Update from Santa Rosalia, Baja Sur Peninsula

Hola everyone!  Three weeks at anchor without a chance to update this blog, so thanks for your patience.

INTREPID II is currently in Marina Fonatur in Santa Rosalia, still on the Baja peninsula side.  We are the only occupied sailboat at the dock,  which is a bit disconcerting.  The latest 'norther' has hit right on schedule and it is forecast to blow all through Friday, easing up by Saturday.  The dock puts us pointing east south east, so the northwest winds are blowing substantial wind waves into our stern and port side; just like being at anchor. Our plans at this point are to leave Saturday or Sunday to cross over to the San Carlos-Guaymas mainland, just under 90 nm away.  Once across the Sea we will determine how much longer we continue cruising and when we will start putting our dauntless INTREPID II  to rest for the summer and fall.

We arrived here at noon on Wednesday, from Punta Chivato after a 5 hour bumpy, lumpy, motor-sail and lots of cross currents initially slowing us down. The upside was we had a humpback whale cross our bow with dolphins in attendance; then as he/she turned southward, we both have an indelible memory of its huge tail flukes lifting into the air in a band of bright sunlight.

Church tower Iglesia Santa Barbara

Staying at a marina gives us a chance to wash away 3 weeks of salt spray on INTREPID II and ourselves (yes, we do take showers), do laundry, banking, and catch up on regular email. Winlink (email sent by ham radio) keeps us in contact with family and many of you, but of necessity we only send brief messages and the propagation has not been wonderful these past weeks.

A few highlights since arriving in Santa Rosalia:  Kelly made his 'pilgrimage' to the famous Chuyita's hot dog stand across from Iglesia Santa Barbara and determined they were as good as ever. These are diet-conscious turkey dogs wrapped in bacon in wonderfully fresh buns, with whatever condiments you choose to add.  We've checked out many of the streets in this French-influenced town, shopped at the El Boleo bakery, dined in two restaurants, finally got our bank card to work at the ATM and had an unexpected but fascinating tour of the Minero Boleo mine site which is under construction north of Santa Rosalia.  We hope to write more about all of these activities and add photos as time permits.

Wishing you all a good week as April turns into May very soon.