Magdalena Bay
The strange juxtaposition of cetaceans and sand dunes was cause for celebration aboard the Sea Bird today. We spent our morning out in the wind and the waves of Boca de Soledad, and were rewarded nicely for our efforts. With numerous gray whale mothers and calves surrounding us, it was a challenge to decide where to focus the camera, or even which direction to look. Shouts of "calf at 11 o'clock - really close!" or "spyhop, 2 o'clock, a hundred yards out!" mingled with the click of camera shutters and pure joyous laughter. More than one lens had to be wiped clean after being coated with the fine mist of a whale blow.
After repositioning the ship seven miles to the south, we were ready for the afternoon's activities. Many folks decided to head for shore and walk the dunes of Isla Magdalena. Their austerity reminded some of scenes from Lawrence of Arabia. With hard-packed sand on the windward side, the walking was easier than imagined, and many folks traversed the island to reach the Pacific Ocean. The rest of us decided to pile into the Zodiacs for a final round with the gray whales. While we encountered fewer whales than in the morning, we had great looks at mothers and calves swimming sedately. The calm of the late afternoon and the rosy glow of sunset left us feeling grateful for the trust of these once endangered animals.
After a quick shower we all met in the lounge for a fiesta! Musicians from the local village of Puerto Lopez Mateos serenaded us and the chefs from a local restaurant presented us with an incredible meal of freshly caught grouper and "langosta a la diabla". An after dinner tequila tasting and more music kept us celebrating our time here in Bahia Magdalena until late in the evening.
The strange juxtaposition of cetaceans and sand dunes was cause for celebration aboard the Sea Bird today. We spent our morning out in the wind and the waves of Boca de Soledad, and were rewarded nicely for our efforts. With numerous gray whale mothers and calves surrounding us, it was a challenge to decide where to focus the camera, or even which direction to look. Shouts of "calf at 11 o'clock - really close!" or "spyhop, 2 o'clock, a hundred yards out!" mingled with the click of camera shutters and pure joyous laughter. More than one lens had to be wiped clean after being coated with the fine mist of a whale blow.
After repositioning the ship seven miles to the south, we were ready for the afternoon's activities. Many folks decided to head for shore and walk the dunes of Isla Magdalena. Their austerity reminded some of scenes from Lawrence of Arabia. With hard-packed sand on the windward side, the walking was easier than imagined, and many folks traversed the island to reach the Pacific Ocean. The rest of us decided to pile into the Zodiacs for a final round with the gray whales. While we encountered fewer whales than in the morning, we had great looks at mothers and calves swimming sedately. The calm of the late afternoon and the rosy glow of sunset left us feeling grateful for the trust of these once endangered animals.
After a quick shower we all met in the lounge for a fiesta! Musicians from the local village of Puerto Lopez Mateos serenaded us and the chefs from a local restaurant presented us with an incredible meal of freshly caught grouper and "langosta a la diabla". An after dinner tequila tasting and more music kept us celebrating our time here in Bahia Magdalena until late in the evening.
