The Ups and Downs of the Sea of Cortez

Shortly after returning to Grey Wolf from our Copper Canyon trip we decided to head south to catch up with Bill's brother and head on to Loreto Fest.  The wind had been blowing out of the south which is not good for us to go south, so we waiting until it turned around.  The first day was fine, but about evening the wind decided to blow out of the WEST and knocked the stuffin' out of us.  The anchor 'jumped' out of it cradle and smashed through the right front porthole, sending glass and seawater all over our stateroom ~ but we were not aware of it for a while, so a ton of water rushed in as we were in high seas... UGH.  Everything that could fall, did.  We ducked into Bahia de Los Angeles as soon as we could fight our way south and anchored for several hours while we did damage control and Bill cut a plywood window and glued it in the gamping porthole.  Then we traveled on calm seas until the middle of the next night when we were again assaulted by west winds!  That time Alice had been sleeping on the salon sofa and awakened to the violent lurching of the boat... only to be tossed across the room and into one of our director's chairs. Fortunately she was only bruised- nothing broken, but she was certainly shaken by the experience.  The rest of our trip south was fine and we were blessed by the chain of good boater friends who suggested getting Plexiglas in La Paz, getting the Plexiglas for us, and shipping it to Loreto Fest on a northbound boat! Now we are secure again with a decent-looking porthole!

Copper Canyon Slideshow ~ Click on photo, please!

BARRANCAS DEL COBRE ~ aka COPPER CANYON

Barrancas del Cobre, located in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, is actually larger than the Grand Canyon, and consists of a number of canyons.  The area was a big silver mining area a century ago.  Plans were first made for a train to traverse this rugged area in the mid 1800's, but between changes in management, wars, and other difficulties it took 100 years to finish.  Now run by the Mexican government, the Chepe train runs from Los Mochis on the Sea of Cortez to the city of Chihuahua.  Bill and Alice, along with friends Ted and Carolyn from Idaho, spent parts of four days on the rails during the week we explored Copper Canyon!

Our first stop was at Paraiso del Oso Lodge near Cerocahui, right at a mile high! There is a rock outcropping above the lodge with a distinct side view of what the owners affecionately call Yogi Bear (see slideshow). This rustic hotel was a fun place to meet the locals who work there and the turistas passing through. It was cold enough to enjoy the wood stove in our room both nights~ We took a tour that included a mission and the overlook to Urique, an old mining town 4,500 feet below us in Urique Canyon. Our next stop was Creel, north of the canyons and the center of this area, at 7,200 feet.. The huge Lodge at Creel is run by Best Western! Another tour took us to several unusual rock formations, two mission churches, a lake and a waterfall.  The Tarahumara Indians are the local natives and the women do marvelous work with pine needle and other baskets. Carolyn and Alice went a bit crazy... Alice also bought two lovely pottery bowls made in Chihuahua State. Now to get them home without breaking them!  Our last stop was at Mirador Hotel on the rim of Copper Canyon, above.  The food throughout the trip was first class, and the chef at Mirador undoubtedly earned the award for great presentation~  The dinner the last night as we returned to El Fuerte and our truck was exquistite as we dined on freshwater lobster, hosted by the hotel owner and his wife.

The highs and lows of Puerto Penasco

We have arrived in Rocky Point, aka Puerto Penasco, northernmost port in the state of Sonora, Mexico. We are only an hour's drive from the international border, with Lukeville, Arizona on the other side!  We have come here for several reasons:  Bill's brother Barry is here on his boat, the marina is inexpensive, AND we will be able to travel to California in just a few hours~  which we will do on March 1.

Barry has been showing us around the town and made sure we got

to have the chili size and the Sunday breakfast at one of his fave

restaurants-  The Pink Cadillac, a cool fifties themed place.

Puerto Penasco 'enjoys' some of the world's most

extreme tides, and with the full moon this weekend,

it was even more extreme! Our depth under the boat

measured less than three feet during this photo...

Au contraire, in THIS photo we were at 25 feet!  Pretty crazy, huh?

This wide swing doesn't affect us much, unless you want to walk up

or down a ramp at LOW tide- that means a work-out!  The place

featured in these photos is the local boat yard... where we just may

have the boat painted this year- pulling out at high tide, obviously!

What a Two Humpback Whale Show!

Almost on cue, two huge humpbacks begin to rise from the

sparkling blue water of Bahia de La Paz.  We were one hour

north of the city when we noticed a boat making circles ahead

of us.  Only when we got closer did we realize why AND that

the boat was a whalewatching vessel!  We got a free show!

The two whales came very close to the boat that was allowed

to approach them.  We had to stay back, but still got quite a

show.  You cannot see the whale in front of the boat, but the

one to port looks like he is waving, "Hey, look over here!"

The La Paz Singlar Marina Mascot Greeted Us...

This sunning sea lion had staked his claim at the end of the fuel dock

the day we pulled in to fuel up before leaving the La Paz area.

After getting warmed up, it was time for a dip in the

harbor.  This pelican seemed totally oblivious to him.

After cooling off, it was time to climb back on the dock!

We are greeted by leapfrogging sea lions in Bahia La Paz!

At first we thought we were seeing the ever-present dolphins, but at

second glance we realized it was a seal show unfolding... amazing!

...and the winner is..!  We had never seen seals showing off like this.

A Different View of Mazatlan

We were anchored in the old harbor by the ferry and cruise

 ship docks. The redstacked vessel is a maritime transport, while the
Baja Ferry runs between Mazatlan and La Paz. Between these two,
 the two visiting cruise ships can be spotted.  What a busy place!

Isla Creston is attached to the city via a causeway. Even though

this lighthouse is high above the waterline, it appears to be the only

light.  We could see no other when we left port at 1 AM for La Paz.

Our favorite restaurant in Mazatlan is called Panama!

Dessert carts are wheeled from table to table to tempt

the customers.... even at breakfast~ too much for even

our sweetooths!!

The first two times we visited Mazatlan we stayed in one of the marinas on the north end of the city. This time we decided to anchor out on the south end!  It was a neat experience and we even got a lot of excerise in, since we walked to the city center twice- quite a hike.  Alice also walked to church and back on Sunday- another sizable hike.  Alice likes to walk for the sake of walking, while Bill will walk willingly for a purpose. She thought it would be cool to walk to the top of Isla Creston, the lighthouse island right next to our anchorage.  However, after hiking switchbacks part way up we heard that there are then 300 steps! No thanks!!  We did all our walking on relatively flat ground.

Fun with the Felt Family

Bill, Alice, Stephanie, Brea, Jensen, Tom, and Analisse

Mary, their cook, makes fresh tortillas for each dinner!

The second Sunday Alice attended church in Puerto Vallarta she met the Felt Family of Bucerias.  Their Utah home is in Alpine, but they are living in their vacation home in Mexico this year so the children can attend school to acquire Spanish language skills.  Tom offered to pick Alice up for church each week, cutting her travel time in half!  They have visited us on Grey Wolf and we have enjoyed a lovely dinner at their beautiful Spanish style home on the beach within view of our anchorage.  We appreciate their generous hearts and sweet spirits.  We hope to visit them again, perhaps in Utah!

Christmas Message from the Captain

Well, it's that time of the year again. I remember when I was a kid that the last two weeks before Christmas seemed like five years. Now it seems like the last five years only took two weeks!
It is at this time of the year when people turn their attention to Christmas that Satan gets busy using people who are afraid of Christmas or anything to do with God to try to persuade people that there is no God. I remember when there was a push to tell everyone that God had died; now they run ads that say "There is no God'. Psalms 14:1: The fool says in his heart 'there is no God'. So this foolishness has been going on for much longer than most might think.
I have oftime wondered what a great faith these people must have to convince themselves that all we see- Sun, Moon, Stars and this beautiful Earth and all life that is on it just happened by accident... If I tried to tell those same people that the automobile came into being by a Big Bang that happened some time ago, they would think me crazy and they would be right, if I really believed that. When you think about it, isn't a car much simpler than mankind and the animals? We all know that the car was created by a higher being than the car. Does it not stand to reason, then, that everything was created by a being much higher than the thing created and that something so complex as the animal and man had to be created by a much higher being? Genesis says 'In the beginning God created...'. Simple faith and logic tells you this must be true. I have always wondered why anyone would spend so much time and energy fighting something they 'don't believe in', or do they? I have a theory that they fight God so hard because they don't want Him to be there, because if He does exist then all that goes with Him is true also. Down deep they worry about the judgment day that is coming and they well should. Numbers 32 tells us that God punishes His people when they ignore Him and seek their own glory. Remember, God is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever!
Now as we look to Christmas, and reflect on the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we see the great LOVE that God has for His creation. In Philippians 2: 5-8, (read please), we are told that Christ, in His great love, came to provide the only way back to our Father in Heaven.
We can all retell the Christmas story of Jesus' birth in a stable with people and animals at His side, the wise men coming from afar bringing gifts, but what we so often miss is the great love God has for us. He has provided everything we need to be close to Him. Some complain about how commercial Christmas has become, but it has long been that way. When I consider God's great gift of love for us in the coming of Christ, is it wrong for us to show our love to others by giving gifts as well? I think it is the thing to do, and I think it pleases God that we show our love. But don't forget to give a return gift back to God to show our love for Him. He is what it is all about, after all.
I am so thankful that we can look back and remember that Christ has already come. Before that time God's people looked forward to His coming with the same faith we use to look back to that wonderful day~ Christmas!!!
My hope and prayer is that you will celebrate Christmas by praising, singing, and giving a gift to God. Also, show your love with gifts to your family and loved ones.
Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year!
With love to all from Bill and Alice