After the less than ideal approach and arrival to Turtle Bay it has been a great stop. Although, as I mentioned the other day, the downwind sailing I was forced to do was outstanding. 

It is an amazingly beautiful huge bay with desert mountains and mesas directly alongside the bay. 

There are currently 3 cruising boats in here. I was the only one first thing this morning, then 2 other sailboats came in before the brief squall this afternoon.  There was a forcast for thunderstorms tonight, but I'm not sure if those will appear or not. 

Yesterday I went for a nice paddle board and even going out 3 miles along the edge of the bay I only covered. maybe 1/6 or less of the total coastline.  I saw the standard sea lions and birds, as well as a sea turtle.  The bay must have been aptly named at one point. 

I also went ashore and walked around a little bit yesterday. I checked in at the 2 Pememx gas stations to see if they had the same battery size/orientation as the one I need for my permanent engine repair. No joy on that, but I'm sure I can make it down to Cabo where I assume the abilty to locate something will be better. 

The small town was a nice walk. I didn't see anything I needed to get as far as supplies as yet.  My neighbors did say that one of the markets had a good selection especially of fresh produce. 

I saw one of the fishing pangas out this morning checking their traps and apparently the birds are wise to the operation. There is actually a boat/panga with fishermen under that mound of floating birds...

I spent a little time looking at possible routes/legs for the next section down to Cabo San Lucas.  I'm about half way down the Baja Peninsula now. I saw in cruising guide that Punta Abreojos is right next to a lagoon that is closed off from vessel traffic as a natural preserve where the whales calve their young.  As I understand it, there are guided panga tours you can go into that lagoon and see the whales and their young there.  So I will spend a day or two there to try to arrange that.  So, my plan is to leave Turtle Bay for Abreojos  on Saturday (1 full overnight or maybe 2 days depending on wind) probably arriving on Christmas Eve.  Then I assume the tours and such will be dark for the holiday. I hope to do the tour on the 26th and then head out from Abreojos to Mag Bay which is another 1-2 day run depending on the normal variables.   After a day or 2 to explore that location at anchor I will do a third 1-2 day shot down to round the tip of Baja and go up about 6-7 miles to Puerto Las Cabos. Depending on how long I stay in Abreojos to tour the whale lagoon and the stop at Mag Bay I should arrive at the marina in the first couple days of January. 

I got an email from one of the marinas in Cabo letting me know that my waitlist spot opened up for thier marina for January. So I'll be heading into Marina Puerto Los Cabos for the month. I also am putting together a short trip back to pick up some Amazon loot and some small light items to bring back. Then I'll head off toward Puerto Vallarta across the Sea of Cortez and see what is around there.