For the last 2 weeks or so we have been exploring Mexico’s Gold Coast between Banderas Bay and Tecacatita. I think its been 2 weeks, but honestly I’ve lost track of time. We did a quick overnight time sail down the coast to Chemela Bay and met up with our friends aboard Me Too. We also had a chance to meet up with some friends from Bend, OR that are living the van life for a few months traveling here in Mexico. Luke was excited to hang with an old classmate and his little brother. Abby acted like a big sister to 3 younger boys, swimming, playing on the beach, and entertaining them. Street tacos back on the boat with both families was a good time. The surf picked up so the dingy drop off in the surf at night could be called exciting (or just Mexico dangerous). On our way out of Chamela Bay, some deserted islands were calling our name. The anchorage was a bit rolly so a night here was out of the question. We played in the surf and Lisa and the kids went ashore to explore while I watched a rugby match in the cockpit. For as far removed from modern day life we sometimes feel, I still can’t believe I was able to watch a live rugby match from England (vs. France) while on a sailboat anchored off a tiny island in Mexico. Cheers to England for winning the match!

Another quick sail south lead us to Bahia Careyes, the playground of the rich and famous. A mega-sailboat that anchored right next to us the night before had a few famous people aboard. They had a dingy for their tender. In other words, a smaller boat for their small boat. As I was shooting some photos of the cliffhouses and dolphins with an obvious big white telephoto lens, their dingy ride from the shore to the tender quickly diverted from passing me and the guests ducked out of view. Let’s just say the rumors of a billionaire media mogul and his famous fashion designer wife had a few movie stars hanging out with them.  That’s the great part about having a sailboat. The price of the accommodations differ greatly, but the view is identical. And I don’t have to pay my crew!

We spent a few days playing in the water, fishing, and releasing newly hatched sea turtles back into the sea. The Careyes Foundation has private beaches where the volunteer staff gather the freshly laid sea turtle eggs each day and incubates them in a protected area on the beach. 45-60 days later, they hatch and later that evening they are released into the sea, far from the seabirds that usually snack on them. In the past 33 years they have released over 1.3 million hatchlings. We did our part helping 107 make it to sea. Abby and Luke loved it and Lisa was almost speechless, a rare occurrence.

20 nautical miles south lead us to Bahia Tenacatita and a very peaceful anchorage. One day we were just too lazy to get Sand Crab up and running, so we laid about the boat and caught up on reading. Even Luke was reading a book! Once our Sand Crab was floating, a self guided river trip to see crocodiles and birds was put into motion. We motored along a river with mangroves growing up and over on each side. Racing through the narrow river with overgrowth on each side felt like a video game, except crashing would put us in the water, wrapped in spaghetti like plant roots, with crocodiles nearby and a certain “Game Over.” We didn’t crash but once, still earning a high score.

Tonight’s moon had a partial eclipse and a comet near by. Nothing like adding a bit of astronomy to our kids schooling. Enough words, here’s some pictures:

Sand Crab in Careyes

EOS, our gigantic neighbor. 305 feet.

The usual neighborhood children

Careyes, my kinda village!

107 prospects

Abby and a baby sea turtle

Luke helping out a little one

Seabird appetizers on the run to a swim

Someday I’ll grow up and come back here!

River croc

Heron stare down. I won!

“That’s right, look away!”

Out and about

Local color

Not a Chukuar, but just as fancy

The big daddy in the trees. He had several green ladies around.

And I thought I had a big nose.

Mexican full moon.

That’s all until next time.