Isolation in The Sea: Home Base

2020 Summer of COVID-19

A few of you may have noticed that it’s been a long while since we’ve posted to the blog. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first being that back in December we became a one computer family – my computer became an expensive paperweight, and with Rand working, it’s hard for me to get any screen time. Blessing or curse? You decide. The other reason was our obsession with the news coming out of the U.S. regarding the lead-up to the election last fall, the election, everything that happened since the election, the inauguration (how about that Amanda Gorman?!), the actions of the new Congress and SCOTUS – and not to mention the Covid, Covid, Covid. It seemed irresponsible or tone deaf or Polly-Anna-ish to post a happy blog without acknowledging all that is going on north of the border and around the world in general. Regardless, we’re happy to call the U.S. home and are looking forward to a fully-vaccinated summer when we head back up north.

Because we’re so far behind, we’re simply going to let the pictures do the talking for this and the next few posts. To reorient you, as described in the Candeleros y Candeleros Chico post, we (reluctantly) stayed south of the more remote environs of Bahía de Los Ángeles and the whale sharks last summer to ensure Capt. Rand was able to connect to the internet and earn my keep, and I was able to text/call family and friends nonstop. We orbited around the following spots for 6 months (!), with occasional jaunts out to nearby islands or anchorages when Rand could afford a little extra down time:

1. Puerto Escondido for a secure mooring when weather blew in, when we needed to do laundry, or we wanted to eat in a safe restaurant environment (and marginal, yet somewhat reliable connectivity);
2. Honeymoon Cove on Isla Danzante, but only once or twice because the bees were so fierce. Hence, we mostly avoided this lovely spot, unfortunately. Historically, it’s been one of our favorite, go-to anchorages. Drats.
3. Nopolo (aka Loreto Bay) for nice snorkeling (and mostly reliable (free) wifi);
4. Loreto for provisioning, propane, and ice cream (and very reliable connectivity); and
5. T&A, or unofficially known as Tom and Annie’s Window to Paradise, for excellent snorkeling and good protection from southies and westerlies (and ok connectivity with a cell booster). This dreamy little anchorage is named affectionately for our friends on S/V Tappan Zee, one of the only other boats that braved the Covid summer with us.

So, this little loop, including a couple of other spots on Isla Carmen, served effectively as our home base for the Covid summer, and it was quite homey.

Puerto Escondido Gallery

Honeymoon Cove, Nopolo, and Loreto Gallery

Tom and Annie’s Window to Paradise (aka T&A’s) Gallery