Cruising in Mexico - Blog

Sorry for not updating you all sooner but we are on cruising time. At our last note we had just arrived at Catalina Island through smoke and a bit of wind.

Our stay lasted ten days, four spent in Catalina Harbor on the west side of the island, three days in Two Harbors and three days in Avalon.

Catalina harbor is a short walk from Two Harbors through the isthmus of the island. It is surrounded by steep water carved cliffs with varying layers of color from deep gray to light tan, I was surprised to see many quartz deposits as well. The water was clear and around sixty degrees. I dove once to try to get a legal lobster but none we to be had so while I was in down there I cleaned and inspected the bottom of the boat as well.

Our fourth night got a little rocky with a southerly swell coming in so we moved the boat to the east side of the isthmus to Two Harbors to finish our time on the quiet end of the Island. Two Harbors has a small store to shop at and free internet in the bar and restaurant. It is very busy in the summer season but by late October the crowds only come for the weekends if the weather is good. There were several ferries a day dropping off campers and a hand full of tourists. We also had one wedding on the beach Saturday night. The reception party was also on the beach so we had free music for the night till midnight like it or not.

We made a promise to Phoebe she could go trick or treating before we went to Mexico. To keep our end of the bargain we moved to the south end of the island to Avalon Harbor and took a mooring ball near the dingy dock and were surprised to find a special rate for mooring, pay for two days get five free. We were only staying for three days but every little bit helps. Avalon had a large Vons market so we stocked up on all the little and not so little things we were sure we would not find in Mexico.

We took a tour of the Casino and Theater we even went to a movie there. It was built in 1927 and we were told the cost was near three million. The lobby of the theater was done in black walnut rail and panels floor to ceiling. The ceiling was curved with a stucco finish with random 22k gold stars. The whole theater was decorated with frescoes depicting the history of the island. The outside lobby was decorated with frescoes of mermaids and seascapes they all were to be done in tile but they ran out of time and just painted the walls. Latter, like 58 years, they did one fresco in the tile it is above the ticket booth and it is a mermaid nude and anatomically correct. Picture attached. Upstairs was the dance floor. It was sixteen thousand sq. ft. in the beginning and had crowds of dancers numbering six thousand. Imagen six thousand swinging to Benny Goodman above Avalon Bay in the hay day. We were also told that a ride over on one of two steamships and a night of dancing would cost around $1.50.

Trick or treat was a blast. The whole town goes in for the season and there are a lot of kids in town so Phoebe was beside herself. We went to town for a early dinner one of only a few since leaving home.(budget) Then it was dark enough to go for it. The residents were sitting on their steps with buckets of candy and every one drives a golf cart so there was little or no traffic. In an hour the girl was satisfied with her haul so at 7:15 we set off for the Coral marina in Ensenada.

The trip to the Coral was not so smooth. We had mixed seas, swell from two directions at different intervals, and no moon with patchy fog. I took the first watch and was re leaved by Patti at midnight or so but she had only slept a little due to the swell. I didn't fare any better with maybe two hours sleep. I was up around 5 am and then we both stayed up until we got to the marina. Travel time was seventeen hours eight minutes. We even had company from the Mexican Navy. They cam up behind us in a fifty foot aluminum fast boat. They must have been doing thirty knots. They slowed down about one hundred yards off out port beam and admired out bow for a bit then like a bullet they took off. They were out of sight in less than two minutes, very cool.

We got our visas today and are leaving for the trip down the coast of Baja on Tuesday as there has been a mixed swill for the last four days. We have planed our trip down with daily stops except for the leg to Cabo. That leg will be almost two hundred miles as we will not be stopping in Cabo. Due to waiting for weather we have managed to be here for the start of the Baja 1000 off road race. Many of the top teams have taken over the hotel here and the parking areas are full of very fast off road toys with huge support staff. also very cool. So while we are here we go to town on non cruise ship days.A bus to town is two dollars for the three of us cabs want seven. Then a short walk from the bus station we can catch another bus to the China Mart, or Costco. They are both at the end of town and have more employees than customers. Costco did have one of Pattis medications no scrip needed and half the cost. Then we take a cab back for only $8. Two tier pricing near the harbor opposed to away

We will be away from internet for a couple weeks so this will most likely be our last note before the first of January. PP&J