March 7th to March 11, 2011 – Santa Rosalia
When the wind changed direction on Monday morning we made our way out of the cove and set the sails for Santa Rosalia. We had a grand sail, just enough wind to keep the sails full and our speed up, and not quite enough to heel way over. Perfect!
Karina C had passed us in the cove a few minutes earlier and we caught the tail end of the VHF conversations about a sailing vessel finding a decapitated body in the water, and standing by waiting for the Mexican Navy. I am sure glad it wasn’t me that found it!!!!
We arrived at the little dock in Santa Rosalia and took the last slip in the tiny marina. I was a little disconcerted about the condition of the docks and the clubhouse, but the people were helpful and friendly and we were soon making ourselves at home.
Our friends on Cantem Para Mi, and Karina C took slips in the Singlar Marina a few blocks away, and Ian and Diane of Salish Sea anchored behind us. We are alongside Lee, on Patience. We had met him in Balandra Bay when the fish camp had caught fire. He had been the lone firefighter there that was worried about Aleydabeth while we were out hiking. Aka came in a day later in very rough seas and a northern blow. Glad we travelled when we did.
We got to know some of the sailors who had been here for a while and met up with Tony and Pat aboard the Schooner “Forbes and Cameron”. Tony built the huge wooden schooner on Vancouver Island and they have been sailing in Mexico for two seasons. Tony used to do the TV weather from the harbour aboard his wooden boat! They are both musicians and we were treated to a wonderful evening of folk music at the little clubhouse where we partied with all the other sailors. It seemed like such a nice ending to our Mexico adventure to share time with the friends we have made along the way, in such a nice way.
We had preceded the music by a potluck in the cockpit of Aleydabeth and we were crowded in. Lyle took a video of all our sailing friends aboard, Fran and Ed from Aka, Phil and Janet from Cantem Para Mi, Lee from Patience, Ian and Diane from Salish Sea, Jay and Anita from Karina C, It was a mean northerly blowing outside and Lyle had made a cozy sheltered cockpit by zipping the biminy on. What fun to be a part of such a wonderful community of people.
Everything at this marina runs on the honour system, so you just mark down the services you use on a sheet and you are charged at the end of your stay….including the cold beer in the fridge! The shower was sketchy, but very warm and our laundry was taken away and returned clean and folded for a pittance!
We toured the little town. A French copper mining company operated here from the turn of the century until after World War 2, when they sold their interests to Mexico. The smelter continued to operate until the 80s. There is a museum here with many artifacts and a real effort to resurrect the town’s history is being undertaken. The most interesting building is the church that was designed by “Eiffel” of the Eiffel tower in Paris. It is a metal church that was sent over in pieces and reconstructed in Santa Rosalia, is still standing and has an active congregation.
We had a wonderful breakfast on the terrace of the old Hotel Frances, which still looks as it did in the early 1900s. Lyle walked and toured the dilapidated remains of the old smelter and the caretaker toured him through, and seemed pleased to do so.
Today is Friday March 11th and we are sitting in the harbour waiting for permission to leave to make our crossing to Guaymas. The harbour has been closed due to the Tsunami warnings issued along the west coast. Lee has spoken to his wife in Oregon and they are still seeing surges that are sinking boats and damaging harbors along the coast. Apparently the docks at Crescent City have been completely destroyed. We are trying to keep up with the news on the internet, but apparently Japan has been very hard hit. At this point the Sea of Cortez has seen, and is not really expecting to see much of an impact.
When the wind changed direction on Monday morning we made our way out of the cove and set the sails for Santa Rosalia. We had a grand sail, just enough wind to keep the sails full and our speed up, and not quite enough to heel way over. Perfect!
Karina C had passed us in the cove a few minutes earlier and we caught the tail end of the VHF conversations about a sailing vessel finding a decapitated body in the water, and standing by waiting for the Mexican Navy. I am sure glad it wasn’t me that found it!!!!
We arrived at the little dock in Santa Rosalia and took the last slip in the tiny marina. I was a little disconcerted about the condition of the docks and the clubhouse, but the people were helpful and friendly and we were soon making ourselves at home.
Our friends on Cantem Para Mi, and Karina C took slips in the Singlar Marina a few blocks away, and Ian and Diane of Salish Sea anchored behind us. We are alongside Lee, on Patience. We had met him in Balandra Bay when the fish camp had caught fire. He had been the lone firefighter there that was worried about Aleydabeth while we were out hiking. Aka came in a day later in very rough seas and a northern blow. Glad we travelled when we did.
We got to know some of the sailors who had been here for a while and met up with Tony and Pat aboard the Schooner “Forbes and Cameron”. Tony built the huge wooden schooner on Vancouver Island and they have been sailing in Mexico for two seasons. Tony used to do the TV weather from the harbour aboard his wooden boat! They are both musicians and we were treated to a wonderful evening of folk music at the little clubhouse where we partied with all the other sailors. It seemed like such a nice ending to our Mexico adventure to share time with the friends we have made along the way, in such a nice way.
We had preceded the music by a potluck in the cockpit of Aleydabeth and we were crowded in. Lyle took a video of all our sailing friends aboard, Fran and Ed from Aka, Phil and Janet from Cantem Para Mi, Lee from Patience, Ian and Diane from Salish Sea, Jay and Anita from Karina C, It was a mean northerly blowing outside and Lyle had made a cozy sheltered cockpit by zipping the biminy on. What fun to be a part of such a wonderful community of people.
Everything at this marina runs on the honour system, so you just mark down the services you use on a sheet and you are charged at the end of your stay….including the cold beer in the fridge! The shower was sketchy, but very warm and our laundry was taken away and returned clean and folded for a pittance!
We toured the little town. A French copper mining company operated here from the turn of the century until after World War 2, when they sold their interests to Mexico. The smelter continued to operate until the 80s. There is a museum here with many artifacts and a real effort to resurrect the town’s history is being undertaken. The most interesting building is the church that was designed by “Eiffel” of the Eiffel tower in Paris. It is a metal church that was sent over in pieces and reconstructed in Santa Rosalia, is still standing and has an active congregation.
We had a wonderful breakfast on the terrace of the old Hotel Frances, which still looks as it did in the early 1900s. Lyle walked and toured the dilapidated remains of the old smelter and the caretaker toured him through, and seemed pleased to do so.
Today is Friday March 11th and we are sitting in the harbour waiting for permission to leave to make our crossing to Guaymas. The harbour has been closed due to the Tsunami warnings issued along the west coast. Lee has spoken to his wife in Oregon and they are still seeing surges that are sinking boats and damaging harbors along the coast. Apparently the docks at Crescent City have been completely destroyed. We are trying to keep up with the news on the internet, but apparently Japan has been very hard hit. At this point the Sea of Cortez has seen, and is not really expecting to see much of an impact.