The islands Espirtu Santo and Partida are national marine parks, located just 20 miles from La Paz. It offers a cruiser the perfect playground to frolic in crystal clear warm water and on beautiful white sandy beaches. Our new favorite place to drop our anchor is a sweet cove called Ensenada Grande. Right around the corner from this cove is Los Islotes, which hosts a sea lion colony. There are many snorkel tours and divers that arrive here daily from La Paz, so the sea lions are quite familiar with humans splashing around in their domain, and they don't seem to mind at all. It was a bit intimidating jumping into the water with them at first, because they come right up to you, and then dash away as fast as they appeared! Patrick and Jack logged many dives from this sweet rock. It ranks as their number one favorite dive spot in the sea at this moment. I snorkeled, and hands down, it was the best place I have ever snorkeled. In addition to the Sea LIons, there are huge schools of fish of all different shapes and sizes. I have not dove since Puerto Escondido ( I miss you Terry!) It's not that I don't want to. The complication is that I don't have the getup to dive since I really never thought I ever would (BC, Tank, Regulator...ect) so I snorkel above them, and the water is so clear here that I can see them even when they are 45 feet below me!
Los Islotes now holds another special meaning for me and Jack. I released my fathers ashes here on Fathers Day. He passed away in October, and my sons, Alex and Blake brought me his ashes when they came to Ixtapa for the holidays. I had been waiting for the right place to let him go, and for what ever reason, It just seemed like the right time and place to do so.
Since the last post, much has occurred aboard Santosha. Patrick and I turned another year older, we experienced our first hurricane to keep on eye on, which never put us in any danger, it just made listening to the morning weather a bit more exciting. We also met a great family that we have been having so much fun with (M/V Contominium) Rich, Lynn and Bryce, who is Jacks age. Bryce also happens to be a packers fan.....being a girl from Wisconsin, need I say more?
And now for the future........a decision has been made...... We do not plan to continue on with our sailing plans next season. When we return from Bali in September, Jack will head back to Aspen for the 5th grade. I will head back to my mat to teach yoga....and Blake will move back in with us. He has been having a very hard time living on his own, and this is the primary factor in this decision. He still needs his Mom, and it is a need I am happy and lucky to fill. There are several other reasons (the daily homeschool battle ground being one) and we all agree that a year at sea has been enough. It is a mixed bag of emotions in this moment. Typing this out loud fills me with a sadness to be leaving this life behind, and yet so excited and thrilled to be returning to my wonderful life at home. We will leave Santosha in Mexico, and figure out when and how to get her home. As for the captain....he says he has no plans...so he will continue the cruising life on land I guess.
We all feel so grateful that we had and took this opportunity to live on our boat and sail from California to the end of Mexico. We have made so many new friends, which we plan to stay in touch with....and you know who you are.....the front door to our house will always be open for you to come visit and play, renew your visas, ect., any time...and we hope you do.......Seriously!
This entire experience has yet to be unpacked. I am sure when we make our re entry into our old way of being, it will be clear how much we have changed. And the trip to Bali will hold a few more lessons as well I am assuming.....so the journey isn't over yet. My good friend Jessica is joining us in Bali for 10 days, and I am so looking forward to spending time with this very special soul in a place like this. To have her with me is just icing on this decedent cake that will complete this one year journey.
Now it's time to get to work. We are back in La Paz and prepping Santosha for her rest this summer in hurricane land. While Patrick works on her outsides (taking down the sails and rigging, ect. ect,) I'll work on her insides, making sure we don't return to any unwanted crew when we bring her home (cockroaches).
Enjoy these last pictures from our journey at sea. Next post and photos will be from Ubud, Bali, Indonesia!!!
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