Photos from Barra and environs

Resting under the sunshade in Tenacatita Bay

Getting ready to dive on the boat for a bottom cleaning

Ken and friend Parky never missing an opportunity to fool around

Making tortillas on the boat

Harp in the shade of an old tree in Barra de Navidad

Here are some pics from Harp's visit.

Ken here adding to what Harp posted. It was great to have her here withme in mexico on Allymar. We really did not go far, rather went to Tenatatica from Barra de Navitad and had a relaxing time walking on the beach, visiting with sailing friends and refreshing our relationship. Harp had the opportunity to add to her life bird list with a pink sided scooped billed something. She was so excited.

Currently back in La Cruz working our was north and then over to La Paz and home on the 14th of April.

Ken

Frenzy in the Laguna

Hello all

Well, yesterday was a very interesting day in the laguna here in Barra de Navitad. Woke up to a wind out of the east and quite quixkly noticed that the boat dpwn wind from me was 10 feet away from my stern. Rreceived 2 calls on the VHF in the next 2 minutes to lety me know. When that boat anchored 2 days before I mentioned to him that I was a little concerned about his anchoring close to me and could he please keep a good watch as the wind in the afternoon quickly could build to 20 knots out of the west. He acted somewhat responsive and said he would set a good watch. he then left and went ashore for the day and 1/2 the night. Tom. Ron and I had to stay there and drink beer all afternoon just in case, Fortunately the wind did not blow and all was well. Yesterday morning he did not answer on the radio and it toot my yelling and a friend pounding on his boat to gbet him up. He did them re-anchor, but only after a discussion as to who was the cause of our closeness. I reminded him who was there first and my concerns when he first anchored. He dithered a bit but finally re-anchored, but in a place too close to another boat. I do not understand the herd instinct to place your boat close to another when there is enough room for all. Similar to parking your car in the far corner af a parking lot anf return to find 3 cars parked next to you. There was sufficent space for all actually to anchor correctly.
Next a large power boat started drifting into the pack. It took 8 of us to corall her ( 4 dingies pushing and tuggung, Carl on the anchor windlass and me on the wheel steering the power boat). Was left open but there was no key in the ignition. If we had not been able to stop her she would have taken out 2 sailboats downwind. It does not take much to get a bunch of yachties working together to protect our homes. The owner came back to his boar sometime after 9 pm to find it anchored in a different place.
2 other sailboats were aground and 3 re-anchored as a result of the east wind. Just goes to show that we should always be alert and not complacent.

The worst part of the day was that I was planning a trip to Melaque to get paint to work on Allymar, and was late and the paint store was closed for siesta. Bummer.
Went back there today and had a great time.
Today was great with warm sunny day and good friends.

Ken

Barra de Navitad Manzanillo

Hello everyone from what has proven to be the best cruising grounds in Mexico. Not sure why they call them cruising grounds as the last place you want to be in the boat is on the ground. I am in Barra do Navitad which is in Jalisco state just north of Colima State. The weather is warm in the day and cool at night, which is just about perfect. Since my last post we have visited Chacals. Chemala and Tenacatica, All three of which were small, relativly isolated and picture postcard of the Mexican Rivera, The towns (villages) ae all small when they exist and the beaches are sandy, long and invite strolling for hours. Tenacatica was my fravorite in that there was a cruising community that met and played volleyball, frisbe and Bacche Ball on the beach. When I remember my camera I will add pictures of the dingy raft-up there. Took the dingy up the estuary to the lagoon, a trip on 2.5 hours on a small gas tank. I was somewhat concerned about us being stuck up there as the tide turned but sure love that gas sipping honda. Hard to believe that it still runs great after being under water (salt) all night last year in Cabo.
Barra is another world from the isloated spots, but still vfery interesting and fun. Barra has been designated by the Mexican government as a tourist zone and it sparkels in a simple non condo vein. I anchored in the lagoon and spend the day doing boat chopres (re-wire, paint cabin top and bulwarks and maintain the batteries for the extra load of keeping the cooler operating. This si the furthest south I will go on the boat and will stay here for Harps arrival. Carl and Pam have chosen to go ashore as there will be no further destination for them. Manzanillo the prior farthest south destination is 30 miles south of here and has no draw for me. I did go there to get paint and found it to be typical of large Mexican towns. You need to get to the old centro area and there you find the real city. As with our cities and outskirts are loaded with Walmarts and Home Depots, restruants with familiar names and seem to be the focus of the gringos what haunt the resorts and condos. We saw 2 gringos in 3 hours in the old city.

Must mention gthat in Tenatacita the Mexican navy boarded all of the boats in the anchorage. They took pictures of all the instuments including radios, clocks, barometers and computers. They were very pleasant and courteous in comparison to our coast guard and customs.
Pictures arre of Tenacatica (up the laguna, yachties on ther beach and in the raft up, Mexican navy) Manzanillo ( big fish sculpture, me eating in the marcado central) and Barra (Malacon)
Forgot to mention, watched the Packers win and what a great game. Both teams have nothing to be ashamed of. Competative and entertaining.

Fair winds

Ken