Tidings of Joy: Party's Over Time to Move Along

After almost a month in Barra de Navidad and with the Panama Posse party over it was time to get going. At 10:35a.m on December 11th we said goodbye to our dock friends and threw lines. Today's cruise would take us a short 24 miles to our first of many anchorages Carrizal. In the book it mentions the anchorage being a quiet paradise with nothing around but trees and where the snorkeling is good but the rolling can be a problem as it's open to the incoming swell. When we arrived two other sailboats (Ever After and High Five) had already staked their claim here but there was plenty of room for us. As soon as we dropped the hook and put out the flopper stoppers the roll began and it didn't stop. The water was a funny brown color and it wasn't until later that we realised that it was a red tide so no swimming for us. That made the transition from running a.c. nonstop at the marina to being unplugged and without at anchor a rough one. Nonetheless we were happy to be cruising again.

Adios Pancho (The Man)

Ship Wreck Outside of Barra

Passing a Panga

Heading into Carrizal

Sunset in Carrizal

Because it was so rolly at Carrizal we decided to pull anchor and head the short distance (5.5 miles) around the corner to Santiago. The whole thing only took 40 minutes but we knew immediately we had made the right decision. While this anchorage wasn't as scenic at least we had better protection from the swell. Houses and restaurants lined the shore and a panga pulling a hot dog filled with kids circled the boat. Not exactly ideal but we knew at dark it would all end. The first thing we did after dropping the hook was throw ourselves into the water. Unlike Carrizal this water was crystal clear and we could see our whole body while we swam. If it wasn't for swimming at anchor I think I would die from the heat. Not really but man it's such a nice relief. This would be how we would spend the entire rest of the day- sitting on the back deck until we got too hot then launching ourselves in the water. We could do this until 6 which is when the generator goes on for the evening and a.c. can be had. Not a bad routine.

Santiago

View From Side Deck

The next morning we took our time and I thought we were staying put but instead we decided to check out the next anchorage over called Las Hadas. We thought we could escape the hot dog and some of the noise from shore. When we arrived both High Five and Ever After were already here. We dropped the hook and got settled in. We noticed they were in town cause both dingies were missing. We decided to do the same. At some point they both made their way back as we were lowering the dink. We heard weird blasts of super loud music but didn't know what it was. Before heading into town we swung by Ever After to say hello and they informed us they were about to bail because there was a wedding happening that night and that loud blast of music we heard would go on until 3a.m. Great! Now what? What else could we do but leave again. We continued into the marina and toof a quick loop around the resort before returning to the boat, raising the dink and heading right back to Santiago. This was getting to be too much. I was ready to cruise but now we were just running in circles. Just before dark we dropped the hook in Santiago and I said I wasn't moving for a couple days. This was nuts.

Cruising to La Hagas

Wedding that Ran Us Out of Hagas

Anchored Briefly in La Hagas

Las Hagas

Back in Santiago

The next morning we slept in and took our time and moved very slowly. I was in no mood to start running immediately. At some point late morning we lowered the dink to make our way into the lagoon that was situated behind the anchorage. There are some rapids next to a breakwater you have to ride in but once you do it's wide open and shallow. Of course we found a rock and bent the prop but that's all part of the adventure right? After our lagoon trip we returned to the boat and swam and paddle boarded for the rest of the afternoon.

Heading into the Lagoon

The Lagoon

Restaurant in the Lagoon

Sunset Santiago

Nighttime

Our time in Manzanillo Bay (Carrizal, Santiago & Hagas) was coming to an end and felt like we exhausted all there was to see and do there so at 0800 on December 15 we up-anchored and made our way out of the bay and back into the Pacific for our destination Cabeza Negra and open road anchorage 63 miles away. As we were leaving the bay we noticed friends of ours on Tiamat and Summer Breeze on AIS and called and said hello. Not long after we left the bay did we start to spot the infamous long lines. We had heard they are a big problem in this area but we didn't know just how bad. Our first siting was a water bottle and then another and then another until we realised they are all strung together. Some of them had black flagged markers on them others you could barely see. We kept a chat group open on WhatsApp with the other two boats and would message one another when one was spotted. We followed a string for half a mile away from shore until Jeff finally had enough of going the wrong way and told me to get ready to cut their lines. Cut their lines? What? How? Are we allowed? He didn't care he didn't want to risk getting caught up in their lines or wasting anymore fuel going the wrong direction so I grabbed the boat hook as he eased our way parallel with a bottle and I quickly scooped up the line with the hook and he came out and with his swiss army knife cut the line, turned the boat and we were on our way. We would end up doing this a total of three different times en route and would have done it a fourth but a panga whose string it was saw us about to cut it and volunteered to cut it for us. It was intense to say the least but somehow felt justified. After we anchored the first thing I did was pour a big glass of red wine.

First Black Flag Spotting

Panga Cutting it's Long Line

Heading into Cabeza Negra

SummerBreeze Anchored With Us

Cebeza Negra

Ray Jumping at Sunset

Tidings of Joy Courtesy of Summer Breeze

Sunset

Summer Breeze at Sunset Cabeza Negra

Before we arrived at Cabeza we knew it was going to be rolly since it was open to the ocean but it saved us traveling overnight with all longlines so we didn't mind too much. The same would be true for our next anchorage Caleta de Campos but again we didn't battle the longlines in the dark. At 0625 us and Summer Breeze pulled anchor and made our way out into the twilight. Hoping our day wouldn't be as chaotic as the last. And man what a difference a day makes. While our day was long (10hours) we didn't see any longlines only sea turtles and dolphins. It was hot and balmy with little to no breeze and we drove most of the day on the flybridge. When we entered Caleta de Campos Tiamat was already there waiting for us. The second the hook hit the bottom we launched into the water. We had been sweating for 10 hours and the water provided such a nice relief. I never wanted to leave but the idea of running the generator and the a.c. soon motivated me to do so. We were pooped from the long day and the heat and settled in and went to sleep early.

Cruising to Caleta de Campos

Tiamat Here

Two Turtles Having Relations

Twilight Departure from Cebeza Negra

Caleta de Campos

Passing a Freighter Underway

Anchored with Tiamat & SeaBreeze

Sunset

Our final push would be to Marina Ixtapa another long 81mile 10 hour run in order to make our Christmas flight to Ohio. So once again at 0630 us and SeaBreeze up-anchored and made our way back into the Pacific. Another long hot day but today I didn't mind because I knew soon we would be plugged into power at the marina and I could blast a.c. in every room nonstop and not have to be hot again. Fortunately we didn't spot any long lines only dolphins and a whale. SummerBreeze followed about a mile back for the entire day and we checked in with one another making sure things were ok. At 1630 we made our way into the marina where two dockhands were waiting for us both and made quick work of tying the lines. The second we were plugged into power I blasted all three a.c. units and began the cool down process. After both boats were checked into the office we decided to hit the bar for a cheers to a our success before returning to the boat to shower and settle in for the night. It was a big push but we made it and were looking forward to settling in a bit after we returned from Ohio.