Summer in the Sea is coming to a Close

The change in the weather in the last few weeks has been remarkable. Within a one week period, we went from summer to fall. The water does not have the clarity it did, it is cooler all day long, mornings in B of LA start out at 66 degrees! We even had a rain storm one day that started at night and went on for hours. As Pacific North westerners, I can't tell you how happy we were to wake up that cloudy Saturday! It felt and looked like home, just for a few hours.

With the weather change, the cruiser boats that had congregated in the North Sea of Cortez have begun their migration south. Suddenly one day about a week ago, seven boats left to head south. Since that day, a few more have trickled out every day or so. Right now we are anchored at the village at B of LA with 12 other boats. I believe that is the majority of boats left. All have their plans to migrate, each in our own schedule. By another two weeks, few will be left, if any.

It's been really difficult to be out of internet range for such a long time. We have had so many amazing experiences, great times, and stories we want to share and it is impossible to fit them all in now. So I will give some highlights and a quick recap.

After leaving Third Day at Isla San Luis, we joined Windfall at Refugio. From that time until today, we have been boating in Windfall's company, sharing great times and beautiful anchorages. Third Day suffered a broken windlass (the device that raises the anchor) that needed to be replaced. They went to Puerto Penasco in the far, far north and only returned from there last night. We have not seen them for nearly five weeks, so our reunion last night was very fun.

Highlights of our last few weeks include Jack's birthday which was celebrated with 3 other kid boats and most of the fleet who had coincidentally congregated for a cruiser's party called a Full Moon Party the day before. We had cake and brownies on the beach with about 2o people crowded around singing "Happy Birthday" to Jack. Later that night, Jack told me it was the best birthday he has ever had. And his only present from us was a homemade birthday card that told him I would make him a cherry pie and he didn't have to do homeschooling that day! Being out in the middle of nowhere without TV takes the "Gimmees" out of kids evidently.

One of the changes with the weather has been a great increase in the number and intensity of wind storms The Northers have started (they are the same .winds as the Santa Anas in CA) and can blow at strong rates for days. Elefantes have become common in the last few weeks also. These are very strong winds that start during the day and can last through the night, always from the West. They are named after elephants because many times there will be clouds above the mountains that get caught in this wind and twist around like elephant trunks. We have been caught in Elefantes several times now and have learned to anchor in 30+ knot wind - not a small feat in a catamaran with lots of windage. We also had the fun of experiencing 50 knots of winds while anchored in B of LA during a different Elefante. It was cool to experience that much wind! And we were very comfortable since we were parked close to a cheltering shore, with no chance for waves to build up.

Our first year anniversary of the day that Just a Minute left the dock in San Francisco is rapidly approaching on October 25th. It is so amazing to look back on this last year. We have learned so much about so many different things. Though it seemed like such a pie in the sky dream back in March 2008, we are happeir than we ever could have imagined one year ago.