Jan 23,-25, 2013

After a couple of lazy days in Puerto Ballena, watching birds and puttering around on the boat, we moved up the coast.  We poked our nose into the next bay, Candelero, but decided that it was just like the first, without the wonderful rock faces so we went on up to Caleta Partida. 

This anchorage is actually an old volcano crater and separates Espirito Santo from Isla Partida.  That is the mainland of Baja that you see in the background.



 Beautiful,    calm, not a cloud in the sky.  Once we were anchored we unfolded the dingy and went touring.  The water was beautifully clear and the cliffs went straight down.  It is almost, but not quite, warm enough to go for a swim.  Once we are settled in, we set off in the dingy to explore the bay.  There are fish everywhere, little stripy ones, bright butterfly fish, star fish and scallops on the rocks.  I even saw a turtle basking in the sun.  The rocks are covered with crabs, great big blue ones with bright red legs, that scatter when we get close.

When we are finished rowing around, we get to work on more boat jobs.  This time it is painting, specifically the outside of the cabin and all around the deck.  The paint is all flaking off and still covered with soot from Long Beach harbor and should have been done long ago.  I have been daunted by what a huge job it is, so I decided to take it in small sections starting with the area just outside of the hatch.  After a few hours of scraping, sanding, washing and painting it is done.  What a difference.  It looks beautiful.  I am anxious to start the next session. 

The wind starts to blow in the afternoon but quits in the early morning for another glassy smooth morning.