Chacala (December 10)

We attempted to get an early start off I Isabella to San Blas ~ 40 miles away on the mainland. However, the engine starter decided that it didn’t really like being hit with a hammer, and wasn’t going to be starting. Dan had another starter, and swapped it out in less than an hour. Which, we both agreed was a pretty quick fix. Had a 25 knot breeze from an unexpected direction, that had us beating along with a double reef that afternoon. Wooohooo! We avoided bites from the infamous no-see-ums of San Blas, anchoring far enough from the shore in Mantanchen Bay just south of the city.

Dan is on a bit of a schedule and we can’t linger too long anywhere so that we can make sure he meets his daughter in Barra on the 18th. Our next destination, Chacala, is supposed to be a nice little coastal stop. In order to spend some quality time under the palapas, I requested we leave Mantanchen Bay early the next morning to get into Chacala early enough in the afternoon to enjoy it. Dan though that was fine, and in fact liked the place so much we stayed two nights.
The cruisers (that’s what the sail boaters call themselves) were pretty friendly in Chacala. Ray on "Adios" came out in his dingy to help us with our stern anchor. Others organized bocce ball and Mexican train domino games in the afternoons. There were probably 20 of us sipping beer under the palapa by late afternoon, including a few people that I recognized from Mazatlan. As we made our way from anchorage to anchorage down the coast, we’d get to know and cross paths with a number of the other boats also heading south.

Things are starting to look more tropical, palm trees on the shore and more greenery than cactus. The local mosquito repellent is the smoke from burning coconut shells. So, as you’re making your way from the table to the bathroom after sunset, you have to be careful not to step on the burning piles left here and there.

I don't know why I didn't take some pictures of this place. It was nice.