Our last full day of expedition travel in the Gulf of California began with soft diffused light illuminating the edges of a mostly cloudy sky and the skyline of Isla Carmen. We invested the morning on National Geographic Sea Bird sailing south.
Isla Catalina provided opportunity to explore the Sonoran Desert flora and fauna. We went hiking in search of eight unique species of reptiles. The desert arroyo was in full bloom from recent rain. Brilliant red buds on barrel cactus, delicate lavender ironwood flowers, rich yellow blossoms on palo verde trees, and Costa’s hummingbirds colored the desert landscape. Endemic reptiles were out in force. Desert iguana, emerald side-blotched lizard, and a rattleless rattlesnake were highlights on our walks. The patterns of the desert revealed themselves in the late morning light for all who chose to drink it in.
In the afternoon, many chose to explore the underwater reef where the desert marched down to the emerald sea. In what is shaping up as an El Nino year, the water was exceptionally warm and clear. Colorful fish like rainbow wrasse, sergeant majors, clown hawkfish, and flame red and powder blue starfish made for a rainbow of watery colors.
We gathered for our final farewell on the bow, sharing stories of a wonderful expedition exploring the patterns, colors, and wildness of the Sea of Cortez. Sunset delighted with rich hues of magenta, rouge, and indigo painting the skyline. Bottlenose dolphins joined the ship and surfed our bow wave and wake one last time. We depart, touched by the living desert and the abundance that the Gulf offers up to each of us.
