Day 16 -Bahia San Marte

Yesterday Brenda and I discussed the possibility of leaving Aqua Verde in the afternoon today and making for Bahia San Marte, only about 7 miles to the south of Aqua Verde. Today we did just that.
I started the day at Aqua Verde by going ashore at about 8 AM to get some water. As I approached Esperanza's Tienda from the side, I saw her watering plants, a small boy running around, and a man nearby who dropped a section of the fence so that I would not have to walk around to the front of the property. Esperanza merely moved the water hose into my two 10-liter containers and soon they were full. I asked for the price and I was told that there was no charge. I asked Esperansa "Regresso por dos mas?" and she said fine. Soon I was back on the boat where I put the 20 liters of water into the starboard (galley) tank and before long Brenda and I were both headed to the shore for a walkabout. But first I returned to Esperanza's for another 20 liters of water which we will carry in the containers for bathing and washing clothes.

Mexican Army Relaxing

Brenda and I had a great walk. We started off by walking along the shoreline to the picturesque northern cove, with its large rock to the east connected to the mainland on the west by a broad low lying sandy spit. There we met Judy, who visits the same spot with her husband Robert every year. Judy told us that she knows the local children's sizes and always brings shoes and other items of clothing for them. She told us about the bow and arrow hunting excursions for the horned sheep in the mountains, which are based in a recently built shelter on the spit. She told us that the price is $70,000 for a 10-day hunting excursion. Let it be recorded at at Agua Verde Robert Morales came to the realization that yachting is cheap.

Scenic north cove of Agua Verde

Bar at north cove

While we were speaking with Judy a camouflaged Mexican army Humvee with five well armed men rolled up. It seems to be a standing order that every military vehicle have one man as sentry with his weapon over the cab of the vehicle. As they emerged from the Humvee Judy said something about maybe being asked for our identity and visa documents. Soon it became evident that this band of brothers was going to do some shooting, but with cameras and not guns. They lined up smiling as one of their group took a photo. Soon Judy was over there taking a photo of the five smiling army men each with a weapon, against the beautiful backdrop of the Sea of Cortez. (Brenda took a photo of the group which we will publish when we get access to the internet.)
Our look from the spit to the north with Islas Monserrate, Carmen, and Coronados in the distance represented the extent of our visit into the Sea of Cortes. We would hence forth head south, exploring new anchorages on our return to La Paz.
We then took the road around a large hill back to the settlement, enjoying great views of the sierras. During this walk Brenda saw two more new birds, one of which was a Sage Thrasher, the other which is yet to be identified.
We returned to the boat and after lunch and a short rest decided to make the move to Bahia San Marte. I had prepared by setting up a route which would take us between reefs on either side. Brenda did the steering and I did the course calling as we moved from waypoint to waypoint. As Bahia San Marte came into view I noted that I could see one mast. We were anxious to get in because the unprotected waters were rougher than what we had expected. We soon arrived and as I was dropping the anchor in 4.9 meters of water I could hear a man in a dinghy asking Brenda if we were following him around. It was Ed, who had advised us to get closer to the rocks at Isla San Francisco. He told us that he didn't mind us getting closer to his boat and that the closer in we got the less roll we would have. During a cold beer for me and a hot chocolate for Brenda we decided to move the boat. We moved another 100 meters closer and dropped anchor in 3.5 meters of water. That put us 130 meters from the beach and I didn't want to get any closer in case the wind swung from the south during the night. Our position was 25N30.253, 111W01.067. Ed was right: there was less roll, less wind, and we were looking forward to a peaceful night. And the oxtail stew in the pressure cooker smelled Great!
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