Update from Puerto Escondido - Mar. 9

Puerto Escondido - the hidden harbour

We have arrived in Puerto Escondido (14 nm south of Loreto, which doesn't have a cruisers marina) a bit ahead of our tentative schedule.  We attempt to find sheltered anchorages for the winter northers which keep being forecast.  Some materialize in the form of very strong winds and very lumpy seas.  This one is considered a "hidden harbour", now run by two branches of the Mexican government and we are on mooring ball #81 for the week, having arrived late afternoon Sunday and booked through until the 14th.  The weather looked like it was building on Sunday when we were leaving Los Gatos for Aqua Verde so we pushed on for an 8 hour day, rather than the planned 4 hour day.  It is now sounding like the weather events won't start until Thursday, but continue on into Saturday, leaving sloppy chop to wade into if we leave Sunday.

We are quite far out in the anchorage, to limit the fetch from the northers when they arrive, but it means a sometimes wet and bumpy dinghy ride into the dock. We got spoiled at the dock in La Paz, didn't we?  This Singular marina provides a small store, mostly for beverages and a few staples; next door is the small clubhouse for the Hidden Harbor Yacht Club, which we've joined and already feel a part of the cruising community.  There are laundry facilities (3 washers, 3 dryers - almost $3/load however), showers and a restaurant which we may try as a treat.

Kelly and Frank of SV Snow Goose

This morning (Tuesday) we were up to listen to weather, a bit of the local cruisers' net on channel 22 and met up with our friend Frank of SV Snow Goose, to walk to the Modelorama store a mile or so up the road.  We had incorrect information that fresh produce would be available today (it's actually delivered on Thursdays around 11 am), but met the owner, Fernando, who was very pleasant, informative and fortunately for us, speaks very good English.  There was still some fresh produce available - bananas, onions, limes, and tortillas and milk - a light load to walk back with.

The Tripui Resort "R.V.park and hotel" is nearby.  We stopped in to a look - perhaps we'll return to have lunch.  The photo is courtesy of the resort website.  Later that evening we were serenaded by Frank's distinctive salute to the sunset with his conch shell, which resounded through the anchorage.

Conch Salute to the Sunset - Frank of SV Snow Goose

Although we are supposed to get Internet coverage out on the moorings, it doesn't work well, so this is coming from the cruisers' lounge.  There is glare everywhere making it hard to see on our old laptop, an excuse today for any typos!  If we can locate the marina staff member who speaks English and does the arranging for the rental vehicles, we plan to rent one for a day to drive in to Loreto, site-see mostly and provision for any heavier items.  The rental agency comes to the marina with the car and picks it up again.  All we need to do is find a car we can afford and which Kelly can fit into. We've learned that Loreto was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California peninsula and served as the capital of Las Californias from 1697 to 1777.

This anchorage is stunning with the high mountains to the northwest, the two "windows" which look out to the north towards Loreto, and the blue of the water.  It's cooler today, a bit of cloud cover, but hopefully it will be another starry, starry night -- last night the clarity of the constellations was incredible.  We plan to backtrack now with the blog and describe our trip up here from La Paz, which we left on February 27th, and ad some pictures, as time permits.

Moorings are in the large basin
 (courtesy of marinapuertoescondido.com)

Hope Spring is already in your backyards!!