Erik and Bill bound for the South Pacific

I've met many other solo sailors since I arrived in Mazatlan but two of them were here long enough to become good friends... Bill and Erik. Bill arrived the same day I did.

Eric on "Sidetrack"

Over the weeks we've been here we've spent many hours together walking the streets of El Centro, eating and "internetting" at the Molto Amore Cafe - a cruiser friendly coffee shop close to the anchorage - and just generally hanging out together.

Both of these guys departed Sunday, headed for the Marquesas, thirty days away in the South Pacific. It's the first stop on their way to Australia. They are on seperate boats but hope to stay in touch with one another along the way via SSB radio.

I took these photos just moments before their departure. Erik's anchor chain was encrusted with barnacles and as he raised it I was in my dinghy beating them off with an iron bar.

Bill on "Emily Pearl"

Bon Voyage guys. I may be right behind you... give or take a year or two.