samedi 28 décembre 2019
1912 BAJA CENTRAL PACIFIC COAST : whale n lobster country (pending)
From TURTLE BAY, we ll try to follow the coast as closed as possible. This coast is hilly and very dry but scatterd with small fischers camps. It's hard to believe but except in front of beaches, there is almost one lobster trap every 50 meters and there are always one or two pangas in view ! SAN ROQUE, ASUNCION, SAN HIPOLITO n ABRE OJOS could be anchored
Sailing closed to the coast with light wind is a slalom between lobster traps...
Along this majestic coast between TURTLE BAY n ABRE OJOS, impressive : 1 lobster trap each 50 metres !

...Its also rare no to see any panga mostly driven by 2 fishers...
...and bit more offshore, numerous whales...
,,,sometimes making the show...

...but so difficult to catch with my old NIKON...
...gift from mexican pangas, may be limit in legal size...
...but delicious naturaly cooked with the new Helena's designed BBQ !

With this quiet weather, ALCYONE try to anchor in some unusal places as SAN ROQUE island...
...2 night "vigilentes" are still sleeping in this tiny place on top of the island..
.

...their job is to watch all the lobster traps...I was asked to leave the island
Still sailing a bit more Eastward with the sunrise...
ASUNCION: The first cactus...we feel here a strong effort of organisation to make the place pretty n nice to live in

...with a clean paved main road to avoid dust...
...Recycling the old obter traps in fences...
...introducing palm trees along the shore...

...these smart fishes encourage any one n particulary the kids to feed them with all kind of plastics bottles...
No doubt...civilisation is here !
but even with friendly sea n nice weather, ASUNCION offer still enough space on an endless beach...

... an alternative to the 100% lobster fishing economy, and a perfect anchorage for cruisers .
On our departure from ASUNCION, A squad of happy young sea lion follow ALCYONE up to 2 miles offshore
ROCA BALLENA, a dangerous shoal protect our next stop in ABRE OJOS

Another friendly spot on this pacific coast, mostly fishing oriented...
These pangas arrive full speed on the beach before being lifted on the trailer
MEXICO is still very attached to christmas tradition, even in this remote spot

Yes, on the top of the tree... it was a real one !
A bit "gringo style" all these vehicules on the beach, but very efficient to move the heavy pangas on the beach......
Leaving the place, this delphin is playing so closed to our dinghy !


























