San Juanico Idyll

I thought about how to title this post about our week in the big bay of San Juanico, and the word "idyll" floated to the surface of my sunbaked brain. Uncertain of the meaning, I looked in the dictionary:  "An extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, typically an idealized or unsustainable one." Yes, yes for the happy, peaceful, picturesque stuff. Interesting that last bit.

San Juanico is perhaps our favorite of all Sea of Cortez anchorages. It is a big bay, with many rocky cliffs and spires where several families of osprey raise their babies, and a variety of anchoring locations. There were many boats coming and going this past week, and it was also the week of the full moon. There were gatherings on the beach in the evenings to share food, drink, and stories, watch the moon rise and enjoy a bonfire. 

During the days, we kayaked and snorkeled in the increasingly clear water. With Jan and Joan from s.v. Dulce Maestra, made an epic kayak trip from San Juanico to Punta Mangles, where there are tall cliffs of amazing colored rock, and dramatic deep sea caves. We were blessed with favorable wind and current returning to San Juanico, so that the fifteen mile round trip was just a good workout. 

As for the term "unsustainable".  Although afloat, we are still living in the modern world, dependent on fossil fuel and complicated electronics and mechanical systems. Keeping everything running smoothly requires maintenance and ingenuity.  During our idyll, the Captain was busy trying to repair a leak in the engine cooling system. He traded 15 gallons of fresh water for a tube of fancy epoxy, and was gifted a roll of magic red tape.  The combination managed to staunch the leak. Perhaps we are barely sustainable, in the short term, with the help of a community of like-minded boating vagabonds.