Fun with Turtles!

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (photo from internet)

OK! THIS is the kind of stuff that makes cruising really fun!
Yesterday evening Chris, Mary & I went to Nuevo Vallarta and were able to take part in releasing baby turtles into the sea. What fun!
When we arrived there was a small children's wading pool that was full of turtles that had just hatched within the previous 48 hours and were anxious to get on their way to the water. The folks in charge of the release program gave a short presentation about the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (which is what these were). These turtles are on the endangered list and Mexico is doing a great job of trying to protect them and help them to re-populate. In Mexico, it is a felony to touch a turtle...even if it is a dead one! Further, turtle eggs are still a real delicacy here and are often a part of wedding feasts and other ceremonies as they are considered to promote fertility. There is still a large black market for the eggs so the authorities have their work cut out for them.
We were told that these little babies (and they are really little...not even as big as the palm of your hand) have to swim all the way to the Marietta Islands (about 10 miles) before they are "safe" and only about 5% will likely make it. There are lots and lots of predators between here and there. Here are a couple of the really interesting things we found out:
1) The sex of the turtle is determined by where the egg is in the nest. The ones on the bottom, where it is cooler, will be males and the ones closer to the top (warmer) will all be females.
2) All the babies are born with a "power pack" built into their tummies. This is a special energy "pack" that activates as soon as they hit the water and will provide the nourishment they need for 15 days while they are traveling to their "safe" area.
3) Once they are in the water, the male turtles will never come back to land again. Only the females return and only when they need to lay eggs.
4) The releases are done at different times and in different places so that the fish (ie: predators) don't "learn" where they can find these delicacies on a daily basis.
The baby turtles are very, very cute and they feel like velvet. They are a bit slow moving when you put them on the sand (and seem to get tired out and take rest periods) but once they get to the water they are gone like a shot.
Being a part of this activity was something we all enjoyed immensely and will always remember. Since we often see these turtles when we are out sailing it was really fun to be there at the beginning of the cycle.

Note: Photos and video courtesy of Chris!

Whaaaat?

Two days ago we awoke at 5am to a "funny" noise on the cabin top...RAIN! Chris & I got up and quickly closed hatches but when we arose later to begin the day, the sun was shining and all was well again...except that the cockpit cushions were a bit on the "squishy" side. We set them out in the sun and by the time we returned from breakfast they were dry and ready to be sat upon once again.
This morning, again in the wee hours, wet stuff began pitter patting on the cabin top. I forced myself to climb out of my warm bed, run about making sure hatches and ports were closed and move the cockpit cushions onto the dashboard so they would remain dry.
What is going on?? Is this another aspect of Global Warming? Last year we didn't see rain at all from the time we arrived in Mexico until we returned to the Northwest. Granted, it is warm rain so we can still wear shorts, but it isn't exactly ideal weather for tanning or dining in the cockpit. In addition, even when the water stops dropping out of the sky and the sun makes an appearance, a residual amount of moisture remains behind (think humidity) that causes the "heat index" to increase.
Chris tells me we are right in the middle between two giant high pressure areas but that shouldn't cause wetness to fall from the sky. We are completely flummoxed about why it is raining in Mexico!
Mary is, understandably, confused as well. Is it possible the Portland weather followed her? No...NOAA's prediction for Portland today is freezing rain...quite typical for winter there. Her expectation was that she would go home with evidence that she spent a lot of time on the beach. We will do our best to accommodate that. Perhaps there's a tanning salon nearby?

Christmas at "home"

Here we are in La Cruz again after an absence of 9 months and our arrival was like coming home. When we called the office and requested a slip they told us the dock guys would be there to take a line and they were...just like last year. As I stepped onto the dock, Manuel recognized us and welcomed us back. He loaned us his gate card so we could go check in with the office and I was happy to see Maria was still there. She was genuinely delighted to see us again and gave me a big hug and welcome. Raffa, who had just taken over as marina manager shortly before we left, even remembered us! As Chris & I walked back to the boat after checking in, we both commented that it is good to be "home". I was also excited to see quite a few friends from last season and look forward to catching up with them as well as making new friends this year.
One of the things I love the most about Mexico is the people. When you go to a restaurant, a butcher shop, a vegetable market, etc, the people who work there (usually the owners) ask your name and add you to their "friend" roster. Even better, the next time you frequent their place of business, they remember you!
So...it is Christmas morning. Mary is here visiting. Yesterday we took her to Bucerias to do some shopping and have lunch at a palapa on the beach. Last night we attended a Christmas Eve potluck-on-the-lawn with the other cruisers who are here, took a quick shower and then rowed back to the boat to play some Mexican Train before going to bed so Santa could make an appearance! This morning, after opening our gifts we are listening to holiday music and doing a bit of email, etc before we row across to the restaurant for breakfast. Since we just arrived the 22nd and Mary was flying in the 23rd Chris & I had no time to shop for each other so our gifts were IOU's! Chris is giving me an inflatable kayak and my gift to him is a new handheld GPS...as soon as we can get to a place where those can be purchased!
Christmas dinner will be at Philo's Restaurant where we celebrated Thanksgiving last year. He provides the turkeys and the guests bring potluck dishes to share. Then "Santa" arrives and gives gifts (all of which have been donated by cruisers and local residents) to the local children. Once all that excitement is over there will be music and dancing and plenty more socializing. We are looking forward to a very fun evening.
Sunshine, 80 degree weather, secure at the dock, a wonderful husband and my best friend here to share the occasion and a few calls to family to top off the day. How much better can it get? I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Leaving San Carlos

Don't get me wrong. I love San Carlos. But it is definitely time to leave. It's getting cold! We have taken to wearing jeans and sweatshirts (I refuse to give up my flip flops). Nights on board involve two comforters. Dinghy rides to and from the boat are chilly at best!
JJ & Cher, arrived last Monday and we still were not ready to leave the dock. Thursday we were "ready enough" and at 2:20 cast off and headed out into the Sea of Cortez. By 4:30 we were back and anchored in the anchorage where we still reside. Less than an hour out we discovered that the batteries were DIScharging. Turns out the alternator had decided to give it up so we turned that over to Star Marine for repair and spent some time training our guests and showing them around San Carlos and trying to eat and drink our way through pretty much every restaurant and cantina in town. The boys got a little out of control at the Soggy Peso on Catch 22 Beach and purchased lots of tourist duds (after they had purchased a few cervezas).
The alternator was finished and installed this morning and is making power like nobody's business. The weather is starting to turn around (from south winds to north/northwest) so tomorrow morning we are boogying south. It will be a much more abbreviated trip than we anticipated but our expectation is that we will have JJ & Cher back in La Paz in time to catch their 6:30 am flight on the 13th.
So...last minute jobs included provisioning at Ley's (what, exactly IS a "Donkey to Iron"???) another trip to Tony's for more fresh produce, a pedicure and haircut for the "Capitan" and returning the truck, yet again, to the storage facility.
Stay tuned for more of the adventures of "Faith" and her steadfast crew!