RE: [Paddlewise] Baja

From: Timothy Nickerson <Timothy.J.Nickerson_at_usa.alcatel.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 23:03:04 -0500
Bob

My wife and I took a trip with a Canadian outfitter to Baja, early Feb 97.
That was our first kayaking trip and was fantastic. We camped on offshore
islands (Pacific side) and went three days before we saw another person
outside our group - a Mexican fisherman tending his nets.

My fondest memory is waking up and hearing a momma grey whale and her calf
blowing 50 feet away from our campsite. That was our last campsite and we
spent three days there. When I returned to Texas, I awoke for 3-4 days
hearing those whales blowing. It was great. We could watch whales and
dolphins jumping from our campsite. We were prohibited from getting close to
whales in our kayaks but took a trip in a fishing boat and the whales were
attracted to noise/vibrations from engines and would approach boats. One
calf let people pet it.

We were fortunate to celebrate Mardi Gras in La Paz at the start of our trip
(unplanned surprise).

Days were warm (in 70s), nights were cool. One night was windy and wind
chill was in 30s or low 40s. We had full moon and tides were in our favor.
Stars were unbelievable - one night we got up at 3am for star gazing - one
of the guides had his telescope set up for us.

Dianne is into birdwatching and identified more types of birds on that trip
than she had ever seen in such a short period of time. We are nature lovers
and really enjoyed the trip.

Kayaking was probably secondary to everything around us. We used Seaward
doubles outfitted with centerboards (& rudders). Got to sail downwind one
day. Nice experience.

One guy on the trip brought a wet suit for snorkeling. Water is cold - about
50 degrees - probably warm for Alaska but cold for Texas.

That trip got us hooked on kayaking. It is amazing how close you can get to
nature in a kayak.

Tim

>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
>>[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Rev. Bob
>>Carter
>>Sent: Friday, September 17, 1999 8:30 PM
>>To: paddle wise
>>Subject: [Paddlewise] Baja
>>
>>
>>Just signed up for a trip with a commercial outfitter to Baja
>>in Februrary.
>>(If Jackie says it is O.K. I will tell you which company)
>>
>>
>>It will be a 5 day tour of Bahia De Los Angeles to look for
>>Fin, Brye and Gray
>>whales. (I hope to have a whale of a time)
>>
>>
>>I will probably be paddling a Looksha IV. (It's plastic but
>>the design is
>>fantastic)
>>
>>
>>Also to avoid controvrsey with the paddlewise gang I
>>requested a boat with a
>>rudder but that it be unfeathered. I will provide the feathers myself.
>>
>>
>>This will be my first trip to Baja. Other than a gallon of
>>sunblock anyone got
>>any good suggestions?
>>
>>
>>Bob
>>
>>
>>Sitka, Alaska
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>

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Received on Fri Sep 17 1999 - 21:04:50 PDT

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