Northern Tip of Isla Magdalena, Baja California Sur, México
Bahia Magdalena (Magdalena Bay) is a 100 mile-long bay on the Western side of the Baja California Peninsula, protected from the strong winds and occasional storms of the Pacific by two principal islands: Magdalena, and Margarita. It is in this lagoon, and two others further North, where the majority of gray whales come to spend their winter, to bear their calves, and to procreate. Being the mammal with the longest known annual migration, it feeds in the north (Bering and Chukchi Seas), and spends up to three-and-a-half months in the calmer, saltier and warmer waters of these bays. Here we came to watch them.
As the number of whale-watching boats is limited by the authorities, one half of us went whale-watching, while the other half went on to land, where a series of magnificent, light brown dunes were admired, and walked upon. The warm sand between our toes was simply marvelous! And our three young boys were always on the alert for incredible things visible only to them. After a series of screams, we were drawn to them. They had found a tail vertebra of a large whale. This interesting piece of bone had been pushed onshore by a storm, and was waiting to be found so that it could tell its story. Barely able to scratch it out of its sandy bed, and then to carry it momentarily, they all were proud to display the piece.
On we walked, we came upon the western shore of Magdalena Island where, due to its pristine condition, millions of shells were open to our view. Clams, razor clams, snails, sand dollars and broken conchs formed a solid sheet many yards wide, upon which we walked as we looked for yet other interesting mollusks.
Back on board the M.V. Sea Lion, we enjoyed cocktail hour. And then our Mexican Fiesta began, with a local music group and the owner of a local restaurant who cooked a most delicious Mexican dinner for us, starring baked grouper and lobster. At the end of the meal, more music and a typical Mexican dessert, called Pastel Tres Leches (Three-Milk Cake!).
Bahia Magdalena (Magdalena Bay) is a 100 mile-long bay on the Western side of the Baja California Peninsula, protected from the strong winds and occasional storms of the Pacific by two principal islands: Magdalena, and Margarita. It is in this lagoon, and two others further North, where the majority of gray whales come to spend their winter, to bear their calves, and to procreate. Being the mammal with the longest known annual migration, it feeds in the north (Bering and Chukchi Seas), and spends up to three-and-a-half months in the calmer, saltier and warmer waters of these bays. Here we came to watch them.
As the number of whale-watching boats is limited by the authorities, one half of us went whale-watching, while the other half went on to land, where a series of magnificent, light brown dunes were admired, and walked upon. The warm sand between our toes was simply marvelous! And our three young boys were always on the alert for incredible things visible only to them. After a series of screams, we were drawn to them. They had found a tail vertebra of a large whale. This interesting piece of bone had been pushed onshore by a storm, and was waiting to be found so that it could tell its story. Barely able to scratch it out of its sandy bed, and then to carry it momentarily, they all were proud to display the piece.
On we walked, we came upon the western shore of Magdalena Island where, due to its pristine condition, millions of shells were open to our view. Clams, razor clams, snails, sand dollars and broken conchs formed a solid sheet many yards wide, upon which we walked as we looked for yet other interesting mollusks.
Back on board the M.V. Sea Lion, we enjoyed cocktail hour. And then our Mexican Fiesta began, with a local music group and the owner of a local restaurant who cooked a most delicious Mexican dinner for us, starring baked grouper and lobster. At the end of the meal, more music and a typical Mexican dessert, called Pastel Tres Leches (Three-Milk Cake!).
