Isla Santa Catalina, At Sea, & Isla Danzante
This morning found us at anchor at the southern end of Isla Santa Catalina, watching the long rays of the sun slowly peak over the hills filling the valleys with light. We had a very early breakfast, and then we were off to shore to explore and photograph the unique flora of this island. The endemic barrel cactus and forests of grand cardon cactus growing in the arroyos and up the hillsides create stunning desert scenes.
Long hikers headed for the hills and the big views from the high ridgelines, while the focus of photographers and natural history walkers remained in the lower arroyos. Both the barrel cactus and cardones were in bloom and made splendid photo subjects. The endemic rattleless rattlesnakes were found along the arroyo edge, under cactus and brush, seeking shelter from the heat of the sun.
Snorkelers also sought shelter from the heat in the cool underwater world, seeing a variety of fishes, including reef coronet fish and the colorful king angelfish. We all were back on board for lunch, but before we even pulled the anchor, bottlenose dolphins were sighted off our starboard side. As the dolphins made huge leaps high in the air, camera shutters clicked trying to capture the excitement. Bird watchers, observing the eared grebes among the dolphins, were amazed to see a peregrine falcon swoop in and hit a grebe, and then fly off with it clutched in its talons.
We continued underway, headed towards our late afternoon destination, a great beach for an evening BBQ dinner. We pulled into Honeymoon Cove on Isla Danzante around 5pm and everyone headed to shore for sunset with the dramatic Sierra de la Giganta as a fantastic backdrop. The evening was completed with a yummy dinner of BBQ ribs and grilled ahi tuna, a bonfire with smores, great songs, stories, and camaraderie under a million stars in the Bahia de Loreto National Park.
This morning found us at anchor at the southern end of Isla Santa Catalina, watching the long rays of the sun slowly peak over the hills filling the valleys with light. We had a very early breakfast, and then we were off to shore to explore and photograph the unique flora of this island. The endemic barrel cactus and forests of grand cardon cactus growing in the arroyos and up the hillsides create stunning desert scenes.
Long hikers headed for the hills and the big views from the high ridgelines, while the focus of photographers and natural history walkers remained in the lower arroyos. Both the barrel cactus and cardones were in bloom and made splendid photo subjects. The endemic rattleless rattlesnakes were found along the arroyo edge, under cactus and brush, seeking shelter from the heat of the sun.
Snorkelers also sought shelter from the heat in the cool underwater world, seeing a variety of fishes, including reef coronet fish and the colorful king angelfish. We all were back on board for lunch, but before we even pulled the anchor, bottlenose dolphins were sighted off our starboard side. As the dolphins made huge leaps high in the air, camera shutters clicked trying to capture the excitement. Bird watchers, observing the eared grebes among the dolphins, were amazed to see a peregrine falcon swoop in and hit a grebe, and then fly off with it clutched in its talons.
We continued underway, headed towards our late afternoon destination, a great beach for an evening BBQ dinner. We pulled into Honeymoon Cove on Isla Danzante around 5pm and everyone headed to shore for sunset with the dramatic Sierra de la Giganta as a fantastic backdrop. The evening was completed with a yummy dinner of BBQ ribs and grilled ahi tuna, a bonfire with smores, great songs, stories, and camaraderie under a million stars in the Bahia de Loreto National Park.
