Topolobampo, Shallow Bottoms and Crabs

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority,

It is time to pause and reflect.

Mark Twain 

Nikki finally free to roam on a nice beach

After a splendid sail lit by a full moon we are in Topolobampo, further up the mainland side of the Sea of Cortez. 

Altata, Bay of Sailing Pangas

Where's your will to be weird?

Jim Morrison

Sand dollar attached to seaweed or Seaweed attached to sand dollar?

Afternoon winds led us out of Mazatlán.  After only a couple hours of sailing, and even though we are not quite there yet, we feel like we are back in the Sea of Cortez.  The air is crystal clear, humidity is bearable once more, shooting stars and bioluminescence abound, and Pacific influenced swells as well as maritime traffic are diminishing. 

Mazatlan’s Old Port/Harbor

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,

It's about learning how to dance in the rain.

Vivian Greene 

Size of swells hitting jetty at Stone Island - (thank you SV Fluenta)

We moved over to the old port/harbor for what we thought would be a couple of days but inter-hemispheric swells started building.  The Port Captain closed down the entrance (red flag days) to the port we were going to be heading next, the swells so large it made the entrance very dangerous.  

Stone Island, Pizza, Goats, and Coconuts

All travel has its advantages.

If the passenger visits better countries,

He may learn to improve his own.

And if fortune carries him to worse,

He may learn to enjoy it.

Samuel Johnson

Horse readying for a day of taking care of tourists

After a thirty hour upwind sail, we spent a couple of nights just south of the man-made jetty that protects the entrance to the old port/harbor of Mazatlán, a place called Stone Island.  

Isla Isabella, the Galapagos of Mexico

I am always doing that which I cannot do,

In order that I may learn how to do it.

Pablo Picasso 

Mike facing his first blue footed booby

I know it sounds trite but many have referred to this place as the Galapagos of Mexico and I’m jumping on the bandwagon, calling it that as well now that we have visited.

Sea Monkeys and Lost Pearl – Aurevoir Barra

I always wonder why birds stay in the same place 

When they can fly anywhere on the earth.

Then I ask myself the same question.

Harun Yahya 

Aerial view entrance to Barra de Navidad

Instead of the accustomed “Once Upon a Time” at the beginning of many stories; ours often start with “While Waiting for Winds”.

This is another one of these…