There is not many choices if we don't want to use an overnight sailing to reach a protected anchorage from LOS CABOS and with an early start the first landfall is "LOS FRAILES" , 50+ miles away with a good chance to tack for the last 15 miles. We ll approach LA PAZ with another classical anchorage ENSENADA DE LOS MUERTOS and one third stage a bit more out of the beaten path during N wind: The Sandspit west of CERRALVO ISLAND.
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| LOS FRAILES is the gate of the sea of Cortez: "Cactus Sun n Clearwater", that what we expect here ! |
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| Folowing this local guy, the 4 next pictures are a panoramic from S to W |
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| This safe anchorage is pretty busy: anybody wait for the right conditions to sail to mexican mainland or LA PAZ... |
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| LOS FRAILES offer also a lot of space for locals visiting from the land... |
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| ...A bit of exercise to climb this small hill among the agressive bush but the result is rewarding... |
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| with a view on Sierra LA TRINIDAD on the west side. |
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| down to the sea level again, on the shore of the drying rio, |
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| This is what you can find, but back to sailing, other creatures wait for us |
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| To reach this second stage ENSENADA DE LOS MUERTOS choice is often tacking in a northern...or motorsailing. |
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| Not glorious...As 35 years ago, easiest shots of these guys are done in local garbage dumps... |
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| North of Ensenada of los Muertos are 24h/24h guarded private properties... |
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| More that 150 solar panels (= around 40 000 watts ! we live with Helena- including the watermaker with 800 watts.) |
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| We have a christmas celebration with Kate and Ed...new cruisers but... |
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| ...around 30 years ago, Ed spent 83 days to join USA and Hawai , alone...on a kayak ! |
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| East cape skies... |
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| ...sometimes not as clear as we imagine |
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| 3rd n last stop of ALCYONE before LA PAZ: CERRALVO island sandspit, a bit limit by northern about confort... |
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| The North windward side of the sandspit is like an open air waiting room... |
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| ...for families of local scavengers.. |
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| Imagine such a fantastic soaring bird with another head ! |
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| Pure wood natural (?) carving |
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| The leeward side is also exposed to the fierce north wind and this create strange geologic formations... |
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| ...kind of "Cheminee de fee"at a very small scale as this is a few cm high ! |
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| These flowers love this living cactus... |
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| This strange local guy love dead cactus... |
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| a pity that an investor closed all the area with a fence...with numerous adds |
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| hoping that an hotel buy this land, but...we are in a pure desert... |
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| ...water is more than scarce and we can hope this beautiful place will remain open for pangas n cruisers for long ! |