We left Bahia Agua Verde after the morning routine. We were the first ones out for the day and on our way past Roca Solitaria, the rock that looks like a giant whale. The air was still and the water like glass. Of course that meant we couldn't sail but what the heck. We motored across the waters to our new spot, Caleta Candeleros Chico (The Little Candlestick Cove). Apparently there are some spires along the shore that look like candlesticks but I haven't seen them yet. I would like to mention that we saw a pod of dolphins making their way in the other direction but we needed to use the binoculars in order to see them from afar.
I have mentioned that the charts are off in this neck of the woods since we are still using charts that Columbus made, and he never stepped foot in this area. All seriousness aside, the charts were made in the late 1800s and are not real accurate. One must keep their eyes open. Nothing big, just things like passing right through that big rock on the chart when plainly you can see it a quarter mile to the east. Plotting the anchorage showed that we would be staying out in the Sea of Cortez without any land around in about 20 fathoms of water, ha. It does make it a little difficult to find a small anchorage when the shoreline tends to blend in, hiding the openings, adding to that the rocks that are hidden along the shoreline making it impossible to travel in close.
We did manage to find our little anchorage. It was small. Just big enough for Neos to fit into comfortably all by ourselves. Not a lot of room for any hiccups but the weather was in our favor. Sue brought the boat right down the center of the corridor with rocks just under the surface along both sides. Doing a tight pivot at the head of the little bay we dropped the hook and I watched, like looking into a swimming pool, as the anchor sank twenty five feet to the bottom, made its turn in the sand and sank in. We let out a hundred feet of chain (less than we usually do) and considered we were home.
The water was as clear as anything I have ever seen. You could count the grains of sand twenty feet down. From the deck I watched as little groups of puffer fish gathered on the bottom. There were a couple of skates, a ray that is shaped like a disc with a tail like a fish, scurrying across the bottom.
This was our private little cove. We were hot and the water cool so we got out our snorkeling gear and went skinny snorkeling. Ok kids, I know you don't want to hear that but come on, it was a very private cove. We snorkeled the short distance to the shore and found a great spot for some underwater sight seeing. I saw my first grouper since coming to the Pacific. He wasn't real big but did the typical grouper maneuver. I followed him as he sped away, then once in a spot of comfort, lots of sea weed to hide in, he made his turn and came back to the opening to see what was going on. Really funny how predictable they can be. There were lots of groups of Sergeant Majors, needle fish, and a few exotics here and there. We were starting to get a chill so had to head back to the boat. Along the way it was so clear that the sea weed floating on the surface left a shadow on the bottom.
Back at the boat I asked Sue what the name of the volley ball was that Tom Hanks was stuck with on the deserted island. She yelled over that it was Wilson. I then grabbed a soccer ball as it floated by and tossed it over to Sue, with the name Wilson printed on it. It had seen better days but still held air. How funny is that? It hadn't been at sea for long since it was still very clean. We will have to pass it along to some kids later on.
It was such a nice night I put out the hammock and spent a portion of the night sleeping out back. It was fantastic with the skies packed with more stars than I have seen in the last six years of cruising. The phosphorescence was strong. This happens when the water is a certain temperature and little invisible critters let off a glow, much like a fire fly, as they are disturbed. As the fish swim around they disturb these little critters and leave glowing streaks in the water. It was looking real kewl until the Popcorn Rays started to jump. Wow, now that was kewl. As they made their belly flops in the water they let off a big phosphorescent flash. What a sight.
We did take in a movie last night, Here to Eternity, Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster. Lots of others, including faces that were recognized as actors yet to become famous. The movie is famous for the scene where Burt and Deborah kiss madly while getting rolled in the surf. I think it is Latitude 38 that has the ongoing contest for cruisers to send in their picture of kissing while rolling in the surf. We couldn't believe how short the famous scene really was. I mean, if you blinked you could have missed it. Funny how these things go.
This morning was picture perfect, just a slight breeze, with flat calm water. I got up about a half hour earlier this morning and caught the papa gecko sneaking across the boat on his last run before daylight. He is alive and well for anyone out there keeping track…..more later
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