Isla San Jose, Isla San Francisco
Common dolphins - the embodiment of the grace, beauty and playful spirit we find here in the Gulf of California - greeted us at sunrise. While we rolled sleepily out of bed and on to deck, they leaped and dove and surfed the ship's bow wave. No mere photograph could capture the scene. We felt the warmth of the rising sun on our faces, smelled sea air scented with a hint of desert flowers and felt the electric energy of 500 dolphins surrounding us.
Later in the morning we went ashore on Isla San Jose, and hiked a lovely sandy arroyo. We found spiny cactus and delicate annual flowers, a number of land birds and a few elusive lizards. Returning to the ship just in time for lunch, we were called back out on deck (with pitaya sorbet in hand!) to watch a mother fin whale with her calf.
Our afternoon was filled with various water sports. The Sea Bird anchored at Half Moon Bay on Isla San Francisco, and we went ashore to snorkel and kayak, with a few folks opting to explore the land. Snorkelers found king angelfish and reef cornetfish, chocolate chip sea stars and flower urchins, and were even buzzed by a pair of American Oystercatchers. Some paddled far in their kayaks while others chose to sit quietly and enjoy the solitude.
By the end of this very full day our morning with the dolphins seemed like a week ago!
Common dolphins - the embodiment of the grace, beauty and playful spirit we find here in the Gulf of California - greeted us at sunrise. While we rolled sleepily out of bed and on to deck, they leaped and dove and surfed the ship's bow wave. No mere photograph could capture the scene. We felt the warmth of the rising sun on our faces, smelled sea air scented with a hint of desert flowers and felt the electric energy of 500 dolphins surrounding us.
Later in the morning we went ashore on Isla San Jose, and hiked a lovely sandy arroyo. We found spiny cactus and delicate annual flowers, a number of land birds and a few elusive lizards. Returning to the ship just in time for lunch, we were called back out on deck (with pitaya sorbet in hand!) to watch a mother fin whale with her calf.
Our afternoon was filled with various water sports. The Sea Bird anchored at Half Moon Bay on Isla San Francisco, and we went ashore to snorkel and kayak, with a few folks opting to explore the land. Snorkelers found king angelfish and reef cornetfish, chocolate chip sea stars and flower urchins, and were even buzzed by a pair of American Oystercatchers. Some paddled far in their kayaks while others chose to sit quietly and enjoy the solitude.
By the end of this very full day our morning with the dolphins seemed like a week ago!
