La Cruz de Huanacaxtle (December 2011)

We arrived in Banderas Bay in early December and proceeded directly to La Cruz de Huanacaztle where we anchored among about 35 other boats.  We felt right at home here since there were 3 other boats from our marina in Olympia and many other friends whom we had met along the way.  Our plan was to stay in the bay through Christmas then continue south as far as Manzanillo before we have to turn around and start working our way north toward the Sea of Cortez again.

Brother Gene and Bob making up lost time

     The girls were overjoyed (as were we) to spend time with our friends from Andiamo III, who have been here for over a year!  The town is a wonderful beachside community with cobblestone streets, friendly people, great local restaurants, open air markets, and a large modern marina full of cruisers like us.  The local population and the cruisers live together in harmony and to each other's benefit.
     My sister, Diane and her friend Laurie were escaping the NW cold in mid December by visiting Nuevo Vallarta.  Lucky for us, we were nearby and able to spend some time with them.  They even took  our girls back to their hotel for a "girls night" of fun, food, and t.v..  We had a nice dinner out at Paradise village that night.  The next day we had a wonderful day of sailing around Banderas Bay.

Diane and Lori join us for a day sail around Banderas Bay

     The remainder of our time here was spent playing on the beach, shopping, enjoying nightly happy hours, and dinghy sailing.  We had a great time on Christmas Eve and Day hanging out with the crew of Andiamo III, Endeavor, Harmony, WadesAweigh, and Serendipity.

The anchorage at La Cruz

The girls joined the Christmas carolers on the docks

It was a wonderful Christmas morning (note all decorations are home made).

     Our plans were to leave La Cruz on December 29, but we have come to know that God laughs when we make "plans".  On our way out of town, our engine raw water pump started leaking and burned up a bearing.  We limped back into the anchorage and immediately started searching for parts.  Thanks to our wonderful friends on Endeavor and WadesAweigh (and their wonderful friends and family) we were able to locate and have our parts delivered within just a few days.
     Next stop...Chamela