Beached!

It was a dark and stormy night . . . literally! The wind was blowing hard, so hard that we couldn't stand outside of the RV because sand was stinging our faces. Ten or fifteen emergency vehicles were driving up and down the beach, shining their beacons into the water in search of something. Then we spotted it, the Fiesta Cruiser that takes tourists out for sunset dinner cruises was aground and slowly moving toward the beach. The high winds and heavy surf were a factor. So was the tidal current.

The boat, which at times carries 200 to 400 people, had attempted to enter the harbor at low tide and struck ground around 9 p.m. Losing its rudder, the storm easily pushed the boat toward the shore. Many of the 44 guests aboard were rescued by the Mexican Navy. A few jumped overboard and swam ashore. One woman had a heart attach and died during the incident. As the tide switched and started coming in, the boat was pushed higher and higher up on the beach. The next morning, the Fiesta Cruiser sat high and dry.