S/V Loomba-Loomba

We arrived in Santa Rosalia early enough in the day on May 21st to take a look around the town.  It was built by a french mining company (copper) so most of the buildings are built out of wood with a French/New Orleans flair - quite different from the adobe or cement block you see elsewhere. Their church was even designed by Gustav Eiffel! The mining company has not operated for several decades and the town looks a little economically depressed. Apparently the mine is reopening in a few years and has already started hiring so things are looking up for Santa Rosalia.  Santa Rosalia is definitely not on the tourist circuit. It is just a friendly and interesting working town. In fact, there are so few "norteamericanos" (tourists or residents) that everyone we meet just seems to know we are on a boat. Very refreshing! Loomba-Loomba at the 12 boat Marina Santa Rosalia. There is wifi on the boat! View from the dock - many abandoned buildings along the waterfront. A fi...

Well, I've tried everything and can't seem to upload videos taken with the new underwater camera, which is a shame because we have some great underwater shots swimming with the whale sharks. Perhaps it's the setting on the camera, but I have to study the book and figure it out - so for now I've given up on the videos. Maybe when we get to Puerto Escondid???????

May 14: We spent one night at Punta Pulpito before heading north to Bahia Concepcion. Heading into Punta Pulpito. Exploring the sea caves at Pulpito. Morning light in Punta Pulpito We had a great trip up to Bahia Concepcion – motoring part of the way until the wind picked up and we could sail.  We arrived in Playa Santispac in Bahia Concepcion about 3 PM on May 15th with 20 knot northerlies. Seems there is an afternoon breeze every day that dies down in the evening.  While in Santispac we hitchhiked into Mulege (14 miles) to buy some supplies and hit an internet café, explored El Burro Cove and Bahia Coyote in the dinghy, went to Ana’s restaurant on the beach for dinner,  and spent lots of time watching  several whale sharks that circled around the boats anchored in the bay. They are so big and gentle! View of Playa Santispac from Hwy 1 Ana's Restaurant on Playa Santispac serves a wicked margarita and great chile rellenos Mulege church ...

After getting water, fuel, and gasoline we left Puerto Escondido on May 4 th at 10am  and arrived in the SW anchorage of Isla Coronados at 1:30.  It was a beautiful anchorage, but the water was pretty cold and the bee population was a problem so we left early the next morning for Caleta San Juanico. We had some good sailing from Coronados to San Juanico and arrived to find a big Cinco de Mayo party going on.  Apparently it is an annual event put on by the gringo community in Loreto.  Lots of boats, tents, music, water toys, food and drink. They set up a huge buffet lunch and invited the three cruising boats that were here. Cinco de Mayo Celebration going on in San Juanico when we arrived Most of the Loreto crew left on Friday  and we had the bay pretty much to ourselves until 3 other cruisers (including Journey and Full Quiver) arrived in the afternoon.  Morning view from the cockpit in San Juanico As the week progressed more boats...

Sunrise in the anchorage in Puerto Escondido We arrived in Puerto Escondido on the 26 th of April along with lots of other boats. Loretofest takes place here from the 29 th through May 1. It is a huge cruiser’s rally and is a fundraiser for the schools in Loreto. There were approximately 200 boats in the three anchorages in Puerto Escondido. Most of the boats (including Loomba-Loomba) were on numbered mooring buoys. Puerto Escondido is about the only place that can handle that many boats.  Loretofest activities were just getting underway. The Loretofest activities included games, seminars, potlucks, music, dancing, raffles, auctions, refreshments and a blindfolded dinghy race.      Dinghy docks are usually crowded, but this gets the prize! View of the Puerto Escondido Anchorage  One day we rented a car with Gerry and Gail on Moshulu and went to Loreto for the day to go to a grocery store and chandlery and explore a little of the area. View f...