Our stay in Barra continues to be wonderful. Tim and Constance showed up on Lady Midnight along with David and Margaret on Heart and Soul - all people that we have met along the way. Tim had visitors from Victoria so there was a lot of social activity going on around the pool and on their boat.The last couple of days have been a lot windier but we are planning on heading out tomorrow.
I forgot to mention the fact that the President of Mexico visited the resort while we were here. He had a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture to discuss repairs to the shoreline following the hurricane in 2012. There was a lot of preparation for his 2 hour visit - no one could leave the marina with their boat, the navy was guarding the entrance and Mexican secret service were walking around the pool. We saw the 3 helicopters land, including the one decoy but we did not actually see the President. But we figured if this place was good enough for him it was good enough for us.
BA doing laps! Drinks at pool side!
A deserted house on the point.
I forgot to mention the fact that the President of Mexico visited the resort while we were here. He had a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture to discuss repairs to the shoreline following the hurricane in 2012. There was a lot of preparation for his 2 hour visit - no one could leave the marina with their boat, the navy was guarding the entrance and Mexican secret service were walking around the pool. We saw the 3 helicopters land, including the one decoy but we did not actually see the President. But we figured if this place was good enough for him it was good enough for us.
It is probably a good thing as this croissant a day thing has to stop!
The water tanks have been filled. The bottom of the boat has been cleaned and the zincs replaced. Some of the varnish has been spruced up thanks to David. And I am even fitter than when I arrived.
Below are some more pictures of the resort and marina. Yes we have been living the life of the rich and famous. Too bad we are not rich nor famous but we are happy!
BA doing laps! Drinks at pool side!
The French Baker
A view of the marina from the hotel. Our boat is on the left - 6th one in.
We had a difficult time leaving the marina and seemed to find any kind of excuse possible to delay our departure. David still had to confirm delivery and payment of a parts supply order to Manzanillo. Then the winds picked up well over twenty knots and the seas were quite choppy. But enough was enough. It felt like we were starting to grow roots from the bottom of our feet and people were starting to look way too familiar. So we finally committed to leave on Thursday.
Wednesday night we invited Dave and Margaret from Heart and Soul (Parksville) over for a rib dinner - I splurged and made Mom's ribs with peach salsa - similar to her chili sauce - and St. Joe's Island maple syrup. They tasted just like Mom's! They will be leaving tomorrow and we will probably meet up with them again in Santiago.
0900: last call with the French baker. I sent David over to dock 8 with a list - almond croissant, raisin Danish, baguette and key lime tarts. No more French baker for a while so I wanted to stock up! Several people were leaving today and as a result there was actually a line up on our dock.
1000: Margaret and Dave gave us some assistance leaving the dock. A current had the potential to push us onto our neighbour's boat so we asked them to give us a hand. David always goes through the what if scenarios every time we come into or leave the dock. That is a good thing! But then we actually go to leave and he is so good at handling the boat that none of the what ifs ever materialize. You would think he was parking a Volkswagen bug!
Wind was on our nose and the seas were a little choppy. The strong northerlies that we had been experiencing had turned and were now about 5 knots from the SSE. So it was motoring for us.
1300: I made a light lunch with our fresh baguette, Swiss cheese and tomatoes.
1430: dropped the anchor in a quiet cove called Ensenada Carrizal. It is totally undeveloped but the book says it is a great place for snorkeling. I was looking forward to putting on the gear and getting into the water. The anchorage was nice enough but the water was quite grungy - no swimming for me. Another boat from Barra - the Crackling Rose - also came into the anchorage. Looks like they were not going to go in the water either. So we spent a laid back afternoon reading our books, having a siesta and writing this entry.
I think dinner will be left over chicken/mango curry. Then maybe we will play some crib. David has been on a roll - he still has not caught up to me but he is starting to make me nervous! The other night he even skunked me. Now what is that all about?
We stayed for a couple of nights at which point Heart and Soul caught up to us. Swimming was still not too great so we both opted to leave for Santiago the next day. Interesting looking rock as we entered the bay at Santiago - called Elephant Rock. Can you see the elephant's head in the rock?
We got our marine order without too much hassle but it was expensive. The cost of duty and shipping was a third of the entire cost. ouch! We got the part to repair the wind vane so we will not have to hang a weight from the lower rudder. We also got a three part water filter system that we can attach to the dock water and purify it ourselves so we will not have to buy water anymore. The system has a 1 micron filter, a half micron filter and an ultraviolet filter to kill the remaining bad guys! We also got two rebuild kits for our head so guess what David is doing tomorrow.!
Shared a taxi with Margaret and Dave to reprovision. We dropped the boys off at the marine store and we went to Home Depot and the grocery store.
Shared a taxi with Margaret and Dave to reprovision. We dropped the boys off at the marine store and we went to Home Depot and the grocery store.
We met a guy over the radio from Red Deer. David gave him some information about obtaining fuel. Ended up joining him for dinner on shore. It was a nice evening until we headed back to the boat. Let's just say the dinghy launch did not go so smooth this time. I took a bit of a wallup on my knee and shoulder - nothing broken - just some major bruising! My left knee bulged out like a balloon. But no water on the outboard.
Knee was pretty sore the next day but I was fortunate enough to have my own physiotherapist. Margaret looked at it and my shoulder. She said I prbably bruised the bursa in my knee but did not break the knee cap. Recommended ice and rest. So I did not get to join them as they climbed up the hill! But here are a few pictures that they took.
A deserted house on the point.
Had a fantastic Spaghetti Boulanaise on Heart and Soul one night. And fajitas on our boat another night. All in all we had a great time with David and Margaret. We wish them fair seas on their next big adventure as this is the first time for both of them to be truly offshore. It is a bout a 3-4 week crossing to the Galapagos. With any luck we will be in Panama when them come north and then east through the canal. If so we will be their line handlers but no sense making any commitment as there are too many factors and time between now and then. But if it is meant to be it will happen.
We are now retuning to Barra as our friend Fran is flying in from Toronto on Monday. The fun continues!
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