10 years in Mexico

We got in late last night, or early this morning actually. Fairly good trip from San Diego, started slow with no wind, then it picked up and moved us along. Our inital estimated time of arrival on the GPS was putting us as late as 8:30 this morning, but with the winds, we got in shortly after midnight and secure to a berth by about 1:30 and to bed. What was interesting was that we both noticed a distinct drop off in wildlife sightings when we hit about Santa Monica Bay, then LA, and finally as we got close to the Mexican border, we started seeing more birds, seals and dolphins again. Lots of dolphins chasing around the boat late in the afternoon and through the evening which was great. Very little light until late when the moon rose and brightened things up a bit. Came across a fishing trawler that turned his lights on when we were not far apart. Surprised me a little too much and I veered to avoid him.

I had expected to see more vacant coastline but there were lots of lights on shore, lots of development. There are an estimated 1.5 million american owned homes along the mexican border. Some are primary and commute, some are vacation homes. You can imagine what the Mexican Government feels about the big fence that the US wants to build along the border....

This morning and this afternoon was spent dedicated to paper and I finally got all the paperwork done. Talk about doing the cha-cha! I actually paid the marina to help me with the process. Got mexican insurance, Bluewater insurance neve did get back to me with the quote that they were to provide once I gave them the surveyors report.

Took 5 copies of everything plus the marina staff person, went to the port captains office and to customs and immigration. Get some forms stamped, go to the bank window, pay, come back get more stamps, go to the next window, fill out new forms, go the bank, pay, come back, get stamped, etc. for about 2 hours with the marina guy coaching me and explaining things to the customs and others in spanish. The last thing I had to do was push a button on this big light post. It looked just like a cross walk light with the green and red lights. The light came up green and I was told to "go". If it had come up red, then they had to come and inspect the boat.
At any rate, the boat can now stay in mexico for up to 10 years. We have all of the ownership papers, the registration papers, the immigration papers, and even a few rolls of the cheapest toilet paper Mom could have ever bought when she was in Berkeley with me last fall. But we are good to go!

The boat is secure at the marina here until mid december, (or later if we wanted) when we move it further south. Should be a continuing adventure.

Any one interested in crewing on leg 2?