Guaymas to Seattle
We took the bus from Tijuana to Guaymas, a 14 hour trip to reunite ourselves with TEKA III, right after Christmas 2007. That led to a month of getting ready, re-supplying, and re-launching to get on our way back home. We had a couple of mishaps getting the chores done, such as the engine refusing to start on its initial test, and an accidental acid-washing that dissolved an important nut for the Gardner engine. Fortunately an extra part became available in Canada and made a special international trip south to us via UPS. Engine fixed, we waited for the travel lift to be available at the right tide. We held our breath when the lift blew one of its airplane tires, with no spares available. After a fast run to the Hermosillo airport and some fancy hustle bustle at the boatyard, we were in the water again by February 7.
Once launched we headed to the Baja side of Sea of Cortez, picked up David and Summer for a ride to LaPaz. David got skunked with fishing. The water was just too cold. (55-58 degrees). They flew out to SanDiego and John Wright re-joined us for the leg to Seattle, if we did not take too long. He did have a garden to put in sometime in the Spring. We had some beautiful sunsets along the way to LaPaz.
Twenty five hours LaPaz to Cabo, but weather window still open so we kept going, stopping at Santa Maria to rest. Left soon after we rested and didn’t stop until Turtle Bay, after having quite a bump in the night at Punta Abreojos. Waves just too steep and we went up one and fell off the top, bam! I will never forget Capo Hipolote, the windiest place on the Pacific side of Baja.
After Turtle Bay we avoided the north point of Cedros by going out to San Benitos to see the elephant seals, and see them the boys did, even a mating scene.
San
Benito Island viewed by Denis on his hike and
elephant seal posing for the camera
Ensenada was the last stop in Baja, and the finish of the Baja Bash. Out to eat and a serenade by a mariachi band on our last night in Mexico. The next day we pointed the bow north to America and arrived in San Diego late afternoon. David and Aeren came down to welcome us at the dock.
The month spent in San Diego meant boat business at Knight & Carver, visits with friends, being written up in the K&C Newsletter (we are famous there) and making a tentative route for port hopping on the way north. Weather would dictate progress, but we wanted and needed to get going. Departed San Diego April Fool’s Day for Oceanside rendezvous with friends before heading offshore.
Routing included San Diego to Catalina Island to Oxnard (5 day weather delay there), Point Conception, Morro Bay (to see Keith Jones), San Simeon, Monterey (3 day delay), Half Moon Bay, and San Francisco (2 days with Bobby to visit). Continuing north of San Francisco, the Point Arena and Cape Mendocino areas were easy to pass in the daytime this trip. Depth sounder showed depths ranged from 100 to 1000 feet and back just like that. No wonder the ocean got wild and crazy there.
Stopped at Eureka to visit Katrina, John’s daughter. Then minefields of crab pots, and a supposed-to-be-crab-eating boycott, but Keith Bystrom joined us in Crescent City and ordered one big crab for each of us right off the crab boat. So much for boycotts. Also had an episode with snaring a long line at “oh dark hundred” along the coast going north. A highly choreographed effort got us out of trouble.
At Newport Keith left and Don Rennie arrived. Also met folks on Desert Venture, Angie and Bruce. Alaska next year buddy boating, eh?
Left Newport at 0600 on May 1st, arrived at Cape Flattery late afternoon following day and anchored in Neah Bay before dark—36 hours. Good trip this time as compared to the aborted trip of 1997 rounding that point.
Port Angeles, then Tacoma. A bright beautiful blue day with the mountains shining; low winds and good current made it a fast travel day.
Olympic Mountains and Port Angeles Lighthouse
Mt Rainier stood out very tall and welcoming for our arrival at Hylebos Dock, the place Dawn had arranged to be ready just for us. There the family stood poised to catch our lines and Sushi barked on cue.
Family
and crew from TEKA III on arrival at Hylebos Marina
The trip from Guaymas began Feb 7 and ended May 4, 2008, logging 2,052 nautical miles, after which John left for Fairbanks to start his garden.
The End