A Cruisers’ Shrine

Entering Caleta de San Juanico

We arrived April 1^st at Caleta de San Juanico on the Baja Peninsula. We ducked into this large cove, escaping the 18 knot winds and found ten other boats already anchored in the bay.

Numerous Sea Stacks at Caleta de San Juanico

Not only does the cove provide shelter from northwest winds, but it’s a popular stop for the interesting rock formations, numerous sea stacks, and multiple sandy beaches. San Juanico is also known as the place chosen for boaters to leave a memento of one’s journey to Baja California. As we prepared the dinghy to go ashore, Java made it quite clear that she wanted to go too. With her hind legs on the swim step of the boat and her front paws on the edge of the dinghy, she soon found herself stretched over the water. Taking the leap of faith, she landed safely inside the launch, whew!

Java Climbing aboard the Dinghy

We motored away and soon spotted the Cruiser’s Shrine along the shore - a tree decorated with an assortment of materials that spell out various names of boats that have gone before us. We chose a spot in the tree and hung our colorful beanpod, painted with flowers and our boat name, Got d’ Fever. It was the perfect item for the occasion, a token previously given to us by Paradise Village Marina. After hanging our memento, we stood and admired all the creative contributions to the tree: signs with letters shaped out of rope and line; netting with embroidered lettering; names created with shells and stones; names carved in wood and etched in rock; there was even a message in a bottle.

Gone Ashore to Visit the Cruisers Shrine

We soon had the realization that Got d’ Fever is now immortalized in both Baja and north British Columbia. After our pregnant pause, we headed off to a sandy beach where Java got to run and play; “it’s about time,” she must have thought. After cooling off in the water, we continued our tour around the bay, exploring its many nooks and crannies, rock formations, and sparse plant life.