Mulege and Bahia Concepcion – Saturday February 27 to Sunday March 6, 2011
We went ashore on Monday March 1 and waited for Russ, the owner of Anna’s Restaurant to take us into Mulege. A thriving poker game was starting up at around noon, and broke up only upon our return from town at about 5 pm.
MULEGE is a small Mexican town with a few services and tiendas. We bought some provisions, and are really starting to cut back supplies now, as we see the end of the journey in sight. We walked the streets of town and found an internet café, where we caught up our email. We tried to visit the old prison (now a museum) but it was closed in the afternoon, I assume for siesta. The old mission sits on the banks of the river and is still active. Mulege is different from other towns along the Baja because of the river’s proximity, which provides water for a lush palm lined landscape. There were a few touristy stores.
Again, we see the effects of a gringo population. Along the beaches are small communities of homes and condominiums where Americans and Canadians have purchased property. Lots and housing still seems very high priced in spite of the recession. I don’t think Mexico yet believes that the gringos will stop buying Mexican beach homes. In my opinion they will certainly have to adjust their prices.
We had a good lunch in a great Gringo pub, where all the faces were American or Canadian. Our friend Ed aboard AKA, (an American originally from Florida, then Hawaii) tells folks at home that he is “embedded with Canadians”- and instead of shock and awe, it’s “aw shucks and gee whiz!” There are Canadian sailboats everywhere and BC license plates on every shore. We know more people from the island here, than we do on the island!
We joined the crews of AKA and Can Tem Para Mi and celebrated a birthday party at Anna’s for Phil from Calgary. I wrote them a little poem and Lyle gave him an Aleydabeth hat. It was fun and they appreciated our efforts I think. Janet and Phil from Calgary, came aboard and had coffee with us this morning. They provided great tips on stores to visit in Calgary including the tent and awning store for sumbrella.
We hiked up a trail off of El Burro cove in search of petroglyphys, but were unable to find any. The trail however was a beautiful rocky incline that took us to grand views above the bay and out to sea. We met up with Jay and Anita from Karina C on the trail and spent a night aboard Karina C with them playing Hearts. We plan a revenge match tonight, as Lyle was a clear winner and we are all feeling vengeful!
Last night we joined the locals at Anna’s for live music and dancing, then returned to the cockpit and a star studded sky and warm evening.
Yesterday the mercury got to 82 degrees. This is the Mexico that I thought I would be visiting! I spent the day on deck in the sun reading a good book, while Ed and Lyle chatted in the cockpit about mechanics and sailing. The wind is up again, and we can’t move on until it subsides a bit, or we will be running hard against it to the next anchorage. I am learning patience on this voyage if nothing else!
We hope to move on again on Sunday, and I suspect it will be a flotilla going out, as AKA, Cantem Para Mi, and Karina C are all headed north towards Santa Rosalia with us!
I have been typing today, recording information on all the work we must do to Aleydabeth, before leaving her behind. She is being hauled out of the water in either San Carlos or Guaymas on the mainland, and stored until we return. It will be a good week or two of preparation to get her safe and settled.
Then we will head north by bus and cross the border into Arizona, probably by late March or early April. I think it is time for me to find my way home. My thoughts are turning there more and more.
We went ashore on Monday March 1 and waited for Russ, the owner of Anna’s Restaurant to take us into Mulege. A thriving poker game was starting up at around noon, and broke up only upon our return from town at about 5 pm.
MULEGE is a small Mexican town with a few services and tiendas. We bought some provisions, and are really starting to cut back supplies now, as we see the end of the journey in sight. We walked the streets of town and found an internet café, where we caught up our email. We tried to visit the old prison (now a museum) but it was closed in the afternoon, I assume for siesta. The old mission sits on the banks of the river and is still active. Mulege is different from other towns along the Baja because of the river’s proximity, which provides water for a lush palm lined landscape. There were a few touristy stores.
Again, we see the effects of a gringo population. Along the beaches are small communities of homes and condominiums where Americans and Canadians have purchased property. Lots and housing still seems very high priced in spite of the recession. I don’t think Mexico yet believes that the gringos will stop buying Mexican beach homes. In my opinion they will certainly have to adjust their prices.
We had a good lunch in a great Gringo pub, where all the faces were American or Canadian. Our friend Ed aboard AKA, (an American originally from Florida, then Hawaii) tells folks at home that he is “embedded with Canadians”- and instead of shock and awe, it’s “aw shucks and gee whiz!” There are Canadian sailboats everywhere and BC license plates on every shore. We know more people from the island here, than we do on the island!
We joined the crews of AKA and Can Tem Para Mi and celebrated a birthday party at Anna’s for Phil from Calgary. I wrote them a little poem and Lyle gave him an Aleydabeth hat. It was fun and they appreciated our efforts I think. Janet and Phil from Calgary, came aboard and had coffee with us this morning. They provided great tips on stores to visit in Calgary including the tent and awning store for sumbrella.
We hiked up a trail off of El Burro cove in search of petroglyphys, but were unable to find any. The trail however was a beautiful rocky incline that took us to grand views above the bay and out to sea. We met up with Jay and Anita from Karina C on the trail and spent a night aboard Karina C with them playing Hearts. We plan a revenge match tonight, as Lyle was a clear winner and we are all feeling vengeful!
Last night we joined the locals at Anna’s for live music and dancing, then returned to the cockpit and a star studded sky and warm evening.
Yesterday the mercury got to 82 degrees. This is the Mexico that I thought I would be visiting! I spent the day on deck in the sun reading a good book, while Ed and Lyle chatted in the cockpit about mechanics and sailing. The wind is up again, and we can’t move on until it subsides a bit, or we will be running hard against it to the next anchorage. I am learning patience on this voyage if nothing else!
We hope to move on again on Sunday, and I suspect it will be a flotilla going out, as AKA, Cantem Para Mi, and Karina C are all headed north towards Santa Rosalia with us!
I have been typing today, recording information on all the work we must do to Aleydabeth, before leaving her behind. She is being hauled out of the water in either San Carlos or Guaymas on the mainland, and stored until we return. It will be a good week or two of preparation to get her safe and settled.
Then we will head north by bus and cross the border into Arizona, probably by late March or early April. I think it is time for me to find my way home. My thoughts are turning there more and more.