Caleta Lobos - Feb. 6

Once we had fueled up at the marina docks just before noon on Saturday, we motored out of the breakwater and up the La Paz harbour channel - congratulating ourselves and INTREPID II that we'd actually untied the dock lines.  We had a nearby destination in mind.  Caleta Lobos  (24 17.912 N; 110 19.916 W) is under 10 nm from our marina and reasonably sheltered except from westerly winds, being open to the southwest.

Caleta Lobos with surrounding hillside

As we nosed our way in we spotted SV Waterdog anchored near the entrance and chatted with its captian, Jack. He stated he had picked that particular spot to anchor as the actual anchorage had been filled with over a dozen boats the night before.  We motored in between the sail boat and power boat remaining behind and decided to give the spot a try.   Once we had set the anchor (it took a second try - the first time that has ever happened!), we settled in to admire the view.  A beach lay to the north, with mangroves to the side, high hills and boats passing by outside in the channel.  Pelicans and turkey vultures kept us entertained, as did the chorus from the sea lions taking a rest on Roca Lobos not too far away.  There was a group camping on the beach, which can be reached by road. Later we were joined by a power boat, a small sail boat and a charter sailboat, which arrived just at sunset.  

Looking across the deck

The cruising guide is correct. Due to the mangroves at the head of the cove, this anchorage was indeed "affected by the pesky, although non-biting" little flies known as "bobos".  Their presence made it easy to decide to eat dinner inside the cabin, but we ensured we had time for sunset pictures.

Love the sunsets

The winds picked up just before 9 pm, shifting to the southwest and then west. Before long the last sailboat to anchor was directly upwind of us.  It was a less than restful night due to the slapping, choppy waves funneling in from the west.

Next morning, we listened to Don Anderson of SV Summer Passage, who provides weather forecasts on the Amigo net at 07:15; and to Geary on the Sonrisa ham net, who provides a slightly different approach to his weather information.  Being away from the marina, with all the interference from masts, we were able to at last check in to the Sonrisa net.  This is something we try for whenever we are away from Internet access, to ensure that we could be contacted via the ham nets, if necessary.  Propagation isn't always great, but we are frequently successful.  

Kelly snorkeling back after retrieving a runaway fender

To make the day interesting, one of our fenders went for a swim to check out the shore.  Of course our dinghy was on deck. The Captain decided he would don his wetsuit and fins to check out the water temperature, as no one else seemed to be volunteering nor were the sea lions or pelicans stepping up to the plate.  He used to opportunity to check out the propeller and new zinc and found that the second zinc had now disappeared! 

By 10:30 am we were ready to head out.  A curious sea lion checked us out as we motored into the bay with light northwest winds.   INTREPID II was making just over 6 knots over the ground, the sun was shining and we were off to Isla Partida - 16 nm away.