Simon and Lisa Lilley Reflect on Life, Post-Baja Ha-Ha
Simon and Lisa Lilley from Seattle joined the Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally to Mexico aboard their Hallberg-Rassy 42F Capricorn. They had a fun ride south, then the rally was over and their crew all went home. Now what?
How is life post-Baja Ha-Ha? Where does one begin? Lisa and I were both Ha-Ha first-timers from the Pacific Northwest, and ours was a flurry of novel experiences — anchoring by rustic villages, bazeball with the local muchachos, parties on the beach, and a hazy night or two in Cabo. Our last official event was a party in La Paz, with Mexican cuisine, culture and dancing. And then, just like that, the events were over, our crew went home, and we were left to our own devices.
Our first post-Ha-Ha trip was to the pristine island of Espiritu Santo. Never in Puget Sound had I been in water so clear that I could see my anchor on the sand below. I remember lying in the warm, velvet sea next to the boat, face down with a snorkel for what seemed like hours, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of tropical fish. Truly this was the pinnacle of relaxation! Sadly, the moment was short-lived.
A wrong move while retrieving the anchor resulted in a slipped disc, and an unforeseen two-month stay at Marina de La Paz. Mercifully, Neil and the fine people at the marina were able to accommodate us, and we soon adapted to La Paz culture. The mornings started with yoga for Lisa followed by coffee at Club Cruceros, the local cruising club and hangout that we quickly joined. Lisa often volunteered to serve meals, and it was a good opportunity to catch up with the goings-on with the commodore, MaryJo, our cruising friends from the marina and anchorage, and various other local characters.
During the day, we braved the heat to get some exercise and take in the culture at the local museums, grab an amazing taco at Tacos de Felix (any flavor you want, so long as it’s carne asada), or go in search of limes for an afternoon chelada. The period just before sundown was marked with the sound of lawn chairs being unfolded on the dock, and the start of another informal happy hour with dock residents and fellow transients. Afterward, there were many fine places to choose from for dinner, whether at Estrella del Mar listening to the tropical guitar of Captain Wayne; the spectacular mariscos at La Baja Crudos; or the hip spots downtown just a short walk down the malecon.
Easy as La Paz life was, by the end of January, my back was healed and we were ready to start moving again. We had perfect conditions with a following wind and a full moon, so after a brief stop at Bahia de los Muertos, we made our crossing to Mazatlán and arrived at first light with a rising tide.