bed for an early morning to set off to our next stop, Muertos.