Slowing down

Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico

Now that we are settled  here in the Marina Mazatlan, we are having to try and just relax.  For the first time on this entire journey, or so it seems, we are in a place that does not feel like a temporary means to an end.  There is no need for us to be anywhere else for the foreseeable future.

Suddenly we find ourselves surrounded by a semi-permanent cruising community. Many of the boats stay here for long periods of time, some of them for years.  For others, they are here for the season, spending the summers further north and returning here each year for the winter.  One of the big differences we notice is that the mix of boats is almost all "sailboats" for a change - up till now most of the places we have stayed have been predominantly power boats - a lot of them permanently moored with absentee owners.  Here, it is largely a live-aboard community complete with daily social activities from VHF radio nets in the morning to dance lessons at the cruiser's lounge, etc.

A look around the marina makes it obvious that the economy in the USA and Canada is having its effect here as well.  The marina is probably no more than 1/3 occupied and the harbour master tells us that this is very much different than it was only a few years ago.  So, unless more cruisers start arriving soon, they are in for very poor revenues for the season.  The local restaurants, particularly here in the marina itself (the accompanying picture is taken from the Gus y Gus restaurant, looking towards our dock) must be hurting.  The only time they seem busy at all is for breakfast on Sunday morning when lots of local families show up.  For us it works out OK, as the prices are very reasonable and the service is great.  But it would be nice to see a little more life around the place.  Meanwhile, we are just having to try and slow ourselves down and adjust to the laid back way of life here.  We are having a problem trying to shake off the feeling that we should be doing something or going somewhere.  This too shall pass, I am sure.

This is a view of the narrow channel that you have to negotiate to get into this estuary where the marinas are located.  Notice the dredging equipment blocking a large percentage of the channel.  Quite intimidating when you are approaching from the open water, having to negotiate a few breaking seas before being plunged in between the breakwaters into this current-filled channel - not for the faint of heart.  Probably looked a lot worse than it was, since we did not really have any big problem with it.

{GMST}23|16.25|N|106|27.2833|W|Marina Mazatlan|Marina Mazatlan{GEND}