Isla Monserrat
Today was the first day of our Baja California Season. The National Geographic Sea Bird left La Paz last night to head north looking for adventure. Through the night we moved against the wind, which was not too strong, but just enough to remind us in our sleep that we are in the untamable Gulf of California.
Our destination for the day was Isla Monserrat. This jewel of an island gave us protection from the shifting wind. It also offered great opportunities to explore the desert, to immerse ourselves into the refreshing and clear waters and to paddle our kayaks.
We spent the morning exploring by foot. The desert is a magnificent place, and more so when it is surrounded by sea. We learned about the vegetation and about the different ways in which life finds its way through adverse conditions. A red-tailed hawk and a kestrel were seen, and later two ravens fed on lizards and tarantulas in an almost ritualistic display.
Snorkeling was a success today, regardless of the water temperature. When people ask about the water temperature on a day like today, we consider that “refreshing” is an appropriate term. In this manner, we entice snorkelers to give it a shot and take a plunge. Once in the water, it is hard to go back to land. King angel fish, Panamic sergeant majors, Mexican goat fish and an infinity of invertebrates make the undersea world a fascinating one. People of all ages had a great time in the water, swimming, snorkeling or just enjoying the beach, each one of them in their own way.
Kayakers paddled through the surface of the ocean, adorning the landscape with the festive colors of their kayaks. A trio of American oystercatchers whistled vigorously as they elegantly flew quite close to the paddlers. The majestic Sierra de la Giganta, or “Mountain Range of the Giantess,” stood to the west. Its beauty was intensified by the afternoon sun as Brown pelicans and magnificent frigatebirds pursued their prey in the distance.
