After 68 nautical miles (nm) of paddling, our incredible circumnavigation of Carmen Island, just 4 nm offshore of Loreto, Baja California Sur ended with the most challenging stiff offshore breeze of the trip. The short crossing, small waves, but strong wind was the icing on all the previous wind we’d experienced.
Ten days, eleven paddlers, two of which were professional guides. After day 1 of calm seas, the daytime wind rarely let up making for paddling in wind and waves, bouncy, washing machine conditions, and the need to stay focused. It was fun and exhilarating!
The guides, Edgar and Maria, made the trip seamless with decision making, cooking meals, providing snorkeling stops, hiking opportunities and answering our hundreds of questions with patience, humor and knowledge.
The Sea of Cortez is abundant with unique and colorful marine life: red florescent dotted sea stars, schools of colorful fish, pods of dolphins (like, in the hundreds) dashing and jumping, unusual birds, and hundreds of pelicans providing much entertainment as they dive bomb the thousands of sardines. Swarms of fish hurtling themselves across the water was particularly entertaining to observe. Searching for elusive sea turtles, Manta Rays, big horn sheep and scorpions kept us engaged when it wasn’t necessary to have full attention on paddling.
Fun fact: scorpions fluoresce under ultraviolet light.
A typical day: Cowboy coffee at 6 or 7, followed by hot breakfast of quesadillas, beans and tropical fruit. Break camp and paddle several miles. Lunch stop: explore, snorkel, soak up the sun (it is winter and was never too warm) while our guides prepare fresh chopped veggies and guacamole for tortas, more fresh fruit and a unique sweet of guava roll, tamarind candy or Glorias. Paddle several more miles and set up camp. Dark by 6pm, enjoy a healthy, delicious Mexican dinner and, because the weather wasn’t conducive to sitting around long, we all enjoyed early bedtimes. However, stargazing and finding nebula with the telescope was a hit when it wasn’t too windy or cold