IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME

Yesterday morning we weighed anchor ( which means pulling up the anchor, which by the way I do as we do not have a wind lass—I am it!) I do enjoy it as it is a great upper body work out! We made our way to Porto Escondido, which is 14 miles from Loreto. Check your maps as we are now in the Central section of the Baja Peninsula heading towards the north as the Sea lies. I had imagined it as a huge body of water and now see it as not so big. We can usually see the land of the peninsula on our port side and many many islands, islas ……….at times you can see the main land of Mexico in the far distance. Usually that is very vague as it is probably over 100 miles away. The mountains continue to change and are getting more rugged and steeper in appearance. Most of it is very volcanic so very desolate. (I do continue to miss the beauty of our green mountains of home!) These are beautiful in their own way………….and are getting redder in color which makes for magnificent sun sets!

The last while since you heard from us we have been slowly sailing up the Sea and stopping at many small villages; this is part of the experience we have been waiting for. Our days include lots of hiking which is such a treat………….as sailors we always enjoy stretching our legs and this exercise also affords us great site seeing and Kodak opportunities. The trees are so different and there are more palm trees. As I said the ground is very volcanic and the rock formations are amazing! I have taken a few pictures so that you can see what I mean.

On many of our walks we get to meet the villagers and perhaps find a teinda- a store. We joke among us that we are going to the "mall"!!! These little stores are most often in the front part of someone's home and offer the bare minimum of products: lots of canned goods, packaged products and a few tomatoes, potatoes, onions, sometimes garlic and cucs and if your are fortunate avocadoes and bananas. The lettuce is usually not worth buying. Eggs are always present and usually lots of junk food! Go figure hey? These villages are far and few between and some are just very small fishing camps as you can see from the pictures………..love the bright colors they paint their little homes with!!!


 
Here on the WhiteShell we are blessed with a large refrigerator and freezer so have a lot of meat that we purchase in the bigger cities so have not had to buy local stuff. Between Claes' fishing, the canning that our daughters sent us off with and my bread making and creative cooking we are doing well in that department. A lot of places do not have alcohol so we either come stocked up don't drink—neither of us seems to be worse for the wear!!!! Getting pretty healthy actually! The Captain has learnt to sip his beers.

The weather has been great and as I said getting warmer so our tans are getting darker! The biggest concern is our hair as it seems to get burnt! Instead of being gray we are both turning blonde!!!!! We don't even look our age anymore???? Now all we have to do is figure out how to reshape the " 60 year old bodies"!!!!!! HAHAHA!


 
We are presently motor sailing away from Aqua Verde, one the nicest spots we have visited yet! If it were not for some serious north winds predicted for tomorrow we would have stayed longer. It was such a great spot. The spectacular green waters and different setting was very inviting. There was a village there and lots of hiking and even some fishing! The folks there seemed very productive and organized and their yards, gardens and homes were so well kept, with fenced areas and flowers. Check out the pictures of their Holly Hocks…………………reminded me of mine at Kye Bay! The kids were great and our time there was very fun. We hope to stop on our way back.

Last night we had a beach fire with hot dogs and hot chocolate…………it was great sitting on a rocky beach with the mountains so close that as you looked up the light from the fire created a spectacular ray all to the top and into the sparece trees that sat on the edges.

This area is great for goats and they roam freely all over and baah out to you as you walk along the trails. Saw a few horses as well and even a few pigs…………..like I said this is very productive little village. I was tempted to put down roots and plant a garden and stay awhile!!!!! Could have got them all organized and growing their own veggies!!!!! as they plant mostly flowers????


 
So folks, this will be all for today………….I will post this when I get to the next spot and upload some pictures for you so be sure to check our photo album. I will also update the recipe section and post a belated BIRTHDAY section for Claes.


 
Talk to you soon on Skype if it works!!!


 

 
Lue and Claes and Joey still in the Sea of Cortes