We decided to go for a good hike up the hills, on the ridge, on the south side of Isla San Francisco. We started from a different point than last year, as we met our friends Sherilyn and George of s/v Believe on the beach, and walked with them for a while. We said goodbye, and started our trek uphill. The views are just amazing, and we just kept going. At some point I found an old diary with a pencil box attached sitting under a rock, and other hikers had added their names. Without knowing what was yet to come, I happily added some thoughts and names, and marched on. And then there comes a moment when the barely existent trail becomes non existent. Tessa is happily climbing and talking, but Tod and I are looking at each other with confusion. We had walked for a good hour now, on a rocky ridge, where a misstep would not be beneficial (to put it mildly) and where you have no medical help if you need it. Going back the same way did not look very appealing. We opted to continue, and for the next 30 minutes we used hands and feet, and climbed over the top of the ridge, with no room for error. Tessa is a born hiker/climber, and I see many climbing/hiking expeditions with Tod in her future. I, with my high center of gravity, love hiking, but do not like these kinds of challenging climbs (and at one point swore to Tod that I couldn't proceed; and later that I won't do this again). But, we made it without scratches, and combined with a snorkeling outing in the afternoon with our friends, Tod started his 6th decade well.
Saving the best (?) for last....We were waiting out a storm front in the anchorage of La Paz. Tod stored the dinghy and other items above deck more securely, and was about to set up our anchor alarm. He just went down below for a couple of minutes, where Tessa and I were playing. He goes back in the cockpit, and I hear him yell "We have a problem! Come up now!". I run up to see Bliss a boat length away from shore pilings. We dragged anchor for the first time in our life, and it wasn't looking good! Adrenaline kicked in, I started the engine (tip: keep engine key in the control panel), as Tod ran to the bow to raise our anchor. For the next few minutes we worked hard to save our boat and home. The wind has piped up some more, the current running about 4 to 5 knots at the time. We motor away, and re-anchor further away from town, easier said then done with current like that. Since that incident, we have not used our anchor ball/float anymore. Tod's theory is that due to the way he was attaching the anchor ball to the chain (instead of to the shank of the anchor as we did last year), the anchor float caused enough upward force on the chain to prevent the anchor from resetting in big current changes we experience in La Paz.
Ok, that's all for now, folks! Tod is filleting a sierra right now, for which he traded gasoline with a local fisherman. The scenery, and swimming (with a full lycra suit for me!) in the Sea has been great again. We will soon go to shore to burn our paper trash, as there are no garbage bins in the remote parts of the Sea. Plastic trash has to wait till we arrive in a town in a few weeks (where we will have internet again as well).
Sorry, only one picture since we are posting this by radio at less than 1000 bytes per minute!
But such a fabulous picture and a terrific place to begin your 50's! Glad your event-filled day ended safely. Stay safe!
ReplyDelete