Bahia Magdalena
The SEA LION continued her lumpy passage north along the southwestern coast of the Baja peninsula. Due to high winds we were making a late morning entry through La Entrada, “the entrance” into Bahia Magdalena. This marked the beginning of the second portion of our trip exploring the waters surrounding the Baja peninsula. Once inside calmer waters, the SEA LION spent a couple hours wandering around this entrance area to Bahia Magdalena, referred to by the naturalists as, the "singles bar." In these waters we saw many adult California Gray whales either alone or in groups of three, seemingly in the activity of "getting to know each other" in preparation for mating. Continual blows, flukes and a little side ways motion occurred as these whales enjoyed the quieter and safer waters of Bahia Magdalena. This bay is protected and surrounded by two barrier islands. To the south is Isla Margarita and to the north is Isla Magdalena. These barrier islands are composed of small mountain ranges on the southern ends and towards the Pacific and northern end, there are many large sand dune fields. It would be within these dune fields that we would spend our afternoon.
The SEA LION made ready to drop her hook and prepare to take waiting guests and naturalists ashore for exploration of yet another unusual environment. Winds were gusting at approximately 25 knots, so our first sight upon arriving on the beach was blowing sand and strange but beautiful patterning accumulating right before our eyes. We moved out in small groups and began the passage of about one-mile making our way across the dune field on our way to the Pacific Ocean and the pounding surf. The sand dunes themselves were richly patterned due to the rains of the previous evening……and, as we explored some of the unusual plant hummocks we became aware of increasing humidity and then soft winter rain falling around us! This remarkable desert by the sea was being given the gift of rain, as small squalls passed over us leaving yet more interesting designs, and much needed water was supplied to many thirsty plants that inhabit the sand dunes. Along with rapid growing and tough communities of plants, we found many shell middens scattered through out the dunes. There were Murex shells, other snails, many bivalves, and someone in our group found a wonderfully worked stone tool, that was once used to cut small pieces of meat, most probably from the sea. It is speculated that these shell middens could be the refuse piles from peoples who have used these bays and protected sandy areas for hundreds to thousands of years, in their constant search for food. What would a slight shower of rain have meant to these early peoples? Would these old ones have rejoiced as we did? Their joy most probably would be for the renewed source of water and its affect on the land, the plants and the animals. The story can be told by the flecking apparent on one edge of this cutting tool left by the hands that crafted it.
As we moved out onto the beach facing the Pacific Ocean we found partially buried in the sand, the skeletal remains of a sea turtle, casting a long shadow in the late afternoon sun. That shadow showing the former self of an impressive sea turtle. Possibly hanging in the shadows left by the skull of this sea turtle were the stories of its life exploring the Pacific Ocean. As we slowly retreated away from the sound of a roaring ocean beach, and back through the dunes, the sand began to cover some of our footsteps along with the sea turtle, the sand dollars and other shells, all drifted with sand, like our footsteps…leaving only the stories we carry home, whispered on the wind…
The SEA LION continued her lumpy passage north along the southwestern coast of the Baja peninsula. Due to high winds we were making a late morning entry through La Entrada, “the entrance” into Bahia Magdalena. This marked the beginning of the second portion of our trip exploring the waters surrounding the Baja peninsula. Once inside calmer waters, the SEA LION spent a couple hours wandering around this entrance area to Bahia Magdalena, referred to by the naturalists as, the "singles bar." In these waters we saw many adult California Gray whales either alone or in groups of three, seemingly in the activity of "getting to know each other" in preparation for mating. Continual blows, flukes and a little side ways motion occurred as these whales enjoyed the quieter and safer waters of Bahia Magdalena. This bay is protected and surrounded by two barrier islands. To the south is Isla Margarita and to the north is Isla Magdalena. These barrier islands are composed of small mountain ranges on the southern ends and towards the Pacific and northern end, there are many large sand dune fields. It would be within these dune fields that we would spend our afternoon.
The SEA LION made ready to drop her hook and prepare to take waiting guests and naturalists ashore for exploration of yet another unusual environment. Winds were gusting at approximately 25 knots, so our first sight upon arriving on the beach was blowing sand and strange but beautiful patterning accumulating right before our eyes. We moved out in small groups and began the passage of about one-mile making our way across the dune field on our way to the Pacific Ocean and the pounding surf. The sand dunes themselves were richly patterned due to the rains of the previous evening……and, as we explored some of the unusual plant hummocks we became aware of increasing humidity and then soft winter rain falling around us! This remarkable desert by the sea was being given the gift of rain, as small squalls passed over us leaving yet more interesting designs, and much needed water was supplied to many thirsty plants that inhabit the sand dunes. Along with rapid growing and tough communities of plants, we found many shell middens scattered through out the dunes. There were Murex shells, other snails, many bivalves, and someone in our group found a wonderfully worked stone tool, that was once used to cut small pieces of meat, most probably from the sea. It is speculated that these shell middens could be the refuse piles from peoples who have used these bays and protected sandy areas for hundreds to thousands of years, in their constant search for food. What would a slight shower of rain have meant to these early peoples? Would these old ones have rejoiced as we did? Their joy most probably would be for the renewed source of water and its affect on the land, the plants and the animals. The story can be told by the flecking apparent on one edge of this cutting tool left by the hands that crafted it.
As we moved out onto the beach facing the Pacific Ocean we found partially buried in the sand, the skeletal remains of a sea turtle, casting a long shadow in the late afternoon sun. That shadow showing the former self of an impressive sea turtle. Possibly hanging in the shadows left by the skull of this sea turtle were the stories of its life exploring the Pacific Ocean. As we slowly retreated away from the sound of a roaring ocean beach, and back through the dunes, the sand began to cover some of our footsteps along with the sea turtle, the sand dollars and other shells, all drifted with sand, like our footsteps…leaving only the stories we carry home, whispered on the wind…
