Xel-Ha

Xel-Ha (pronounced 'Shell-Hah'!... with emphasis on the Hah!)

We, and Bennetts, opted for a day trip to Xel-Ha. It included very comfortable bus travel, use of all the water equipment, and all-inclusive for eating and drinking. $34/person. Excellent deal!

The trip southward seemed long, we had left the hotel at 7:30 a.m. Early for us! We arrived and were instructed where to go, what other options were available (like swimming with the dolphins... which we happen to think is an unkind and demeaning treatment of such a lovely animal). Sad enough that they are kept in captivity for our watching enjoyment.




We hurried to a lovely buffet restaurant and got our morning coffee – and a great supply of delicious foods to go with it!




Once sated Jim and I chose to float down a mangrove enclosed fresh water 'river'. It was a lovely walk through tropical vegetation to a trolley cart which took us the remainding distance to where the water-ride started. We selected individual clear plastic 'tire' tubes, and were helped onto them and so started our gentle journey. The waters flowed gently and we pushed ourselves off mangrove branches and rocky outcroppings and relaxed our way down the river. We seemed quite alone during this end of the trip.

Shortly we were in to waters that were much wider across, but still just a gentle flow to keep us going in the right direction. We floated past many young people having great fun on zip lines. They could only zip so far and then they had to plunge into the waters too. It looked like great fun as they had the lagoon under them at all times.

About an hour later we disembarked and wandered along the trails again. We saw a pier where we could walk out and look at fish. Two huge manatees were lolling in the waters beneath. Quite amazing to see.

Back at the locker rooms we got our snorkel sets and then walked to the east side of the park. From there we got into the more salty waters and snorkeled for at least an hour, watching a great array of large to tiny fishes in every colour you can imagine. Shortly after we started snorkeling we saw 2 manta rays float by us on our right side. Exciting!



It is mandatory to wear a life jacket in this area so it was quite comfortable just to float around, easily adjusting direction and speed. The experience made our day. I was especially happy because Jim (who is not the water baby I am) spent and enjoyed the whole time as much as I did.

Time flew by and it was now mid-afternoon so we met us with Shirley and Gerald and went for more food and drinks. Such an amazing array of foods, lots of Mexican food which I love but also lots of great meat and potatoes – and even lasagna! Always room for deserts which were so yummy too.



Now we took a few minutes to relax on the hammocks. There were dozens of them but many were being used.




We were back on the bus by 5:15 and enjoyed the trip home as we watched the lights of cities and grand hotels along the way.



That is one tour that we will be happy to do again. Many more activities to do next time - especially with this sweet man I travel with!

Mexican Fiesta

Mexican Fiesta

Oh Thursday evening we were bussed to the Hacienda Andalucia. It was excited to see the place. Everything about the 2 story building looked very Spanish. Terraces with arched coves, courtyard in the center, performers dressed in their grand Spanish/Mexican traditional costumes, ground floor stall for the horses were all part of this hacienda.

As soon as we entered the main floor and reception area we were offered something to drink. The margueritas were lime, strawberry – or tamarind. I'd never heard of that before. It looked somewhat brown but I noticed several 'locals' preferred it.
I think there may have been around 300 guests there. A large group were visitors from Argentina.

Around 7 pm we were escorted to our designated seating on the second floor. Shortly after everyone settled in, the stage entertainment began. The MC was high energy and entertaining. We saw a number of dances with 3 ladies and 3 men in representative costumes of various areas in Mexico. All very elegant and beautiful. Astounding feet work too. A mariachi band played several melodies and a pretty girl sang.

Shortly after this we were called to the buffet tables and in orderly fashion filled our plates with the wonderful foods offered in Mexico, tamales, tostadas, salads, pulled pork, Veracruzan fish, roast beef with some subtle flavoured gravy, rice, beans, vegs, so many other choices, plus a great display of various desserts – including our favourite, flan. We ate and drank our fill.

As quickly as we could finish the meal we were invited back to the main floor and directed to the north end where we sat on bleachers (with back support) around a riding ring, and then the main event began.

The horse show was wonderful. First, about 8 girls, all beautifully dressed in blue and white frilly dresses, galloped into the ring riding side-saddle on their lovely horses. The horses did a bit of intricate weaving around each other, all the while with the ladies sitting regally and still moving at a good pace. One young lady sat upon her dancing horse and sang a beautiful song. Later another young woman came riding out on the most beautiful silvery white horse we had ever seen. The tail and main were creamy but the horse just glistened in the light. Her horse danced too, and she sang, and the whole presentation was stunning.

Two men, one dressed in Spanish traditional garb and one in Mexican traditional garb rode together in the ring. They were both grand in their own style and their horses were beautifully trained. The horses fell into dressage moves with ease and were very impressive.

There was also some great humour thrown into the mix to keep everyone laughing.

The waiters continued to pass out drinks to those who wanted to partake too.

The final evening performance was from the Spanish rider and 'Jose' with his donkey. It was a hilarious competition and most of the crowd was persuaded that Jose was really the hero of the night – after all, his donkey would kneel down and roll over.

Westcoast Sail - Week 4

Aug. 28 - Sunday

Away from the FREE dock by 9:30 am.


Tides and currents will decide our destination but, after due diligence (ha ha), it is homeward bound.

We travelled down Old Passage and Indian Passage and up into Joe Cove on the south side of Eden Island, a perfect spot to anchor.


Norm tied to a raft in a tiny nearby cove. We all dinghied over at 5 pm for Happy Hour on the slightly worse for wear raft.


Arctic tug, "Popeye" with Ron and Sue arrived too and tied to the other side of the raft. Had a great visit with all.

Holes in the raft were like an aquarium - beautiful anemonies, tiny fish and jelly fish were on display.


Water temp 13C.

Aug 29 - Monday

Left Joe Cove around 9 am. Low tide and no fog.

A gorgeous exit and crossing through small rocky islands. Such a beautiful morning light. Dolphins, seals and birds enhanced the views.

We wended our way southward with a clear view to the Queen Charlotte Strait.

It was so calm everywhere. We had hoped to stop at an Indian Reservation with a longhouse and historical masks but 'they weren't on display now'.

We cross Knight Inlet, twisting around by more islets. Checked out Heath Lagoon above Gilford Island but carried on south, heading for Mound Island for the night. Water temp 9C. We arrived early so carried on down the same inside passage, across Clio Channel (where we dropped prawn traps in current and breeze - and too many boats for my comfort as I was at the helm. Finally deeked down to Potts Lagoon for the night.

The wind picked up a bit but settled by sundown.

D,M,S and G dinghied to the adjacent cove where 3 other boats were anchored and several floating houses nearby. The gang was treated to a show of a large black bear on the beach. He searched under rocks for his snacks - I guess berries are for dessert.

We joined them later on Tenacity for a game of Yatzee.

Aug 30 - Tuesday

We left our safe harbour at 8 a.m. on a very low tide - only 3 feet of extra water under us! Out in the main passage we stopped to pull in the prawn traps. 79 spotted prawns and 49 tiger shrimp.

The channel was narrow and we had up to 4 knots of current against us. We made it through without trauma (or drama).

Then to Johnstone Strait, and sadly, no whales were seen. The seas were heavy and the wind behind us was up to 29 knots. The jib sail was up to help stabilize us but it was heavy going. We travelled for 8.5 hours, so that was a full day of work.

N&M's little tug bobbed its way along, they were pleased with it. S&G did see what we think was an elephant seal.

We entered Forward Channel and into Douglas Bay. Another safe cove and deep enough for the big highs and low of the tides just now. There are 10 boats in here!

2 working tugs with a big log boom also parked across the bay for the night.



We watched Yogi Bear last night - yes, the movie!

Aug 31 - Wed.

After morning prep we all go ashore and hike across the arm of the island to see Sunderland Channel. It was low tide so did some walking on Bessborough Bay, beach-combing, as usual. Norm was walking in some seaweed along the shore and kicked up a Canadian $20. bill. New, a little wet, but very usable! He didn't believe our stories that we had just dropped it!



Lots of red jellyfish on that bay, lots of sunstars on our side (in various colours). A great hike although we had to crawl over a lot of big fallen trees - a couple of them were high enough for us to go under.

Back at our 3 boats and we made a quick getaway. We have to get to Dent Rapids on the flood tide going south.

There is a distinct increase in the number of boats we are seeing. I guess we're back in civilization. Fishing lodges, logging camps, and remote homes.



The tide was very high in Codero Bay. It's hard to relate it to the large expanses of smooth rocks we had been able to walk on when we stopped here going north.

J & I stayed on the boat. M&D do the dinghy trip with Annie. S explored a close island by himself.

A quiet night, organizing photos and reading.

Sept. 1 - Thursday

Some rain this a.m. We leave at 11 a.m. in order to make good connections through channels and rapids.

M made bread this a.m.

A super day of sea life, a golden coloured seal, sea lions in bull kelp and a doe and fawn along the water's edge as we make our way carefully down Van Donop channel to our evening anchorage on the north part of Cortes Islands.



Quote of the day(maybe of the trip): Do bears come out in the rain to eat berries??' Chuckled about this for hours.

We went through some strong rapid currents and all our vessels were tossed around somewhat. It was fun - at least to watch the others.

I stood on the bow of our boat to watch for debris, logs in particular. So much junk gets carried back and forth at the tide line and it can be dangerous to boat, motors, and propellers. At the same time, we were all trying to see the sea lions in the mass of bull kelp.

After supper J & I invited ourselves to Tenacity and had a lovely visit with S&G on their spacious and inviting cockpit.

When we got back to Maggilous we found N&M below with M&D, they were watching a movie.

A little more visiting on then off to bed!

Sept 2 - Friday

An easy-rise morning and then we were off for a hike from Van Donop Bay to Squirrel Cove - 3 km each way. It was a beautiful fern filled trail up to the Klahoose Indian Res. We got to a paved road and headed left to a store and restaurant. M&D were not going to come so we shortly turned around and came back to the trail.



No M&D at the beginning of the trail but the dinghy was still there. We waited, worried, wondered, and then went back to our boats. No Lewis' here either. We knew Dave's back would be giving him great pain so they certainbly wouldn't be off the trail, exploring... or would they! We were all on the brink of calling for search help (we were in wolf country) and they showed up on the beach where the dinghys were tied (S&J were there). Yes, they did purposely go off the beaten track.

We pulled anchor soon and were off again. Our destination is only a few hours away and the trip down the west side of Cortes Island is so beautiful.


We pulled up the prawn traps at the top of the inlet, all very nice sizes.


Our passage went very close to a long reaching spit - it made us wonder how many boats have run aground on it when the tide is up. There is a well marked channel which we followed and then we made our way into Gorge Harbour.


Gorge Harbour was a deisel stop place for the guys with their boats. Us girls quickly abandoned ship and rushed uphill to a little market. It was a very charming place and well worth another visit - perhaps with the camper. It has a restaurant, beautiful gardens and rustic cabins. We so enjoyed being able to shop a bit and take a walk around flowers.

D&J had gone to the top of the bay to anchor so we hitched a ride with Norm. 2 minutes later we were tied to Maggilou and aboard our own boat.

Another beautiful and peaceful evening. We ate supper in the cockpit to enjoy the last rays of the sun.

Early to bed.

Sept 3 - Saturday

Off anchor and on our way by 8 a.m. I stayed below to do some reading, etc. Dave was able to put up the jenniker again. So pretty, but we really still have to run by engine. The strait opened up to wide vistas, we see more vessels on the water, a ferry, a cruise ship, fishing boats (large and small), and other sail boats trying to catch a breeze (some more successful than others.

Finally, and with some skill, we head for Comox harbour around 3 pm.

Our 2 buddy boats anchor out and D&M get a reciprocal on the dock. We were happy to be able to all walk together through this nice town. A thrift store, a book store, some photo ops and then we went to the Bluefin Pub for a 'last supper'. We had a great time of reliving our trip and enjoying some great food.




Later we walked out to the pier to watch a little sunset. D stayed at the boat and M took Annie for a final evening walk so they missed this final wandering.


I worked on emails and then we settled down early so that we could be away by 7 a.m. A boat, very close by, had a bunch of loud and happy people aboard. They kept M&D away all night. We awoke now and then but managed not badly.

Sept 4 - Sunday.

The trip back to Nanaimo was wonderful. So much opportunity to look at our city from the water.


It is great to live where we can have the beauty of ocean so close by and also have the richness of Pacific coastal living.

The sun continues to shine.