After over a week in various idyllic anchorages around Refuge Bay, today we are setting off for the journey south. The bay offers shelter from any wind direction, hence the name. Apart from that, just barren rock with countless cacti and the incessant noise of sea lions.
We had overnighted here on the way north, and here we found, and were found, by a number of other cruising friends we knew from the boatyard in Puerto Penasco, a day and night passage north from here. In that sense, we now feel like we are leaving our familiar home waters to strike out into the unknown, anxious to find out if we are as really as well prepared as we believe we are.
Our destination, and first landfall is our old base of San Carlos, at least a week of daily sailing away. So, today leaving from the tip of Isla La Guardia, we pass down the east coast and then, in the coming days, we enter the Midriff island chain that stretches across the northern Sea of Cortez. Just south of it, we will revisit Isla San Pedro Martir, which as a significant sea bird and sea lion colony is protected.
Nico is thriving, with lots of ‘awesome’ and ‘best day ever’. The many alterations and additions we made during the overhaul proved worthwhile, and repairs to the engine and other boat systems are holding up well – so far.
San Carlos should see the last maintenance jobs and equipment installation finished and after that we can give all our energy to family and exploration.
We’ll also keep our website the-curious-sailors.online updated with our progress on the journey.
But now, off to explore some caves with Nico before we lift anchor again.
