Yelalpa to Tenacatita
We arrived at the tranquil bay of Tenacatita with John and Kim (Naglecorp) on board from Puerto Vallarta. We are traveling with them down the coast for a spell and enjoying the low-key vibe of Mexico, Sud. We braved a wicked surf here, with Ian and Ellen on Kasasa, to make a rather hairy dinghy bar crossing and explore the estuary. We spied a baby Cayman,(small crocodile) in the mangroves, quite adorable, and a wide variety of birdlife. Another morning we joined a group for a panga ride into the quaint, bustling arts community of La Manzanilla. We viewed the Crocodile farm and watched mesmerized as the ‘not so adorable’, ten foot beasts, licked their chops and waited for a snack to happen by!
Malaque, Barra de Navidad
Around the next corner we headed into Malaque (Malarky?), to seek out a pint of Guinness and the reported Irish connection. Unfortunately the handful of Irish rebels from San Patricio have long departed from participating in the Mexican Revolution here, and the only thing green in town was the salsa! The recent hurricane has really taken its’ toll on the coastline and many of the waterfront hotels were left crumbling into the ocean, a testament to the immense power of the winds and seas in this part of the Pacific. Happy to push off again, we rounded the point into the impressive Barra de Navidad, settled on Christmas Day 1567.
We spent a couple of days of total luxury with John and Kim at this old Mediterranean style resort hotel, The Grand Bay, lolling beside the pool and enjoying all the perks of a 5 star resort on a cruisers budget. In the late afternoon of the following day we reluctantly let go the lines and anchored in the Barra de Navidad lagoon. Here we said our fond goodbyes to Kim and spent our last few days with son John before he also had to fly back to Vancouver. This turned out to be a real cruisers paradise, as the lagoon is so peaceful, and the cruiser-friendly old Sands Hotel was a welcome haven to lounge and swim in with fellow sailors. A pleasant surprise came early next morning when we heard “BonJourno!’ from the upper deck and met The French Baker, El Horno, bearing fresh-baked baguettes and hot croissants from his skiff, which we devoured readily with pleasure!
Los Hadas, Manzanillo
Our next port of call was Los Hadas Resort at Manzanillo, of Bo Derreck fame for the movie ‘10’ filmed here years ago. But that was then and this is now, so I quickly informed Daragh that he would have to settle for a 7.5! From the view from the anchorage you would think you were in Santorini, Greece, with the white-domed copolas and villas dotting the hillside. On closer inspection, it is more of a Moorish theme with minarets, spiral staircases and intricate coloured mosaics in every nook and cranny. Kuan Yin 1, a Victoria Bluewater boat, was in the harbour when we arrived, with Bob and Bobbie aboard. We decided to practice our Man-Overboard drill with them as the weather was calm and water temperate. Daragh volunteered to take the plunge while Bobbie manned the helm and circled towing the Lifesling, then winched him up with the halyard. Not as easy as it says in the guide! Then we switched boats and chucked Bob overboard for a repeat performance on Chantey V. Quite a performance, but in the end a perfect rescue!
On a visit to the small town of Santiago we hit the local market to sample their wares and munch on fresh shrimp tacos with JeanGuy and Fran from Gosling, and Nicky and John from Seychelles. From behind came a familiar voice and turned to see Jacynth and Richard from Nanaimo BC! We have an invitation to partake in Richards` gourmet cooking at Casa Luna, their home-away-from home these past 12 years. The world gets smaller yet! This is the last stop for many of the cruisers before turning north again, so there have been many get-togethers, and dinghy raft-ups, saying ‘Farewell and following seas” to the new and old friends we have met on our travels.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence....
Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;You have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
(excerpts) by Max Ehrmann
