Cruising the Sea of Cortez, and Punta San Marcial
Our Expedition Leader Bud reminded us last night, “Some famous person once said: ‘You must look before you can see.’” So, today, we did lots of looking. Waking up at Cabeza de Machudo, the dawning sunlight turned the rocky cliff walls fiery red. As the sun climbed higher, we cruised the San Jose Channel. Our morning was delightfully unhurried; our only plans were to enjoy the sunshine and spend time on deck. With binoculars in hand, we scanned the blue water and clear sky, alert for whatever we might chance upon. Mid-morning, Mexican Naturalist Alberto Montaudon invited us down to the lounge, where he introduced us to various aspects of his homeland’s culture and natural history.
Following Alberto’s presentation, we returned to the decks to see why the Sea of Cortez is often referred to as the “vermillion sea.” Undersea Specialist Dennis Cornejo and Geologist Al Trujillo were setting up the plankton net from the fantail in hopes of bringing a sample of the thousands tiny organisms aboard. Our focus was soon diverted, however, to a slightly larger organism.
Captain Graves had spotted the blow of a whale up ahead. Pete Pederson helped us identify the Bryde’s whale by the high angle of its dorsal fin. As the whale repeatedly dove and surfaced off the bow of the ship, we were afforded excellent views of it’s sleek, shiny back, glistening in the bright sunlight. Another unexpected delight came in the form of paletas – Mexican ice cream bars, a treat that certainly hit the spot in the warm sun. Enjoying ice cream and whale watching was not a bad way to spend our morning.
Afternoon found the Sea Lion anchoring off of Punta San Marcial, and Zodiacs zipped us ashore for hikes into the desert or over to a snorkeling site. Remembering Bud’s earlier words of wisdom, we took the opportunity to really “look and see” the wonders of the environment surrounding us. Under water, the diversity of the fish was fantastic! Snorkellers returned with wrinkled fingers and toes, and smiles on their faces. On shore, we too, looked all around us, from the highest rock formations and the tallest cactus, to the tiniest of rattlesnakes tucked amongst the roots of a bush (see photo).
As the day drew to a close, we gathered onshore for a delicious dinner, followed by a bonfire complete with s’mores. Alberto and Steward Davis Wilson softly played their guitars as countless stars appeared above us. Content with our day, we relaxed by the firelight, absorbed in the magic of Baja California.
Our Expedition Leader Bud reminded us last night, “Some famous person once said: ‘You must look before you can see.’” So, today, we did lots of looking. Waking up at Cabeza de Machudo, the dawning sunlight turned the rocky cliff walls fiery red. As the sun climbed higher, we cruised the San Jose Channel. Our morning was delightfully unhurried; our only plans were to enjoy the sunshine and spend time on deck. With binoculars in hand, we scanned the blue water and clear sky, alert for whatever we might chance upon. Mid-morning, Mexican Naturalist Alberto Montaudon invited us down to the lounge, where he introduced us to various aspects of his homeland’s culture and natural history.
Following Alberto’s presentation, we returned to the decks to see why the Sea of Cortez is often referred to as the “vermillion sea.” Undersea Specialist Dennis Cornejo and Geologist Al Trujillo were setting up the plankton net from the fantail in hopes of bringing a sample of the thousands tiny organisms aboard. Our focus was soon diverted, however, to a slightly larger organism.
Captain Graves had spotted the blow of a whale up ahead. Pete Pederson helped us identify the Bryde’s whale by the high angle of its dorsal fin. As the whale repeatedly dove and surfaced off the bow of the ship, we were afforded excellent views of it’s sleek, shiny back, glistening in the bright sunlight. Another unexpected delight came in the form of paletas – Mexican ice cream bars, a treat that certainly hit the spot in the warm sun. Enjoying ice cream and whale watching was not a bad way to spend our morning.
Afternoon found the Sea Lion anchoring off of Punta San Marcial, and Zodiacs zipped us ashore for hikes into the desert or over to a snorkeling site. Remembering Bud’s earlier words of wisdom, we took the opportunity to really “look and see” the wonders of the environment surrounding us. Under water, the diversity of the fish was fantastic! Snorkellers returned with wrinkled fingers and toes, and smiles on their faces. On shore, we too, looked all around us, from the highest rock formations and the tallest cactus, to the tiniest of rattlesnakes tucked amongst the roots of a bush (see photo).
As the day drew to a close, we gathered onshore for a delicious dinner, followed by a bonfire complete with s’mores. Alberto and Steward Davis Wilson softly played their guitars as countless stars appeared above us. Content with our day, we relaxed by the firelight, absorbed in the magic of Baja California.
