La Cruz

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Our passage to La Cruz went well. It was an overnight passage to get around Cabo Corrientes a notoriously windy Punta most folks travel at night when the winds lay down. We also expected the passage to take nearly 20 hours, but, we had a very favorable current traveling with us and all conditions were excellent. We therefore arrived and anchored at 3:30am.

When awakening we found we were anchored at the edge of the anchorage in another humongous bay. There were mountains in the distance and along the shoreline was the usual endless beach. We were right out side of La Cruz marina.

The Marina La Cruz Huanacaxtle in Riviera Nayarit,

Off ashore we went to explore. La Cruz marina offers a dinghy landing for a small daily fee. It also allows trash drop off, so is very convenient.

The marina itself is very large and was very full as it was height of the season for the Pacific fleet to assemble before departure.

There are every type of boat, mega yachts, commercial tour boats, private boats etc. The marina can accommodate up to 340 vessels including boats up to 400 feet long. Yep, a very large marina.

Off to the town we strolled

The town is delightful. One exits the marina and there you are at the town square.

There are several small eateries of which we tried them all and all were wonderful.

For about $15 we could have a good lunch plus a lemonada each. We would normally sit outside and enjoy the goings on around us.

The town has the basic tiendas, a few laundry, ATMs and hardware store. Many of the buildings are painted in brilliant artwork which I just love.

Into the marina

After about a week at the anchorage we went into the marina. We had various boat chore plus a good cleaning to do. Then things started to go wrong

Several worrisome weeks followed

1. When we first arrived at La Cruz both John and I had some sort of virus, cough, feeling badly for a few days, but we just took Ibuprofen and soldiered through.

2. Then, I went to use my computer and there was no wifi, bluetooth etc. Absolutely no connection, so off to the city – Puerto Vallarta to the Mac Store. One hour in there, to be told they needed added info before they would help. Feeling exasperated from wasting ages in the Mac store, back to La Cruz and Aeeshah, another hour in a taxi.

Next day, in we go again, this time after ages of being consulted I left my computer. I was told I would hear back soon….well, 6 days later with no word back we went. Another hour wasting away in the Mac Store to be told it was not fixable. And no, can’t buy a new one in Mexico as they only sell Spanish ones.

That was when we decided to do a visa run to the US and get me a new Mac. BUT meanwhile, no photo editing, limited online time with just my phone or John’s iPad….I was one very sad lady.

3. Next day, Chico was having troubles urinating, he was crying and in distress. Off to the vet’s we rushed. The closest vet said he didn’t have an ultra sound and Chico needed an immediate ultra sound. He sent us to a vet near Puerto Vallarta, an hour away.

At the vets Chico was really not happy! Unfortunately, he did not like the lady vet at all and she was scared of him. He did get an ultra sound and sure enough his bladder and urethra had debris/small stones collecting.

Poor guy had to stay there. He was in the vets, hooked up to tubes and a drain for nearly a week. When I was told to go get him, I had to go in the back and get him out of his cage. Plus I had to remove the IV, cause the vet was still scared of him.We got back to the boat and he really was not well.

He was on a special diet and 2 lots of medication, not his idea of fun. Anyway the food made him vomit.

Off to yet another vet that we had heard about. This vet Dr Thomas was very sympathetic, had no problem with Chico and gave us alternative special food. Plus Dr Thomas arranged for a specialist to come the next day.

Back the next day Dr. Viridiana was absolutely amazing, the best vet we have ever seen. The lady took all sorts of readings, examined every part of Chico, showed us what to do, gave us more pain killer and antibiotics for him.

She was wonderful. We made an appointment to see there the following week, plus she was willing to see him whenever necessary. We were mightily relieved. Finally he started to show signs of improvement.

Now, he is 100% better. He will always be on a special diet, but should be fine.

Finally we could make plans to fly to San Diego. We had a very nice fellow watch Chico for us and flew out for 3 days.

San Diego for 3 days

We arranged for Chico to have a cat sitter. His name was Kevin, and he did a wonderful job caring for Chico.

See below our marina from above, yep, we flew right over La Cru Marina.

Basically we flew on a Sunday direct to San Diego. Stayed for 3 days of which we were busy 1st, buying my computer. The Mac store had a look at my old computer agreed that it was dying. However here it only took the guy, who they called a Genius Tech. About 10 minutes to tell. I arranged with him to copy over every bit of info from the old to the new. He couldn’t guarantee anything, but when I returned the next day everything was completed.

We visited the huge West Marine where we spent quite a while and John got all he needed.

And then we flew back to La Cruz.

Finishing up chores

John pulled the dinghy onto our dock space and with the help of Adrian they patched the various leaks. I repaired the cover, the dinghy was cleaned and then put back together. It was good few days work.

Meanwhile I repaired and patched the dinghy’s cover, and did all the other cleaning that goes with having a boat.

Walks

Each day we walked the town picking up what we needed, plus enjoying the sights in town too.

Plus we walked the long promenade which took us passed the fish market.

The fish market was huge! Inside there were half a dozen vendors selling fish and shellfish of every description.

All displayed in ice, such a great selection. We of course bought fresh fish, the mai mai plus they had Chilean salmon too.

Outside the fish market were the fishing boats. It was quite a fleet of boats too.

Everyday fishermen were returning with their catches and their fan club of birds. We spent time watching them all and the excitement created.

Further along the promenade was an area where nets were repaired and a peninsular with a shrine. Im guessing it was there to bless the sea farers.

From the promenade I could access the beach.

The beach was quite long and had quite a collection washed up from the bay.

I really enjoyed the beach combing, not that I took any back to the boat, but it was interesting to see what was washed ashore.

In the opposite direction to the marina was the seawall which had docks branching off to the inside.

On Sundays we discovered there was a very large market. There must be at least a hundred to 150 vendors, plus musicians play at the amphitheater.

Dusty, dusty dusty

DUSTY, is the proper description for La Cruz. As there were several unpaved streets, open areas with construction plus cobbled streets there was and is always dust. Quite an incredible amount of dust everywhere. The cars showed the accumulation of dust……

Sunday markets

The first time we discovered the market we took a few hours to walk the length of it as there is such a diversity of crafts and arts.

We both found mostly everything offered interesting.

For me the crafts were ones I had never seen before. Picture made from tree bark, colourful pictures made from colourful reeds intricately forming a scene.

John was amazed by the metal work and the leather work.

There’s an amphitheater where for a few hours there’s live entertainment!

Then at the end there are venders selling all types of foods, just so much.

Outside the marina gates there are also market vendors selling more goods. The jewelry was brilliantly crafted using the Mexican silver and semi precious stones. We ended up every Sunday visiting the market.

We had ended up in La Cruz Marina for one entire month. It was time to move on. John wanted to get Aeeshah’s bottom seen to, La Cruz was not the place. So it was on on ……