Barra de Navidad to Banderas Bay, Including Bahia Tenecatita (Cruising with Friends)
February 2010
Vacation Time!!! For those who think that 'cruising' is all 'vacation'.... uh, it's not. It's a lifestyle that involves maintaining (fixing) the boat and doing regular chores like laundry, shopping, bill paying, etc. All on a mobile platform that we call a boat. Sure, we visit, socialize, sightsee and swim... but these activities are intermixed with our regular life tasks. 'Vacation' really started when Bob joined us in Zihuatenejo, but that also involved structured activities with Sailfest. As Roger and Diane Severson join us for two weeks we put our 'project box' away. Nothing... read: nothing is planned. OK, margaritas, swimming, sailing, and sightseeing are planned... but we think we can handle that.
With apologies to Bob, we leave Zihuat in a hurry as another weather front is expected... and it's 24-hours to Barra de Navidad where we'll meet Roger and Diane. Most of the trip was fine, but got hung up in a bit of a squall as we approached Barra. Once safely inside the lagoon (lots of sandbars to avoid... hence the name: Barra), we drop anchor. We discover that friends on SV Castaway and SV Periclees are also in the lagoon.
Our guests arrive and we enjoy the luxury of having french pastries (delivered to the boat, of course) for breakfast, walks on the beach, and sightseeing.
After a couple of days, we head over to Bahia Tenecatita. And absoultely wonderful anchorage. We'll definately be back. The rough life of swimming (water is about 85 degrees), hiking, and enjoying life. And a few margaritas.
After a few days, we get word that another weather front is expected... and that we ought to head north. Now. So we pull anchor and do a non-stop 24-hours to Banderas Bay. Destination: La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, a small town about a 45-minute bus ride from Puerto Vallarta. The agenda in La Cruz includes dinner and dancing at Philo's as well as checking out a few other dining establishments. And special times with friends aboard SV Castaway and Periclees.
Once Roger and Diane leave, it's back to work in getting Victoria Rose ready for a Pacific crossing.... so we concentrated on enjoying ourselves.
Thanks to Roger and Diane for most of these pictures... for some reason I couldn't focus most of the time :-)
We run into a squall as we approach Barra. On the radar screen, we're the middle dot, land is on the right and the squall is the big blob on the left. It stretches out 8 miles.
We decide to anchor in the lagoon, Barra... or bars, which describes the numerous sandbars one must navigate around. Barra is a nice town.
Victoria Rose at anchor on a quiet morning
Zee French Baker will deliver fresh baguettes, bread and pastries to your boat.
While Barra has a good safe dinghy landing, we would often take a water taxi ashore. Only 10 pesos each way (about 80 cents). The views on the trip into town are fantastic.
The bay, Bahia de Navidad (Christmas Bay) has a nice beach and decent surf.
Mexico has many inexpensive restaurants with really good food. This was our favorite in Barra
We take the bus into Melaque for grocery shopping and to find a bank. Backpacks are essential for us to get the purchases back to the boat.
We like the small family operated food stands. Here a full seafood meal costs less than a Whopper and coke. And tastes significantly better.
Bahia Tenacatita is just around the corner from Navidad. It quickly became a favorite anchorage. The water is clear and about 85 degrees, and the scenery is stunning. And minimal bugs.
Several boats got together and decided to travel up the lagoon
The dinghy trip up the channel is quite scenic. Some of the cruising books bill this as a 'jungle trip'. Not as much wildlife as in San Blas, but still quite nice.
Small town at the end where you can get basic groceries. And beer. Not sure what brewery sponsors this town....
We loved the vistas from viewpoint. The water, beach, and town are quite scenic
The 'Corona' beer signs are still quite visible from a distance. Hmmm... maybe we'll head down to the beach for a ..... beer
'Weather' often dictates when we leave or where we go. Another front is coming in, so we weigh anchor and head towards Banderas Bay. Roger catches some of the coastline and a lighthouse. We planned for about a 24-hour non-stop passage
Victoria Rose under full sail trying to make it to La Cruz before dark
Roger catches another perfect sunset in Banderas Bay
After a month at anchor, we decided to take a slip in the marina. We plan to attend classes here and prepare for the South Pacific crossing. Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is especially nice.
A regatta and sailboat races will take place over the next week. Here, one of racers goes aground outside the marina
Uh, Steve... there's folks with automatic weapons at the bow of your boat...... And more patrol boats in the background
Serious looking folks with electronic thingamajigs and a explosives sniffing dog. Hmmm...
More navy patrol boats enter the marina... what's going on?? More armed folks on the docks.
Lots of helicopters flying around the marina this morning. You'd think the President or someone was coming...
I guess he is!! Mexico's President Calderon heading out to do the 'official' start of the races. Nice to have a president who likes sailing
We head off into town to explore a bit...
We find a realllly good restaurant where dinners are $9.99. And they have free tequila!! Whoaaaaa.....
One of the nice things about cruising is the great friends we make. Here we have dinner aboard SV Periclees
Any trip to La Cruz means the mandatory trip to Philo's bar. A favorite cruisers hangout.
Good music and dancing. GO Roger and Diane!!
And of course... Leon!! And his washboard. Absolutely fantastic!!
The 'vacation' comes to a close. Tomorrow we start work again...
SV Victoria Rose
SV Victoria Rose
Tayana 37 # 384
