Sailing Grace: February 2012

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Road Trip

We're off to see the gray whales in Magdalena Bay. We hear that there about 60 to 70 there at the moment. Normally, there are well over a hundred this time of year.

A Happy Proponent of Travel by Land

During the Baja Ha-Ha, we'd anchored near Magdalena Bay. It took us something like five days to sail from Mag Bay to La Paz. The drive from La Paz to Mag Bay is three hours!

Getting Towed to the Boat Launch

Shrimp Boat

As the whale-watching boats are heading out, the shrimpers are returning with their catch.

Pelicans Greet the Returning Shrimp Boats

Thirty Minutes to the Whales

Liam is thrilled to be underway again, and the captain in Michael can't help but keep watch.

This friendly whale visited this boat and then came and played with us for 10 minutes. She pushed our boat around and even let us pet her. She's known as a playful whale and visited the boats on her own volition. The captain said that she was about 40 years old and pregnant. Gray whales congregate in Bahia Magdalena to mate and give birth. We actually witnessed the former, including seeing a good two or three feet of a male's bright pink, six-foot-long penis!

Whale Rider

The captain insisted on Liam "riding" the whale. For the sake of the whale, I can't say that I approved, but she didn't seem to mind.

Eye to Eye

Thar She Blows!

Adios

Spy Hopping

Church Plaza in Todos Santos

We took the bus from La Paz to Todos Santos for a day trip. Called the Pueblos Magicos, this Pacific town caters to artists, surfers, and lots of tourists. Many of the colonial buildings have been maintained, and there's water here, making the area much greener than the rest of southern Baja. After two hours on the bus, Liam was running around like crazy, so no charming photos to share.