In La Paz on the east coast of Baja Sur

Hi all,
We left Punta de Mita where we anchored in Banderas Bay. Along the way we decided not to go to Mazatlan until after La Paz so we set a course for there. One of our options was to go to Isla Isabella which we skipped last year, but we decided to motor on (no wind or wind on our nose). It took 48 hours to get to just off Muertos bay where we were going to anchor and leave the next day for La Paz. We were tired and looking forward to a good sleep but the forecast was for strong winds out of the north (the direction we were going) so we decided to keep going the 50 miles to La Paz. Our biggest concern was whether we could get there before dark as it is a very difficult place to get into after dark. Luckily we made good time and came in a half hour before sunset. The marina was still open and we got a slip right between two boats we knew from our Ha-Ha - S/V Sea Angel and S/V Po'o ino aroa (say that three times - even slow!).

We are now moored at Marina de La Paz where we stayed several days last year after the Ha-Ha. We love La Paz. The people are friendly, the town has everything you need and we have lots of old and new friends here. Several boats from this year's Ha-Ha have come in and we have met many of them.

It is nice here in the marina with really cool breezes during the day almost always from the north. Mornings are very cool and Cindy is sleeping with blankets now. Quite a change from the summer in PV, although we have been told that it got to 105 degrees here, but with lower humidity than in PV.

Kim and Linda on S/V Endeavor from Canada were here but left the day before we got in, headed for Mazatlan. Unfortunately for them their steering cable parted from the chain that goes on the gear on their steering wheel eight hours out of La Paz. At night, in a good breeze. The boat immediately rounded up into the wind and they ran around trying to figure out what happened. They found out right away that the steering was gone so they put on the emergency steering tiller. It is short (no leverage) and only on the aft deck, so Kim had to hand steer in the dark all the way back to La Paz. We helped them fix the gear with a tool I had on board. They are now in Mazatlan enjoying the good life again.

It has been a whirl of socializing here, getting together with friends. Tonight we are having dinner with Jan and Rich on S/V Slip Away who are leaving on Monday, and John and Linda on S/V Nakia at the famous Rancho Viejo for arrachera. Arrachera is a marinated beef flank steak and they make the best. Kind of like fajitas, chased with cervezas, sodas (cocas) or margaritas. Last night we walked the 3 miles to and from Marina Palmira on the other side of town to go to a Cruiser Appreciation party sponsored by the marinas and the Baja California Sur Board of Tourism. They had some free cervezas and fresh clams right out of the shell with lime and salsa. Yum!

Our biggest problem right now is how to get some new electronics (radar, chart plotter, GPS and wind instruments) down here. We may have to drive to San Diego (a 2 day car trip) to pick it up and bring it down. Shipping is a hit or miss thing here.

Have to go shower up at the heads on the shore, then off to dinner.