Loreto Fest

The Loreto fest is now over and I have had time to rest my knee, so I will try to catch up on the blog. Since I last posted anything, much has transpired. We met a couple who have a beautiful boat on the hard who turned us on to a great restaurant and hotel up the road about ½ mile from Puerto Escondido towards Loreto. Judy and I both consider it to have the best Mexican food we have ever tasted in our life. To top that off, their prices are great too . We had a very enjoyable evening meal with them and later went to their boat and learned a new game played with rectangle cubes, kind of like dominos. Judy had played it before, but I hadn’t. During the evening we all decided to share the cost on a car rental with them in the following days and take a trip to Loreto to get supplies.

The following day everyone had things to do, but the day after everyone was free until three in the afternoon. So we rented a car and off we went for a day in town, which lies fourteen miles north. We went to three tiendas and were surprised that the prices were considerably lower than in La Paz. Actually, everything is less expensive here, including moorage ($10 a day here, $37 a day in La Paz). Not a lot, but every little bit helps. We had a great day running around town and learning the ropes from our new friends. Oh, we stopped at a Wi-Fi coffee shop to use the internet and I have to admit their mocha coffee drinks were excellent. Ordinarily I don’t partake in these overpriced/rated yuppie beverages, but I had to get something to be able to use the Wi-Fi and was glad I did. In fact we went back for another the next day. They were that good.

On our way back, our new friends ( Jake & Cindy ) suggested we stop for a hamburger at a little biker bar named Del Borracho (the drunk) on the way back. I couldn’t believe the burgers were as good as, or better than anything in the states. I mean they were fantastic! We played a few games of pool and as we were leaving, we ran in to the owner who gave us a tour of the place. That included a Mechanical Bull, and a Sand Dragster. The place is very unique with shaped hedges that resemble cars etc. I gave him a photo of my bike to sell and he said he would put it up on his board. The Restaurant is for sale along with the Motel Cottages for $600,000. if anyone is interested. We asked why he was selling it and he said “itchy feet.”

When we arrived back at the Marina we declined an offer to stop by their boat, as we were tired and wanted to get some rest after a long day in town. Jake and Cindy decided not to go back to town the next day, so Judy and I went back alone to explore and to return the car. She bought a couple of nice Mexican dresses that were very inexpensive here and went to the first mission built in Baja in 1697. Then we decided to get some ice cream and wait till the museum opened up. As we sat on a bench eating our cones 3 local boys about 10 years of age skated up and sat on another bench. We asked them what time it was and one boy looked at his old wrist watch and told us (in Spanish) the time. Judy thanked the boy in Spanish and he answered back in a very polite manner “de nada.” Then we watched the boys looking at the ice cream store and commenting about what flavor each would have (if they had the $) So I told Judy to ask them if they wanted some Ice cream and they all squealed “SI!” So I gave them a 200 peso bill (about $18) and as soon as they went into the store we left, so they wouldn’t have to return the change). Judy giggled as we “snuck” away leaving the boys with the change to spend later…...We also found an ice house where we can get real blocks of ice over two feet long and twelve inches thick. These last much longer than cubes they press together and call block ice.

We joined the Hidden Port Yacht Club here and I received a free hat, due to being the three thousandth member. I can’t believe they have three thousand members. It is the largest Yacht Club in Baja. I can see why, with their membership fees being so affordable. They put on the Loreto Fest to help the local kids with education supplies, like computers and with scholarships etc. It is also put on to clean up the Puerto Escondido Bay. Everyone is assigned a section of shoreline to clean up. Judy and I were assigned a section by the canal and upon landing our dinghy on it I hit a rock and sheared a pin, ops! Of course we had forgotten to include the tool bag in the boat, so did not have a replacement. Go figure, now I leave it in the boat. Better stolen than forgotten. At least then I will have someone else to cuss out. When we had our section cleaned we rowed back to the fuel dock to turn in our trash. At that point we decided that it would be easier for me to row back to the boat alone, as it was all the way across the bay. I dropped Judy off and as I started rowing across with the motor up in the air. A gentleman immediately came to my rescue and towed me to our boat, where I thanked him and installed a new shear pin. I then motored back to join Judy in the festivities.

They had many tournaments going on during the three days of the fest. Just a few were; horse shoes, bocci ball, card games, that’s all I can remember at present, but there were many more. They also had a Spaghetti dinner and pancake breakfast that was free to members. Bands played on Friday and Saturday night with a Cruisers Jam Session on Sunday night. We left early on Sunday due to high winds and waves that were trying to sink boats at the dinghy dock. When we went to get our dinghy, it had a painter line from another dinghy wrapped around then motor. This was from the dinghies bouncing radically up and down with the waves. When I got it untangled, I had to pull it around, over and up on to the dock to get it out of that mess. I then had to drag it down the dock to launch it in a patch of calmer water behind a large cabin cruiser. Once it was launched and we were situated, we slowly moved out under the bow of the cabin cruiser until we were clear. At that point we gave it full throttle and headed out over the swells, with Judy screaming like a kid on a roller coaster. By the time we got back to the boat we were drenched. I sure am glad the weather and water are warm here in Mexico. Judy had put the computer in a Trader Joe’s cold bag and it miraculously stayed dry. Good job Judy. I have to admit that I was a bit worried about it getting wet in that bag.

We brought back some books from the Yacht Club library to keep ourselves entertained. At least until the wind dies down a little in the bay. It seems strange that in Oregon we enjoyed sailing in winds from twenty to thirty knots of wind. However in Mexico it seems that if the winds exceed eighteen to twenty knots most boats stay in, saying it is too strong. I asked one boat owner why and he said the waves get too steep and you can’t make any headway. Another said it was too choppy and rough. I wonder if they all did their sailing in California, where the average swell is about two feet. I guess we will just have to go out and try it to see for ourselves!

Yesterday while lounging around on the boat I received a call on the VHF by a gentleman who informed me that we had won a drawing at the Loreto Fest and the prize was a book on the geology of the Sea of Cortez. Later in the afternoon he came by the boat and delivered it. I haven’t had time yet to check it out yet, but plan to soon.

I almost forgot to mention that Steve and Lulu gave us a piece of plexi glass that I cut to fit in place of two of the companionway boards while at anchor. It really is nice, giving much more light in the galley. Not to mention being able to see out the stern. Thanks again guys. I can’t think of anything else to add, but I’m sure that I missed some things. A lot has been going on in the last few days. I will have to get busy on maintenance soon, as I have been lazy of late. The refrigeration is working, but it is not up to par. I still have to figure out why the windlass battery is not charging, and I have to re-mark the anchor rode. Maybe Judy will have something to add when she wakes up. Don’t forget, if any of you want to come down to visit/ fish/sail, this next month would be perfect, as I will have lots of room. Judy will be in Oregon for six weeks, beginning 6/1/2011.