Cabo Wildlife

Puffer Fish

School of fish around rudder

Baby Birds

Local Bird

Local Whale 

Another Whale near Cabo

Here's the humboldt squid we caught outside of Cabo.  The sealife has been very varied and entertaining!!

In Mexico, Near Cabo San Lucas

Near Cabo San Lucas

Newport Beach, CA to Cabo, Mexico

What a great start to an adventure!!  We left Newport Harbor on Monday night March 18^th as dark fell (after installing the final large piece to our boat, the dinghy davit).  We had two glassy days with minimal movement down the coast.  This was a welcome calm as it gave us time to get our windmills installed and start generating power to recharge our batteries.  We have a bank of 6 batteries that power all of our interior lighting (all LED) and devices.  We also mounted our solar panels, but even after specially ordering 12 V panels, we were shipped 24 V panels.  Crushing.  Hard to return now.   Courage did some strategic planning, etc. and we finally got them soddered in and contributing.  While the windmills kept us charged for the most part for the first 5 days, on most days the solar panels are surpassing the windmills noticeably. 

Finally the wind picked up as we passed San Diego and we had a nice downwind sail into Mexico.  After 5 days without seeing land, we spotted Baja Mexico and headed into Bahia Santa Maria, a great cove on the Pacific side of the peninsula that makes up Magdalena Bay.  While being a cute and secluded cove with white sandy beaches, the breakers were huge and there was no way we were going to venture through them with the dinghy to get to shore.   So the next morning we headed off around the corner (one long corner) to Magdalena Bay. 

Magdalena Bay is a large protected bay with a small fishing village to the northwest and further up a larger town San Carlos.  We saw a full size ship heading into San Carlos while we were there.  The breakers were minimal and we could get to shore with ease.  There was a large delta from an estuary surrounded by mangroves.  Such great exploring!!  We took the kayaks, paddle boards, and dinghy up the estuary and saw many halibut and sting rays on the bottom.  There were also white ibis birds along the way, which really stood out.  These shores are hardly visited – other than a fishing boat, we were the only ones anchored out here.  There were so many undisturbed complete and beautiful shells.  We also checked out some skulls and bones, which we believe to be from dolphins due to the long snouts.  In this bay many whales come to have their young.  They were still there and just beginning to head back up north.  An adolescent sized whale came up behind the boat one afternoon, so Cassidy and I jumped into a kayak to go get a closer look.  We headed out, but the whale had gone down so we weren’t sure where exactly to be looking.  It came up within a few feet of our kayak!!  Wow, so amazing!  She had the camera, but there’s no way to get that sensation!  It proceeded to circle us with multiple surfacing episodes to breathe. 

We had some great fishing along the way.  We have caught some yellow tail tuna and some bonita.  One morning we woke up and a small squid had jumped onto the deck sometime in the night.  We cooked him up and had calamari with breakfast.  Since we don’t have refrigeration, our meat supply is limited and our protein is mostly in beans.  The fish is a welcome addition to our meals.  One night, after dark, Cassidy heard the line pulling and went out.  She hauled in a Humboldt squid, at least 2 feet long, probably longer.  What a funny creature!!  His little jets were spewing out in all directions and he was hissing!  We examined him, touched him, felt his tentacles and looked at his jet propulsion mechanisms.  Got a great (hilarious) video that I will try to upload if possible.  Now that’s great (and memorable) family fun!  We let him go, he earned it, and we determined that calamari wasn’t really our favorite fish to eat.  We so wanted some of those halibut we saw in the estuary, but it wasn’t to be.  Overall, fishing has been both fun, educational, entertaining, and a nice addition to our meals.  We’ve also released many when it seemed that we would not be able to consume any more. 

In the afternoon of March 26^th we headed out for Cabo.  We had some calms along the way, but arrived in the morning of March 28^th.  We hit the crosswaters from the Pacific and the Gulf in the morning – great fishing!!  We were pulling in bonitas one after the other.  Every time we would get the sails set, we had another on the line!  With the first catch, we turned the boat upwind.  In doing so, we heard/felt a significant THUD x 2.  Looking out behind the port hull we saw a midsized whale heading off the stern.  Seriously?  We hit a whale!!  The whale appeared unharmed.  After our arrival in Cabo, Cassidy swam on the hull and saw no evidence of damage.  

Turns out to be spring break in Cabo, so there’s a lot of activity!  We had a little Easter egg hunt of our own on the boat.  After our arrival here, we checked in with the Port Captain, got our visas, then headed out.  The water was finally warm enough to swim in.  Refreshingly cool, yet not freezing.  On such a warm day, it was inviting.  We kayaked to shore, played in the sand and waves, then went to “Lover’s Beach” for a hike/swim.  This evening we watched an almost full moon rising over the horizon in the bay at Cabo.  It was a large orange glowing circle as it first appeared.  So beautiful, we all went out to the cockpit to enjoy it.  So much activity here with spring break, especially after having a week or so in the open ocean with only us.  Still with mariachi music playing well into the evening at the bars on the beach only 200 feet away as I head to bed.  Good night all, here’s hoping you’re loving every day as much as we are!

P.S. This morning we woke up to a seahorse tied onto our kayak line.  We checked him out, then let him go.  He went right back and tied onto our kayak line.  Guess he’s found his place.  We saw a puffer fish on our way to and back again from shore.  He puffed up and quilled out.  Funny little thing.  There were also tons of jellyfish on shore and in the water.  Courage got a couple of stings that left a mark, so the rest of us didn’t really go swimming today, but the kids did play with the ones that washed up on shore.  Kayaking back to the boat Courage saw a sea turtle that popped up right in front of his kayak.  So full of sea life here!!  Full morning.  Now off to shore to find internet and upload some things.

Newport Beach, CA to Cabo, Mexico

It has been about a week and a half since we left and already so much has happened!  Just yesterday morning, I was jolted awake from a whale hitting our boat.  All’s well though, whale swam away un-harmed and the boat doesn’t have any new leaks - so I’ll take that as a good sign.  Let’s slow down and start off with the first week at sea.  March 19-20 were clear crystal calm waters, a perfect time to climb on top of the newly installed (thanks to the Winter Boys) dinghy davit and put in the windmills.  The next 4-5 days were beautiful, down wind, spinnaker days with lots of attempts of fishing. Finally seeing land on March 23rd, we first headed to Bahia Santa Maria, Seeing how the waves were too big to get past, the next morning we headed for Magdalena Bay.  We spent the next 2-3 days there exploring the mangrove mazes on the paddle boards and kayaks.  The water there, although a little chilly, was amazing! It was so shallow I could almost walk to the boat.  It was also so clear that we could see all the stingrays, halibut, and lots of other creatures at the bottom.  One day there was even an adolescent whale that was playing right behind the boat. 

We left for Cabo on Tuesday the 26^th.  And arrived yesterday morning(28^th).  During our one day of being out at sea we spotted several turtles & whales (running into one of them), installed the solar panels, and on the night of the 27^th we even caught a humbolt squid about the length of my arm with the tentacles stretched.  I pulled it in on Uncle Loyal’s cork lure after noticing a glowing figure trailing behind us in the water. 

We have been anchored right in front of about half a dozen bars that blast their music through the day and into the night.  Being Easter weekend there is a lot of activity going on shore.   This morning we have encountered a lot of little sea creatures.  I was woken up to the children screaming about catching a sea horse.  Apparently it was clinging to the kayak rope and as soon as we let him go again he went right back to where they found him.  Courage somehow captured a puffer fish on his way back from the shore and brought it back to show the rest of the family.  There were many stinging jellyfish in the water this morning, so sadly we couldn’t go swimming. 

I have officially been titled as skipper and navigator. Yay me!  On the down side, I have many bruises and cuts that I have no idea where or when I got them, but that’s just one of the perks of living the boat life.  I haven’t showered for weeks and can slowly feel myself deteriorating.  It is also my little sisters 5^th birthday tomorrow, and I won’t get to be there for her hello kitty viesta.  So happy birthday Keena!  Missing you land folk like crazy! Lots of love

 -Cassidy ~(^-^)~

Shannon's thoughts at Departure

As we set sail for the south I have to wonder, did I bring too much?  Did we bring enough?  How do you prepare for something you've never done before?  How do you pack for a family of 8 for an indefinite period of time?  What will you wish for?  What will bog you down and occupy your comfort space?

We have downsized so much and for that I'm grateful and happy, but we probably have a ways to go.  Based on the first couple months of experience, many of our things will be disposed of into the water accidentally.  So there will be a natural attrition of things over time.  They will also break and go in the garbage without being replaced so readily.

We have been going without grid power, therefore without climate control, without TV, a microwave, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a washer or dryer for the past month.  I guess refrigeration is the one I miss the most.  Food storage and preparation is much more limited without it.  It doesn't last as long, especially meats.  No more turkey sandwiches, no more lasagna, no more milk (powdered it is!), limited cheese options, and salad doesn't last long.  The pressure cooker and I are not on speaking terms currently, but I will get the best of it yet.  What I have been enjoying is stove top popcorn.  The kids LOVE the making and eating of it.  Stocked up on extras of that family activity and snack all in one.  

Today said goodbye to the vehicle.  That's yet another step in the austerity measures.  What a freedom, yet things will get harder!  Bought two wheel carts today to make it easier to get things to/from the laundromat and grocery store, but rations for 10 people on foot and in a dinghy will be interesting to say the least.  

I am excited for the adventure and for our family.  I think the quality time together will be a most wonderful experience.  I think the adventure will bring bonding that our every day lives have drifted away from.  I think the simple life will teach the kids skills for survival, problem solving, and common sense approaches to things.  Teach them what is valuable and what is taken for granted.  They will learn "need" from "want".  They will learn geography in the most relevant form.  They will understand where water comes from and how to conserve it, where power comes from and how to conserve it, where our food comes from and how to appreciate a fresh apple.  While we are giving things up, imagine what we are gaining!!

I am reinvigorated with a sense of freedom and adventure that I haven't had in years.  It's a breath of fresh air, point her south and see where the wind can take us . . .