Friday, October 28, 2011

Snorkeling Oct 30

A preview:

Will go snorkeling Sunday with 4 friends. We have rented a boat and guide to take us over to Carmen Island (another Island in the National Marine Park) for snorkeling and then over to Coronado Island (3rd Island in the group) to see if we can see tortugas.

I am sitting outside a coffe shop near the town plaza with free wi-fi. It is a fine place for people watching, checking email and drinking frappes.

Sea Kayaking Oct 24-28

Trudi was in the pickup with me on the way to the wedding. She does kayak and mule trips locally. She had a kayak trip leaving Monday Oct 24 so I decided to go along and she fit me in at the last minute for a kayak trip with four others and a couple guides. We drove south of town to a beach near Puerto Escondido and launched our kayaks there. Group decided to leave tents behind so we camped under the stars. It was a 5 day and 4 night trip. The first day we paddled over to Danzante Island and unloaded our gear at one of the beaches on the south end of the island and then paddled back north along the shore to Honeymoon Beach for snorkeling, then back to our campsite for the night. I shared a double kayak with Adrian, one of the guides, and he was helpful getting me in and out of the kayak without tipping over.

I loved sleeping under the stars. Orion was nearly overhead about sunrise and I saw several meteors. Will "google" to see when to watch for the November meteor show. If I awakened and Orion was still low in the sky, I would go back to sleep until just before dawn. The sunrises and sunsets here are colorful.

Danzante Island is one of 5 Islands in the National Marine Park here at Loreto.

After the first day, we paddled over to the mainland of Baja and paddled south camping along the way at two different beaches. We spent two nights at our last camping beach and did a lot of snorkeling, swimming, beach combing, and hiking up into a canyon. This last beachg had hundreds of hermit crabs crawling about. The snorkeling was nice with a lot of different fish..............ones I cannot name.

This morning we paddled to a beach near Agua Verde for our haulout. Just as we were approaching the beach, a van pulled up to pick us up along with all our gear (including the kayaks.) We had two double kayaks and 3 singles.

It was hot,but I could cool off in the water so that was just fine.

Once the gear was packed for our return to Loreto, we stopped at a ranch for lunch and then drove up the hill to Highway 1 and back to Loreto. The road to Agua Verde leaves Highway 1 about 30 miles from Loreto. The dirt/boulder road is a slow 20 kilometer drive to the first ranch at sea level and then another 20 kilometers to Agua Verde. Takes a long time, but is worth the drive, especially if you can camp a few days while there. There are hot springs nearby that are accessible only at low tide. I have not seen the hot springs yet.

Again, if/when I have pictures to post, I will.

Wedding Oct 22-23

The wedding on the beach at San Basilio was wonderful. A lot of guests, good food, swimming, music, snorkeling and sleeping under the stars. I came in by pickup on a dirt road. The road to the beach was about 14 miles and best travelled in a 4x4. We returned in a rental school bus and bogged down on one spot with soft dirt. The bus nearly made it up and over the soft hill, but had to back down. We were towed by a Ford F150 and between the two vehicles we made it up and over the hill. Would have made a great commercial for Ford pickups.

Still not pictures to post. When I have some I will try and post.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Am in Loreto, BCS

wedding is sat. I have wifi access and can check emails.

it is hot here and so far that feels good.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Spent a couple days visiting in Bremerton, WA. Then to Beverly Beach, OR and here two more nights. Beautiful and sunny. Had sprinkles.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Waiting for ferry to Kingston. Seahawks on radio. Seahawks 36; Giants 25. ....time to load. ...on board...brake set. A 30 min ride.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

La Conner, WA

Spent today in La Conner, WA. Lunch, browsing artwork and buying hats, Fildalgo Bay coffee and gooey cinnamon rolls. Fun! Picture of guitar made of license plates.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Arrived Bellingham this morning. Walked Chet, drove 13 miles down the road then napped. Continued on to Mukilteo for visit, dinner w/friend.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Arriving Ketchikan. Sunny, cool, light breeze. No clouds! Will walk Chet outside here, then car deck 15 min walks only 3Xday to Bellingham.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Humpback whales bubble-net feeding in Peril Strait today. Saw from Alaska ferry Malaspina. 1st stop Sitka on way to Bellingham, WA.