Almost one month later than the famous Rallye BAJA HA HA (a fleet of 150 boats) ALCYONE cross the mexican border. First stop is in ENSENADA s we want to cruise some parts of the pacific coast.

Last time I crossed this border was 37 years before: I was backpacking alone, so happy to come back to cheap n informal MEXICO after a "green tortoise" n hitch hiking trip to San Fransisco. I  remember trying to sleep in the cold under the trees of the road parks, terrified all the night by the police lights...

But now I m like a rich gringo on board of a 53feet catamaran: No way to escape the pricy marina: there is not a lot of queue in the custom office but paperwork seems to be is a pure internal mexican affair where mexicans talk with mexicans. I strongly advise any skipper -even if he speaks spanish-  if he want to shorten the process to berth straight to a marina n let the local staff making the paperwork for you.

End of november, we still use the heater in the morning; the weather is still very calm but we get a low. A nasty weather not because of the strength of the wind, never above 35k, but because of the fast shifts ; this create a problem in our rocky anchorage as impossible to lift the last 100 feet anchor chain before next day in calm conditions: I don't want to dive, neither destroy the winlass with the rough waves up n down...

A transition as we really want to leave the urban life now: we are not passenger of a cruiseship !

One of the biggest nautical store in the world: San Diego's WEST MARINE...better pros than in some other stores !

Morning or evening...this is the color of pacific west coast

Super traction on fishing line... n a long battle start...

...but this time after 1 hour, no way to lift this huge yellowfin !

the same automn light weather push slowly ALCYONE in direction of ENSENADA

This is the border between USA n MEXICO...a wall ?

ENSENADA: Lets anchor outside of the harbour n try to make the paperwork alone with a dinghy ride !

Bad idea: After 2 hours officials ask us to berth in the pricy Marina...

...where ALBERTO from staff did all the process...in  15mn !

Welcome to colorfull and noisy MEXICO !

The impact of cruiseships is strong here and even if I ll not swim in the harbour, all the adjacent area is clean...

restaurants, souvenirs shops, all the local buisness enjoy the cruise ship...

n is obviously oriented to grey hairs...

but as everything is negociable, we can bring the full caddy to the marina

If you like meat, dont' miss "MR PAMPAS"...this place is better n cheaper than many rodizio grills in BRAZIL!

24 hrs of urban life later, we leave n anchor north of PTA ROCCA as a depression arrive; deep n tricky place !