The first hint of daylight brightened the sky when our expedition leader came over the speakers with an early wake-up call. It was just too pretty a morning to stay in bed. Sunlight soon spilled over the island peaks to the east and bathed the rugged volcanic escarpment of the Sierra Giganta that rose abruptly from the waters of Loreto Bay National Marine Park. This sight alone would make a perfect morning, but there was more to come. A humpback spouted nearby, and a group of long-beaked common dolphins approached and surrounded the ship. Interest shifted away from the whale for the photographic opportunities of stunning backdrops with leaping dolphins in the foreground in the early morning light. It made no sense to leave this spectacular experience for an on-time breakfast, but finally after an hour and a half we pulled away to allow time to reach our morning landing and get some food.
Honeymoon Cove is a teal-colored jewel of a bay embraced by the rocky slopes of Isla Danzante. This spot was ideal for an outing ashore, and before long we started a full range of activities. Kayakers paddled along, dwarfed by the towering landscape. Hikers scrambled up the hillsides to reach high points for spectacular views. Some people enjoyed one more chance to snorkel. Our undersea specialist discovered a large seahorse that he gently captured to show many of those in the water as well as those in passing expedition craft. These unusual creatures are very special, as we do not usually see them here. A number of folks chose to cruise to the back side of the island on our rubber boats. Ospreys and turkey vultures circled overhead, catching the updrafts created by the warming land mass, while pelicans and cormorants watched solemnly from their perches as we traveled past. The beauty of Baja California sank in from every angle at this beautiful site during our stay, and it was difficult to leave.
A delicious deck lunch appeared soon after our return to the National Geographic Sea Lion, and we heartily partook in pulled pork sandwiches or hamburgers, salads, and yummy ice cream sundaes as the ship motored on its way. It was a relaxing afternoon with time to watch several presentations, take in the scenery, and start packing. During cocktail hour the guest slide show scrolled on the screens. The carefully crafted images encapsulated so many details of our time together over the past two weeks. We shared not only an interest in photography, but also a collection of specific memories that our group and no other will ever experience.
