Ensenada Mexico

   We’ve been back on Cygnus here at Ensenada since January 2nd. The day we arrived it was sunny and 21 degrees C. The boat was in good shape other than a broken dock line. The folks at Baja Naval took great care of things. Since then the weather has deteriorated. We have had tremendous rain storms and so much surge that we have broken two more lines. Many of the folks tied at the dock have left to anchor out due to the surge and breaking of lines. The folks at Baja Naval have been very diligent in caring for the boats with absent owners. Kudos to them!

   We have had great fun learning to shop and get directions in Spanish. The locals are very patient and accommodating. We have found food to be very inexpensive, with delicious fruit and vegetables. Now if I  can just get Dave to eat them! No, seriously, we are both enjoying the wonderful food and beverages at a fraction of the cost of home. Examples are two avocados for 25 cents, a papaya for $1.00, four large chicken quarters  for about $1.00. When we left B.C., we saw broccoli for $4.50 a pound, here it is just over a dollar. Fish too is very inexpensive, although it is difficult to know what your buying if you don’t  know the language. For example, the best looking fish was called Pescado Angel. It turned out to be shark. It could be great but we weren’t  game to try it just yet. We settled for two nice halibut filets for about two dollars.

   Yesterday we went on a shopping trip and got caught in another deluge. The streets were literally rivers. It was impossible to cross without wading. It’s  obvious this type of weather is very unusual, since the storm drains are simply unable to accommodate rains such as this. We were completely soaked when we returned.

   Today, after another rockin’ an rollin’ night, we awoke to find a sailboat had sunk in the marina next door. Just it’s  mast was visible in the slip. Cygnus came through in good shape after sliding some heavy hose over the dock lines to help prevent chafing, however the afternoon brought bad luck. Some heavy surge came through and caused so much strain on the dock lines that it sheered off one of the samson posts. These are stout solid 2 3/8” by 4” posts that the bow dock lines attach to. They also stabilize the bowsprit. So, now we have a fairly large repair job on our hands which will delay our departure for a few days. Finding the proper wood and hardware here could be interesting in itself. Since we have no proper way of securing the bow to the dock, and are sick of breaking the boat, we have joined our friends on anchor. 

This isn’t  quite how we imagined our Mexican  portion of the trip beginning, however, it goes to support the saying “Cruising is doing boat maintenance and repairs in exotic locations”.

Sunken boat.