Using some Christmas money we received over the holidays, we embarked on an incredible whale shark tour that turned out to be an unforgettable experience, one that Logan and Cash now consider the highlight of their adventures in Mexico.

Susan and Tiit, lovingly referred to as grandma and grandpa Kao, arrived on January 10th, embracing one of the windiest days La Paz had to offer. After enduring a somewhat rocky first night at anchor, we set sail from the La Paz harbor to bask in the sun at Puerto Balandra. However, our assessment of the bay’s natural shelter proved inaccurate, leading to a challenging journey that compelled us to return and secure our boat at Playa Pichilingue, tucked away from the swells behind Isla Lobos, a large rock formation. The night was a bit restless, but tranquility returned with the dawn. Post-breakfast, we made our way back to Puerto Balandra, where we relished a wonderful day of reading, swimming, and snorkeling, primarily focused on retrieving Susan’s eyeglasses that had accidentally sunk to the ocean floor. Fortunately, we were in just 15 feet of water when they went overboard. Our eventful day also included the rescue of an octopus from a seagull’s grasp. The next morning we made our way back to La Paz and enjoyed a wonderful encounter with a mama and baby humpback whale. 

Susan and Tiit treated us to a great experience at the whale museum where we chose a guided tour that far surpassed our expectations. Our knowledgeable guide, a marine biologist, offered fascinating insights into the history of the diverse species showcased. If you find yourself nearby, don’t miss the chance to explore this hidden gem.

To read more about the museum, who they are and their mission, check out the website here:

https://www.museodelaballena.org/about-6

While vacationing in La Paz, Glen and Sonita joined us for a memorable day of adventure as we set out to explore the western shores of Ensenada de La Paz along the low, flat El Mogote peninsula.

The Harbor is extremely shallow in areas with a large sand bar running down the center so careful navigation is required as you dodge shipwrecks along the way.

We explored the shores of El Magote and checked out a shipwreck on shore before heading back to the boat but not before getting stuck in the low tide – oops. No big deal, we dragged the dinghy out to deeper waters and made it home albeit a little wet and cold.

We had a wonderful time at the Club Cruceros beach party hosted at La Costa restaurant as we wrapped up our days in La Paz. The event was packed with excitement, featuring darts, bocce ball, a silent and live auction, mouthwatering food, along with a 50/50 raffle to benefit local charities. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and it was great to have Glen and Sonita join us in the festivities.

After an incredible three months exploring the Sea of Cortez and enjoying precious visits from family and friends, we bid farewell and began preparing for the exciting next leg of our journey – HAWAII 🌺

Alex scaled the mast on January 19th for final inspections and conducted a thorough check of SV Inscrutable to ensure everything was in order while I stocked up on provisions for a potential four-week voyage.

We dedicated the entire following day to completing the final provisioning of fresh fruits & veggies, and to complete the necessary paperwork for our despacho, which grants us the legal right to leave the country. Countless trips to the port captain’s office, photocopy shop, immigration, the bank, and the API office culminated in our clearance to depart, involving more than 30km around town on our bikes to gather signatures and pay various fees – but we are now cleared and have 48 hours to leave.

We already miss the kids immensely, but it won’t be long before they reunite with us aboard SV Inscrutable in Hawaii.