After waiting out the storm that failed to materialize (the best kind of storm by the way) we started to make our way further south and eventually east. We were basically killing time until December 1st when we had plans to be in Topolobampo.
After 48 hours in Puerto Escondido it was time to move on. While it is a good harbour, Fonatur, the agency that runs most marinas in Mexico, decided that the mooring balls here are now worth 1 US dollar a foot per night. Anchoring is not allowed here, so it’s a mooring ball or the even more expensive dock. Not in my books and we have heard many other cruisers express the same. There are many bays and coves where we can anchor for nothing. We spent the next week bouncing around Carmen and Coronados Islands and eventually ended up in Agua Verde.




Agua Verde was our staging point before crossing the Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez for Topolobampo on the west coast of mainland Mexico. We spent a couple of days in Aqua Verde while looking for a weather window to make the 100-mile crossing. The winds have been blustery and the waves confusing the last few days, but we thought we had a window and decided to leave at noon, with Salish Dragon, to do an overnight crossing before the next “Norther “ (strong winds from the North) were coming.


While not the worst conditions to be out in, they certainly took some of the pleasure out of pleasure boating. We ended up with cloudy skies, a moonless night and even a bit of rain. Wind gusts to 28 knots and waves up to 2 meters. The boat needed a good wash and we needed a good rest by the time we arrived in Topolobampo.



So why Topolobampo you ask? While, beside the fact that the name is cool and just rolls off you tongue, it was a convenient place to leave our boats while we toured inland, checked out Copper Canyon and the Chepe Train. We were a group of ten, four of us from Topolobampo, 4 came up from Mazatlan and two more flew in from Seattle. We spent eight days traveling by train and bus checking out this area of Mexico. Turns out it was a trip so cool it deserves a posting of its own. Stay tuned.
Amazing journey. Was Copper Canyon all you hoped for? What about the train. Is this something you would recommend? I know who to ask “anything Mexico” . Love the photos and stories. Derick you have a great way with words.