Well, we thought we would spend a couple weeks in Avalon and then move on down to Mexico. This obviously has not happened, the cartel violence in Mexico is spreading throughout Baja California and the state of Jalisco on the mainland. Both premium destinations for us. We follow other cruisers in Mexico and essentially the cruising community is leaving. Puerto Escondido is at 25% capacity, Mazatlan is empty, Puerto Vallarta is also very dangerous. Yesterday another five people were shot, the day before there were seven. Not tourists, however, Eileen and I are not comfortable being the only vessel in the anchorage, sticking out like a sore thumb, begging to be kidnapped for a ransom is not the excellent adventure we envisioned. Friends have moved to the South Pacific as an alternate destination.

So, we will probably stay in Avalon until after hurricane season in November and then shoot for a straight trip to Costa Rica. We will have to recruit a couple sailors to help us make the 3000 mile trip.

So that’s all I got! I guess if you get stuck somewhere, Avalon is not a bad choice.