The next port after Zihuatenejo was Barra de Navidad. We entered the bay early in the morning in early August. The majestic Grand Bay Hotel still towers over the narrow entrance to the lagoon. As we rounded the corner toward the fuel docks we saw the lagoon; empty. Not a single vessel anchored in "the mud". It was almost mysterious since the last time we were in Barra (December 2008) there was almost no room for us to anchor.We planned to fuel up, splurge on a night or two at the fancy marina, tromp around Barra for a day or two and then launch our last leg home to Paradise Village, Puerto Vallarta.
Of course, planning any voyage in the middle of Hurricane Season, is laughable.
Entonces left Zihua a day after us under sail only as they had transmission issues. The storms and tropical lows chased them all the way there. They arrived in the Bay of Banderas a few days ahead of us at under six knots. Old Lost Elvis incurred a hefty marina bill from waiting out the storms that consistently ripped through or right by Barra. By the way, there were no visiting boats in the marina either but we still couldn't get a deal. Many Mexican business do not understand that when business is slow, jacking up the prices does not necessarily make up for things. We begged for a deal for our week long stay; but "nada". Next time we will anchor in the mud no matter what.
Barra is hot and muggy in the summer; much like Zihua but not as bad as Golfito, Costa Rica. Even the Columbian complained about Golfito and he lives in Baranquilla, which to me is just as hot. We toured around town with Eric (Northern Romance) and Heidi, his girlfriend, ate at Pipis, Ambers, and various other haunts. There was not a "cruiser" to be seen, nor any white folk either except for the odd ex-pat. It was the last few days of Mexican summer before the kids returned to school and they were everywhere with their bright pink, green and blue inflatable beach toys.
On Saturday, August 21, 2010, despite advice from Weather Routing, we decided we could no longer afford Grand Bay no matter how bad the weather was. We had to get out. We had the usual afternoon squalls and cells but made it from Barra to Nuevo Vallarta in about 19 hours.
We arrived in the dark near the markers for the channel into Paradise Village Marina. It started to pour rain. We motored around the bay, past La Cruz to see if we could find Entonces (Chad and Liza) waiting for dawn to help us see our way in. Lost Elvis can practically negotiate the entrance solo but the benefit of a little light was helpful.
Elizabeth and Richard (Seagnome; SG Boatworks) greeted us at the docks. It felt good to be home.
