Trip Leader and
Author:
Dick Opsahl.
Photo Gallery: click
here.
Participants:
Ray and Joy Green, Ernie and Susan Newman, Paul and Arianthe
Stettner, Charlie and Rhonda DeWeese, Arnold and Rachel Wise, Jackie
Little, Marilyn Yeamans, Mari Jorgensen, and Dick Opsahl.
The first 8 of us
arrived at Loreto, Mexico on 28 October. Dick Opsahl volunteered to
organize transport to the hotel that we would stay at for a couple
of days prior to our kayak launch. Dick was shanghaied at the
transport desk by an offer of transportation to the hotel and
glorious free breakfast the next day. All we had to do is look at
some new Time shares under construction. Dick took the bait and it
turned out to be a fun thing to do in a dandy bus.
The other 6
arrived the next day. Our total crew was 14.
Here is a photo of the
San Javier Mission high in the hills above Loreto. It is the oldest
mission in the Baja. We spent a half day hiking around the environs.
After another day
of exploration at Loreto we received the pre kayak briefing from our
guide Carlos.
We were ready for
the first day of kayaking. We loaded up all of our stuff and the
equipment provided by Nichols Expeditions and departed in 2 vans to
the launch site.
It was possible to
carry all of the kayaks and people in and on the 3 motor boats that
were to go along with us for the multi day journey.
The clear blue
green warm water made it a pleasure to climb out of and on to the
motor boats and into the kayaks.
We were set up with
large 3 person tents which were occupied by singles or couples.
After the kayaking days were filled with hikes, snorkeling and even
sometimes yoga.
Kayaks were the
real sea worthy feet in “ocean going” type. We each wore spray
skirts to prevent water from waves getting into the boat.
Meals and “happy
hour” were all taken care of by our excellent crew. There were
endless Margaritas and Pacifico cervesa.
During the
expedition from Loreto to La Paz we set up tents each night on the
beach. The crew generally erected the tents and put up the cook
shack kitchen.
As we moved along
sometimes the winds were too strong to allow reasonable kayaking.
When this happened we would put the kayaks on top of the motor
boats. All of us would load into the boats too.
Jackie had her 60th
birthday during the trip. There was a grand meal and even a birthday
cake. The crew sung the Spanish version of happy birthday in Spanish
and we sang along then did the English version.
Another highlight
of the trip was swimming with the sea lions. At one place along the
trip we were all in the motor boats and anchored next to a sea lion
colony. After a lecture about staying away from the big old males we
all donned our wet suits, fins and masks for a romp with the young
lions. They were a very playful lot swimming right up to us and
grabbing our arms and elbows. Kind of like the jumping dogs do whey
you enter a friendly house. It was an incredible hour.
Every morning
before breakfast and just after dawn the crew would launch with our
fishermen. Almost every day there was a good catch which went right
into the dinner meal.
We spent the last
night in a lovely Mexican style hotel at La Paz. The endless fresh
water showers felt real good after a week of wash up in the salt
water with salt water soap. Our outfitters provided comfortable
transport to the airport for our journey home.
