Our Christmas in Barra de Navidad was idyllic. Dylan joined us for a few days of lounging by the pool, lots of steak tacos and good conversations. Festivities amongst the marina residents kept us busy. Barra was busy and the market fun to visit. But the time had come to leave. We'd checked out of the harbor with the Port Captain, paid our tab at the hotel and tried to say our goodbyes to all our friends.
Yesterday morning we awoke at dawn. Well before the French baker was due to arrive in the marina. We slipped our lines and quietly departed the still marina. After 4 weeks of being tied up to a dock we are ready to spend a few months on the anchor. As we headed out of the bay our phones were dinging with text messages from all our friends wishing us well, when they awoke to our empty slip at the dock.
Barra de Navidad is a geographical transition point. It seems many sailors never leave and have this as their permanent 'winter' home. The journey north is upwind. The journey south is remote. At least 4 couples we met have decided to sell their boat and move ashore here. It is a delightful area, so I can see how this can happen. Some friends we've been sailing with since San Diego and throughout the Sea of Cortez will be heading back to the US, Canada or across the Pacific this year. And a few, will be joining us on the continued journey to Panama. When we leave a port, we always appreciate the relationships we've made, the fun experiences we've shared and are thankful for modern communication technology that will enable us to keep in touch -- even when we know it is often unlikely that our paths will cross again.
So, from Barra de Navidad we made the short hop down the coast and today find ourselves anchored in a small inlet just north of the major shipping city of Manzanillo called Ensenada Carrizal. Let the gear-shifting commence. We are the only boat at anchor here. When we are in anchor-mode we turn off the spare fridge and ice maker to save power. We are able to leave all the hatches open to catch the breeze. We turn on the anchor light. There is the gentle roll as each swell lifts and lowers the boat. The agenda shifts to working on projects around the boat, daily excursions in the dingy, snorkeling, fishing, baking etc. It is quiet at least for the moment.
On the west side of this bay there are good snorkel spots that are frequented by an on-going parade of small tourists boats. They stay for an hour or two and then carry on to the next spot. They are gone by 4 pm, and don't arrive the next day until 9 am. We can see the large commercial ships come and go in the distance. The shore is full-on jungle -- you would never guess there is a major city just around the corner! We will be here for a few days, then will poke into the city (pop. 160K) for New Years Eve & New Years Day with hopes of seeing a few fireworks. Onward to 2026!
Happy New Year!