Ensenada

We finally left Ensenada this afternoon. The weather delayed us a few days as here was a massive storm that hit the California coast and the resulting surge was felt as far south as Ensenada. We had a couple of interesting nights riding out the surf at Baja Naval Marina. Their docks are better than most so at least they didn't break up. We doubled up our spring lines and one of the bow lines Saturday afternoon and by Sunday morning, we had one broken spring line and by Monday morning we had parted a bow line as well. We use large gold braid lines for out main bow and stern lines and they hardly showed any wear at all from the surge. The marina staff were great. They supplied extra fenders (big orange ball fenders) and went around tying up boats that had suspect lines. I actually spent more time retying lines on the boat next to us than on Tarun. One marina in the bay basically broke up and al the boats there ended up at anchor. Sunday night a 60+ foot fishing boat dragged anchor and landed at the end of the main dock we were tied up to. What really got us though was the garbage. We have never seen such a cesspool. It rained and coupled with the surge all the garbage washed down into the Bay. It was unbelievable. There was so much crap in the water that the action of the surge plugged up our galley and head sink drains. Because of that, I decided to start the engine this morning, well before we left and found that the engine intake was plugged as well. Diving it was out. You couldn't pay me enough to get in that water. I ended up pulling the intake line off our water strainer and shoving a piece of wire down it. I'm really glad I put the above the water line strainer in a few years ago. In the search for the problem I also uncovered a failing impeller so changed that out as well. It was funny, I just had this feeling before I started the engine that there was probably something wrong. So lesson learned "Trust in the Force" oops, I mean trust your feelings.
As for Ensenada, well to sum it up, what a dump. Neither Cathy nor I were happy about being there for 5 nights. The people were nice enough but the environment was foul. The marina was full of cruisers who for whatever reason got to Ensenada and never left. There were less than 5 boats in all that were seriously only there or clearance then moving on. We met one couple who along with a couple of friends are heading to the Sea of Cortez for the season. David and Catherine along with Jim and Charlie invited us for a meal of fish chowder (made with freshly speared fish courtesy of David). A great evening swapping stories. We will likely see them again in Turtle Bay. They have 35 foot full keel sloop that they have been rebuilding from a wreck for the past couple of years. A little rough cosmetically but well laid out with beautiful teak joinery below.

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