We have been back at the boat for nearly a week now, in La Paz, Baja, Mexico. We are happy to report that the people of La Paz are doing well and the only COVID mandates that appear to be in place are; masking indoors and at restaurants/bars before seating. The staff in all service industries are still required to wear masks, as well. The malecon and all beaches have reopened and charter boats and tours are all running again. We were also thankful to see that the boat and it’s canvases were in good condition after the strong winds of the previous week. We thought we were taking a stroll down easy street for about 24 hours and then Larry noticed that our raw water intake strainer had sprung a leak…not so easy. We spent the day chasing down a replacement part and then Larry thankfully got the part installed that same day. This normally would not be such a big deal but we can not run our air conditioning without this strainer and it is currently 95 degrees in La Paz. Larry earned his cerveza that day! With that project completed we decide to take the boat out and get our sea-legs back and make sure all systems are functioning properly. We take a short run (7 NM) over to a pretty harbor called Puerto Balandra and anchor for the night. We did a little snorkel and took the tender out to the local palapa bar and came back and had a nice dinner on the boat. It was wonderful to get back out on the water even for a short trip. Tomorrow we take the boat to a local boatyard to get the bottom painted. We will be on site for the next five long, hot days…I think there will be a Captain’s Post coming soon…

Happy to be back in beautiful La Paz…Independence Day was September 16th…Viva Mexico! Image courtesy of Office Holidays Ltd.

My eco-guide points out the turtle nests on our local beach at Costabaja. The nests are netted and fenced to protect them from predators and reckless humans

Turtle tracks to her nest…soon to be better protected with nets and fencing

Don’t forget to do the ‘Stingray Shuffle’ while entering the water

Just a little picnic on the beach…(our marina is in the background)

That troublesome raw water intake strainer…Larry is sure to do a Captain’s post regarding this adventure.

Independence sporting her new window shades

The saguaro cactus and green plants look very happy after all the recent rain

Beautiful rock formations with Independence in the distance

The well-visited ‘mushroom rock “El Hongo” in the distance

A not so distant cerveza at palapa bar Isla Partida

Palapa bars and happy Independence Day revelers

Chile relleno con mariscos at a favorite restaurant ‘The Bismarck’…(thanks to Rob & Sharron Grant for keeping my cerveza cold!)