Tidings of Joy: March 2024

After a spectacular time in Oaxaca it was time to get back to reality on the boat. Our first day was spent doing a lot of catch up and getting settled back into the boat doing laundry and unpacking. We met up with some boating friends later that evening to hear about their departure to Chiapas the following morning. Since we had just returned to the boat we would miss this window and wait for the next one. After several days of work around the boat and restocking provisions we decided to take the boat out to the state park and anchor at Bahia Magyay for the weekend. We enjoyed lunch on the hook and spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and sitting outside.

Passed a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter En Route

Cruising the State Park

Bahia Magyay

Charter Anchored Very Close

Anchored in Bahia Magyay

Restaurants at the Anchorage

The next day on the hook was much the same as the first except we did some snorkeling and went to shore for lunch at one of the restaurants. With no real vegan options it was guac and beer for me while Jeff had a pineapple stuffed with shrimp in a cream sauce. The rest of the afternoon was spent swimming and relaxing.

That night the swells changed direction and were rolling right into the anchorage and kept us awake most of the night. So at 6:30a.m. Jeff had enough and we pulled anchor and headed back into the marina. I went right back to bed and slept another two hours.

The next few days were spent doing chores and hanging with friends. Then on Wednesday January 31st friends from Long Windid and Summer Dreams and us took a little trip to the waterfalls near the marina. We all packed into a van and took a nice short walk to the falls and Jeff and I actually went with the guide through the waterfalls into a cave behind it. Jeff's claustrophobia kicked in and we were in and out before we knew it. I as glad we made the effort. After the walk we ate lunch at the falls and then returned to the marina. It was a fun day.

Driving to the Waterfalls

En Route to Waterfalls

Following Faben Our Guide

Faben, Long Windid, Summer Dreams & Us

With Faben

Sunset Back at the Boat

The next day was all about trip planning. We met with Summer Dreams to discuss the overnight passage to Chiapas, our final port in Mexico. We finalised departure times and after made our way to the market to get some last minute provisions.

At 0557a.m. we threw lines and made our way out of Chahue for our 260 mile passage to Marina Chiapas for a 1:34pm arrival the following day. Summer Dreams was well ahead and sometime during the night we found another boat called What If. We encountered several long lines and of course during my 3am shift as we were cruising along I just happened to look out the starboard side door just to see a single water bottle floating right next to the boat which could only mean we were halfway over a long line. I woke Jeff to figure out what to do. He looked out the back and saw the clump of net we were now dragging. Since it was dark and in the middle of the night we decided it would be safest to wait until daylight to cut the line. So I monitored the engine temp, looked out the window and scanned the radar like a hawk and Jeff went back to sleep.

After 31.5hrs we made our way into Chiapas and our friend Kurtis on Summer Breeze was there to meet us. After getting tied up he told us there was a tamale party happening now at the pool and to come up as soon as we got checked in. Shortly after customs agents and a patrol dog entered the boat and the dog began sniffing its way around. We waited as the agents filled out paperwork and asked questions and I followed the dog and his two guides. About 30 minutes later all was done and we were checked into Chiapas and free to leave the boat. Somehow we attended the tamale party and had some celebratory drinks and delusionaly we made it till 6pm before passing out for the night. Welcome to Chiapas.