Los Islotes & Bonanza Bay
After you’ve spent a bit of time searching the horizon for a whale blow and finding nothing, one might conclude that it’s an empty sea. That’s the way it was this morning when suddenly the surface broke into turbulence and spray. A blue whale’s body parted the water and passed before us. The long bluish-gray body cruised quickly by, sinking slowly and then disappeared. A round “footprint” of slick, upwelling water appeared from an upward stroke of the massive flukes. It was soon just an empty sea again with only pink light on the rocks of Los Islotes in the distance. By the time breakfast was announced, most of our guests had great sightings of the largest animal that has ever lived.
After breakfast we anchored at Los Islotes, two small islands full of activity. Some of the birds were busy with nesting. White downy chicks of blue-footed boobies were as tall as the adults. A great blue heron stood over an inhospitable nest of sticks in a cholla cactus. Frigatebirds chased and harassed boobies until one regurgitated a fish.
Most of our morning was spent with California sea lions. Their antics made us giggle. On our Zodiac cruises some swam with the boat, hurling themselves in athletic flips, or maybe they were popping up to see what we look like. Underwater they pulled on our flippers or swam directly at us and turned just a second before a face-smashing collision. They are related to dogs, and at times it feels like you’re with a gang of fun-loving puppies. They love to pull on ropes like the one attached to the anchor buoy in today’s photograph. Where does that pup think it’s going with the buoy?
Bonanza Bay amply filled our afternoon. Some kayaked, others strolled along a 1.5 mile beach with no one on it but us. Hikers explored a dry creek bed, and a few spotted an endemic black jackrabbit. Others sat and just enjoyed being there. After all, relaxing is a valid use of vacation time. As the sun dropped in the west the crew brought a superb dinner to shore. Later a campfire, s'mores, stories and stargazing finished off a very full day.
After you’ve spent a bit of time searching the horizon for a whale blow and finding nothing, one might conclude that it’s an empty sea. That’s the way it was this morning when suddenly the surface broke into turbulence and spray. A blue whale’s body parted the water and passed before us. The long bluish-gray body cruised quickly by, sinking slowly and then disappeared. A round “footprint” of slick, upwelling water appeared from an upward stroke of the massive flukes. It was soon just an empty sea again with only pink light on the rocks of Los Islotes in the distance. By the time breakfast was announced, most of our guests had great sightings of the largest animal that has ever lived.
After breakfast we anchored at Los Islotes, two small islands full of activity. Some of the birds were busy with nesting. White downy chicks of blue-footed boobies were as tall as the adults. A great blue heron stood over an inhospitable nest of sticks in a cholla cactus. Frigatebirds chased and harassed boobies until one regurgitated a fish.
Most of our morning was spent with California sea lions. Their antics made us giggle. On our Zodiac cruises some swam with the boat, hurling themselves in athletic flips, or maybe they were popping up to see what we look like. Underwater they pulled on our flippers or swam directly at us and turned just a second before a face-smashing collision. They are related to dogs, and at times it feels like you’re with a gang of fun-loving puppies. They love to pull on ropes like the one attached to the anchor buoy in today’s photograph. Where does that pup think it’s going with the buoy?
Bonanza Bay amply filled our afternoon. Some kayaked, others strolled along a 1.5 mile beach with no one on it but us. Hikers explored a dry creek bed, and a few spotted an endemic black jackrabbit. Others sat and just enjoyed being there. After all, relaxing is a valid use of vacation time. As the sun dropped in the west the crew brought a superb dinner to shore. Later a campfire, s'mores, stories and stargazing finished off a very full day.
