Click images to see more on each area. Mexico Maps shows the geographical layout.
Late January, 2010 - We left San Diego in the morning mist and started our first real voyage (and
fourth excursion) in our new-to-us boat Groovy. Stopping at the small and slightly odd Puerto La
Salina Marina for one night, we arrived at our destination, Hotel Coral & Marina to find a fabulous new
life in a resort waiting for us.
Early February, 2010 - After just one day in our slip at the dock we needed to get out into town for
water and food. What a fun place. Bustling and friendly, we found the streets teeming with activity.
Our first few ventures on foot and in friends' cars took us to the tourist shopping district and the
supermarkets where we found things both familiar and foreign.
Mid-February, 2010 - Ensenada holds one of the largest Carnaval celebrations in Mexico. Similar to
Mardi-Gras, this six-day fiesta features a fabulous parade along with many other events. We were
too excited by the suddenly ideal sailing weather to make it to any Carnaval events other than the
parade, but we thoroughly enjoyed this colorful display.
February-March, 2010 - Many errands and obligations took us across the various US/Mexican
borders in California several times. The seriousness of the newly erected wall and intense border
security is lightened considerably by the crazy border scene of vendors. Relieved to put all this
driving behind us, we found daily excitement simply living at the marina.
March-April, 2010 - Ensenada's bay is a lovely place to sail, and we enjoyed many day sails, usually as
the only sailboat on the water but twice with friends. In just two months we have experienced a lot of
natural wonders, including the mysterious El Nino weather patterns, a tsunami (in absentia) and an
earthquake. The earthquake also led us to find just who is making all that crackling noise under our
boat.
April, 2010 - Ensenada is the finish line for both the Rosarito-Ensenada bicycle race and the Newport
(California)-Ensenada sailboat race. Each a huge event with lots of participants, we enjoyed the mid-
race action of both events and the finish-line revelry of the sailboat race.
May, 2010 - Ensenada continues to serve up delicious surprises. We chat with the dock workers,
trying to master a little Spanish and the elusive chain splice knot. Venturing into town, we discover a
French accent near the grand Santo Tomás wine-tasting rooms, and enjoy two-for-one Thursday
evenings with cruisers at La Vendimia where local vendors keep us hopping off our barstools.
Late May, 2010 - When my mom came to stay for a week, we had an excuse to do more fun tourist
stuff around town. From a Tequila tasting to checking out Hussong's Cantina and seeing La
Bufadora, the area's famous natural blow hole, we had a fun and busy week.
June, 2010 - Ornate, beautiful and dramatic, the Riviera Cultural Center dominates one whole block
of the main street, but until friends introduced us to its hidden Bar Andaluz, the birthplace of the
Margarita, we never knew it was a public building. After a genteel classical guitar and flute concert
there, our marina's parking lot suddenly became host to the top contenders in the testosterone-
ladened Baja 500 off-road race. We were treated to an inside look at 42nd edition of this event.
July 2010 - Returning to the theme of gentility, we took a daytrip a few miles inland to drive along the
Ruta del Vino, Ensenada's famed wine route. Boasting a perfect Mediterranean climate, the Guadalupe
Valley is home to many boutique wineries. We stopped at L.A. Cetto, Mexico's largest and most award
winning winery, and we visited Adobe Guadalupe, a cozy B&B/vineyard built to memorialize the life of
the owner's beloved late son.
July 2010 - Hotel Coral and Marina is a popular stopover point for boaters traveling north and south.
Many fascinating travelers breezed through and shared tales of wonder. Migratory birds and whales
rounded out the personalities we encountered on the water. Ensenada is also home to an active
running community, and Mark entered two terrific local races.
Early August, 2010 - We moved Groovy two miles to the Baja Naval boatyard where it was hauled out of
the water for a bottom paint job and other projects. We quickly learned how to lived in a beached boat
as if it were an RV, and found the workers and work done at the yard very impressive. Back in the
water, we got ready to sail north and said our final goodbyes to Ensenada.
Late October - November, 2010 - We watched the boats leave San Diego on the Baja Ha-Ha rally,
bound for Cabo San Lucas at the bottom of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. A week later it was our
turn. We started alone, occasionally sailing overnight, and stopping frequently. Luck was with us a we
found peaceful anchorages to rest. Soon we buddied up with two other southbound boats.
Mid-November, 2010 - Continuing our sail south along the Baja peninsula's Pacific coast, we went
ashore at Belcher Point in Magdalena Bay. This is a tiny fish camp with just a few lean-to style homes
for the fishermen and their families. The beach was loaded with the remains of all kinds of sea
creatures, and the bay was obviously teeming with live fish, as the panga fishing boats were everywhere
and the fish-eating seabirds weren't far behind.
Late November, 2010 - 17 days in transit from San Diego, with about 800 sea miles covered, we arrived
in Cabo at dawn, following a parade of cruise ships. The city was hopping with tourists playing on the
water and the land. Anchored off the beach that is home to dozens of beautiful resorts, we were
consantly buzzed by jet skis and inadvertently showered by fireworks. On land we discovered a Beatle
crooning taco maker and other unique delights. After a few delightful days we crossed the Sea of
Cortez to Chamela Bay on Mexico's Costa Alegre ("Happy Coast").