Another week in La Paz has gone by too quickly.  This is especially true as we spent nearly all of it in the marina because of weather. Weather forecasts are problematic as we rely on either web-based weather (e.g. Sailflow.com), HAM nets such as Sonrisa net (terrific weather reports but reception can sometimes be a bit dodgy in the marina) or the experiences of sailors coming into the marina. Thus our plan to depart for Caleta Partida and other points north of here on Tuesday was first delayed  by a boat neighbour returning with stories of horrendous anchorage winds and waves even in the usually calm Caleta Partida. Further delays resulted when Sailflow and Sonrisa and Amigo nets all indicated really big winds (called a “norther” here) were expected on Wednesday and Thursday with normal winds scheduled to return on Friday.  As it turned out, Wednesday would have been a great day to sail somewhere with 15+ winds but Thursday was indeed very bad – to the point where the port was closed. Any anchorage within a day’s sail would have been very unpleasant. Friday was almost as bad as Thursday  so our departure was delayed until Saturday. And because we need to prepare the boat for an eight month absence, the best we could manage was a day sail to P. Ballandra which provided enough time for a tasty lunch and a quick swim. Sunday will be spent on boat preparations and Monday we will fly back to the great frozen wasteland.  So the week was spent on boat jobs and quiet sunsets in the cockpit but in the marina (it could be worse!).