Agua Verde to Bahia San Evaristo
Isn’t it odd that when we think of the Sea of Cortes or Gulf of California we think of the spectacular scenery above sea level? What about the great sea itself? Like the winds propelling the sailboats in our fleet, there are currents moving great masses of water. There are trenches where the sea is nearly two miles deep, and undersea mountain peaks reaching towards the surface. Plankton turns the water green, and microscopic mouths eat that, or each other. Fishes hatch from eggs and drift helplessly, then grow, school, feed, and the unlucky are fed on by others. It’s easy to forget all of this as we cruise along that beautiful blue boundary at the surface. Our experience of the sea is mostly two-dimensional, with thoughts occasionally given to wind and waves. The sea itself is deep and massive and home to millions.
Today we traveled from Agua Verde, an anchorage along the Baja California peninsula, south past Isla Santa Cruz, Isla San Diego, and then to Bahia San Evaristo opposite Isla San Jose. A few miles into our transit there was a large group of long beaked common dolphins. They rushed in towards Sea Bird’s bow wave, and crisscrossed in front of the ship. There were many mothers with calves, and several of the dolphins had remoras attached to them. Many of the dolphins were feeding, and we circled back around to watch them. Pelicans sat in the water amongst the mammals; perhaps they were feasting earlier. Sea Bird’s bow camera provided wonderful views of the bowriding dolphins.
The Sierra de la Giganta mountain range of the Baja California peninsula is always dramatic, and today, white sails beneath them gave some scale to the magnificent scenery. In mid afternoon we made the turn in to Bahia San Evaristo. There is a small village here, and simple fishermen’s camps along the beach. We strolled along the beach as fishermen returned in their pangas. Some of us swam while others kayaked in the bay, among plunge diving brown pelicans.
Isn’t it odd that when we think of the Sea of Cortes or Gulf of California we think of the spectacular scenery above sea level? What about the great sea itself? Like the winds propelling the sailboats in our fleet, there are currents moving great masses of water. There are trenches where the sea is nearly two miles deep, and undersea mountain peaks reaching towards the surface. Plankton turns the water green, and microscopic mouths eat that, or each other. Fishes hatch from eggs and drift helplessly, then grow, school, feed, and the unlucky are fed on by others. It’s easy to forget all of this as we cruise along that beautiful blue boundary at the surface. Our experience of the sea is mostly two-dimensional, with thoughts occasionally given to wind and waves. The sea itself is deep and massive and home to millions.
Today we traveled from Agua Verde, an anchorage along the Baja California peninsula, south past Isla Santa Cruz, Isla San Diego, and then to Bahia San Evaristo opposite Isla San Jose. A few miles into our transit there was a large group of long beaked common dolphins. They rushed in towards Sea Bird’s bow wave, and crisscrossed in front of the ship. There were many mothers with calves, and several of the dolphins had remoras attached to them. Many of the dolphins were feeding, and we circled back around to watch them. Pelicans sat in the water amongst the mammals; perhaps they were feasting earlier. Sea Bird’s bow camera provided wonderful views of the bowriding dolphins.
The Sierra de la Giganta mountain range of the Baja California peninsula is always dramatic, and today, white sails beneath them gave some scale to the magnificent scenery. In mid afternoon we made the turn in to Bahia San Evaristo. There is a small village here, and simple fishermen’s camps along the beach. We strolled along the beach as fishermen returned in their pangas. Some of us swam while others kayaked in the bay, among plunge diving brown pelicans.
