Thoughts and Bahia Tenacatita

Blog entry 2-9-13


Thoughts on cruising and this week’s anchorage

Aside from the geology, nature, fish and beauty of Mexico, the cruisers make this an even better experience. Cruisers we meet are mostly from the west coast, Vancouver, Canada, Alaska, Seattle, Bellingham, San Francisco, all parts of CA and even Colorado and Arizona. (Don’t let me forget to mention the great Aussie’s and Kiwi’s we have met....Sailing vessels Woshee, Kiapa, Sea Raven and Sonrisa...) Sure we see the occasional East Coaster who has made their way through the Panama Canal. But most  that stop and socialize seem to start west, go south then west or south and east  and then there is me, south and north....:-). Much to Larry’s chagrin, after 8 months,  I am still not prepared to be at sea for days on end either to the Marquesas or through multiple countries and heat/humidity of the Panama Canal to home on Anna Maria Island, FL. After eight months, I can stand up for myself and say, “not this time” or “not this year”. We can reach Florda via car or plane from San Diego. However, I won't be surprised if I return to San Diego in June and say, “Ah crud. This sucks. Let’s go back south.”

Back to the cruisers. We are here in Bahia Tenacatita (south of Puerta Vallarta 150 miles and north of Manzanillo) and on the “ladies beach walk” after the “ladies swim to the beach” (while men are pawing at the sand and throwing their bocce balls) the gals were talking and said, “So and So, a really nice couple”......well, to tell you the truth, we have not met a NOT nice couple or single hander. Everyone is helpful and doing the same things, cruising. It is awesome. Very different from home where everyone is trying to survive on their own. Here, we survive together.

Bahia Tenancatita (you are going to get sick of me talking about it as all I heard from my sister in law was Tenacatita this and Tenacatita that.....) Well, I have to say, now I know why....aside from San Juanico on the Sea of Cortez, this is the best anchorage going. It is hardly developed, has a trash bin, a little bar palapa, shielded from wind and waves, wide beach for walks and games and clean water. Did I mention the 80 degree weather in the dead of winter? I should not sell so hard. Someone might develop and ruin it.

So here we are. There is a long white sand beach. One end is an RV Park, river to the estuary and palapa bar/restaurant and on the other end is an all-inclusive resort. The bay holds currently about 20 boats--some going north, others south, but all resting here a night or a week or sometimes a couple months.

Robert and Virginia Gleser of S/V Harmony have been coming here for 13 years and cruised with Larry’s sister and brother in law in 2003-2005 (Liz and Glenn on S/V Serendipidy). Robert and Virginia keep Harmony in the north of the Sea of Cortez in San Carlos in dry storage for the summer, pick it up in October, sail south while enjoying the best anchorages of the Sea. Dock in La Paz for Thanksgiving while they shoot home for the holiday, then shoot directly down to Tenacatita for the season (Dec to Feb). They just left today to head back north. Like the turtles laying eggs---back to the place of origin.

Robert has been the Mayor of Tenacatita for many years. Today an ex-mayor has taken over the duties......shepherding the swim team to shore with the dingy, leading bocce ball and presiding over the Friday night dingy raft up with appetizers, book exchange and social hour. It is great fun. Last night we had a gal from S/V Traveler with her ukelele and she was very talented. Not sure I could do this for two months, but good fun.

Tomorrow we ride the high tide through the estuary. Stay tuned for any photos I can get.

PS. What is the difference between “whale watching” and “watching for whales”? If you don’t own the boat it is whale watching. If you own the boat, you are watching out for whales. Dey be big creatures.....

Larry's beach. Coco palms and white sand beach.

This is Paraiso (Paradise). So far Larry's favorite anchorage. a small resort on shore with coco palms. This was one of three anchorages we stayed at getting to Tenacatita.