Adventures in the New Year

Cutlass Fish

Laguna Percebu

Northern Baja California is an extension of the Lower Colorado River Valley, a subdivision of the Sonoran Desert and is relatively shallow (averaging 65 ft ten miles offshore) with a tidal range of 15-23 ft. The bottom consists of mostly sediment from the Colorado River while shore habitats include mudflats, sand flats or bars, beach rock formations, salt marshes, and other rocky habitats. Located just 20.8 kilometers south of the town of San Felipe, this laguna is a wonderful day trip. During our 7-hour visit to Percebu, we walked across the laguna mudflats in the morning and waded through the laguna waters at chest high water at the end of the day! The laguna is a spawning ground to many species of fish, including the Cutlass fish, which normally lives south in depths of 500 feet but traveled into the laguna to spawn. The estuary beach was littered with dozens of these bizarre-looking fish. On our trip to the estuary last year, we discovered the skeletons of 50 or more pelicans high on the dunes but not one could be found on this trip.

Octopus in Tidepool

Baja Discovery

This lecture and low tide walk was Las Amiga’s’ 2^nd Annual fundraiser to benefit education beyond the sixth grade level for area youth. The lecture was held at El Dorado Ranch’s Pavilion and included presentations by: Dr. Roy Houston from the Loyola Marymount University who discussed the geography and geology of this area and the plants and animals of this unique marine environment; Kathy Keene, resident ornithologist who presented information on the local birds; George Jackson, local expert on snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions. It was fascinating to learn from Dr. Houston that the Sea of Cortez is home to a higher percentage of endemic species (only found here) than in other regions of the world.

Banded Brittle Star

The lecture was followed a week later by a thrilling low tide walk at Los Pulpos (The Octopus) at 48.5 kilometers south of San Felipe. This area hosts a prolific community of marine animals and plants. Dr. Roy’s enthusiasm was contagious as we all discovered everything from octopus and sea urchins to the 24-legged sea star and beautifully banded brittle star. What a wonderful day!

Town of San Felipe

It has been fun discovering all the merchants in town for our everyday needs. Our friend Meg has shown us where to locate everything from motor oil and pastries to block ice and the Mercado Hippon, the town’s biggest grocery store. Big thanks out to George Jackson for helping us find a replacement tire for Kathy’s Honda XR100 dirt bike. Should be back on the road by next Friday!

Tessie

Full Moon - Awooooo!

Miss Tessie is having a blast with all the  open space to explore and discover. She loves visiting Linda and Lizbeth’s dogs down the road and watches for Linda to pass by in the morning so she can say hello. Tessie loves their newest puppy Maddie, an  8-week old border collie. When Tessie’s not running around the property jumping cactus and ocotillo, she has her nose stuck in some hole. We suspect this led to her trouble. Her right eye socket swelled up like a small orange. After prodding it with tweezers proved unfruitful, we iced it and gave her some Benadryl. It could have been a spider, a fire ant or a scorpion. She was back to normal the very next day.

Sand Dollar Beach

Located at kilometer 26 is a wide, empty sandy beach where, you guessed it, one can find lots of sand dollars. Kathy caught a stingray. She also hooked onto something that broke her line! Tessie loves the beach and played in the water from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. The dirt/sandy road in (approx. 2 miles from the highway) had some soft spots, giving us the opportunity to use 4-wheel drive in and out! How exciting! We all had a great day doing the things we love to do – Kathy fishing, Tessie playing in the water (and rolling in the sand), and Lizzie writing and beachcombing.

El Balcon Luncheon

Our friends Lizbeth and Linda organized a special mole’ lunch at one of San Felipe’s nicest downtown restaurants, the El Balcon. The menu included three different mole’ chicken enchiladas – one pumpkin, one chocolate, and one peanut. The meal also included a white bean soup and the most delicious dessert – guava paste and cheese rolled in a pastry shell, bathed in chocolate sauce, and topped with pink bougainvillea flower petals. The presentation was beautiful and service generous. It was a special treat relaxing with old and new friends on a sunny winter afternoon.

Barrel Cactus

San Felipe Desert Rail Trip

Sand Rail Pit Stop

Ride on! We had an exhilarating trip out into the desert with our friends and neighbors Linda and Lizbeth on their 1968 ‘Barney’ sand rail. Also on the trip were our friends Sharron and Lynda on their rail with their friends from British Columbia, Jean and Pauline. Traveling to the valley at the foot of the Picacho Del Diablo, Sierra de San Pedro Martir’s highest peak at 10,147 feet, was an introduction to many unfamiliar desert plants, such as the barrel cactus. We visited the fossil beds and discovered many fossils of shells and marine worms. Sharing a picnic lunch with friends out in the desert was a lot of fun. Next trip, the waterfalls!

Gonzaga Bay
Mexican Highway 5 has been extended south along the west coast of the Sea of Cortez to only 1 hour north of the jewel that is Bahia San Luis Gonzaga. The remaining 11 miles is a rugged dirt road (the San Felipe Trail) that takes you through valleys and washes and a remote military checkpoint. The four-hour trip planted us on the back door of Alfonsina’s, a charming 2-story hotel and restaurant in the heart of Gonzaga Bay. With 10 people and 11 dogs in four cars, we put our teeth back in and headed inside for a specially prepared buffet of fish and shrimp tacos. We also checked out the Rancho Grande store for memorabilia and future provisioning possibilities. We are anxious to return for a camping trip. Keep you posted!

Beach at Gonzaga Bay

Catch of the Day - Triggerfish

Sharron, Liz & Meg

Yoga at Roni and Dave’s

We started doing yoga at the most beautiful straw bale solar home we’ve seen in the Baja. Roni, our dear friend and gracious yoga instructor, and her husband Dave (our Knight in Shining Armor) host our sessions in the courtyard of their amazing straw bale home.

Roni & Dave's Straw Bale Solar Home

Cantu Cove

Beautiful Cantu Cove

Spent the afternoon visiting our friends from the Bay Area, Christine and Rainie, at their solar casita on the bluff overlooking Cantu Cove. The girls got some fishin’ in and we got to meet the sweet beach dogs that live there. What a gem of a private spot located in San Felipe but a world away.

Christine & Kathy Fishing 

There are lots of festivities and adventures planned for February. Spring promises a spectacular display of desert wildflowers due to the abundance of rain we’ve had here since December. Seems we discover a new flower every walk we take. The three of us are having a blast and miss you all. Really wish you were here. . .