Less than 20 miles separate SANTA MARIA from the entrance of the MAGDALENA laguna...Or first anchorage is not far, befhind the PUNTA ENTRADA....Rocky botom n tidal stream but a wonderfl view of the laguna especially after a hike onshore.
We ll not move our cat to PUERTO SAN CARLOS, to far too much motor n our fuel tanks are still full, but make a short day stop to PUERTO MAGDALENA: too many flies, the village show nothing special and the only restaurant is closed; as soon as the thermic start, we sail to the south, pass at dawn with 2k of positive current the canal of GAVIOTA n anchor in ALCATRAZ for a few hours. Next morning, ALCYONE stop in the middle of BAHIA ALMEJA for a long dinghy trip in the north mangrove channel to the intriguing sand hill.
We get the time with help of Yanmar to anchor 3 miles of punta Redonda, the south side of the laguna entrance, not far from a fish farm.
The beach here is very remote and shows at the same places lot of bone (Turtles, Dolphin, Sea lions) and... empty cartridges...
We did nt resist to have a look to the south opening of the laguna, the canal of REHUSA; a nice and wild spot that few cruisers visit but the local pangas cross on a daily base. Then an overnight sail push ALCYONE to CABO SAN LUCAS...an ultimate contrast !  |
| The entrance of laguna Magdalena is only a few miles away... |
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| ALCYONE can anchor in noticable tidal stream east of Punta Entrada |
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| This give the first opportunity to walk on shore... |
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| As usual, the desert emphase his smallest details... |
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| Full moon tonight...ALCYONE is alone in this majestic landscape and our feeling to be free is total ! |
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| We had to motor to anchor in MAN OF WAR, a deceptive stop... |
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| Yes, but this opportunistic place is closed, even with 6 boats in front... |
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| We left same day with the thermic n decide to anchor in the south... |
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| ...in the middle of Baja Al MEIJA,...ALCATRAZ wake up in the fog... |
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| ...our "anchorage"almost 2 miles from any shore in a depth of 30 feet... |
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| ...the sunrise was magic with the last fog we ll see this 2019 year... |
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| We love pelicans: the way they flap noiseless the wings a dozen times before soaring together as perfect teams... |
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| We leave ALCYONE early this morning for a very long dinghy ride... |
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| ...to explore the inlet between ESTERO SALINA and isla MANGROVE |
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| vigilencia ? |
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| The tide give us 3 hours minimum; enough to reach the top, 8 miles in the NW... |
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| ...to these majestic sand hills...visible from very far they operate as magnet with us |
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| Numerous paws on the sand, but not from human so far... |
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| ...Noisy howling when we approach the sand hill, probably a coyotes family... |
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| Let's have a look... |
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| ...Behind the sand, the south part of MAGDALENA laguna. |
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| How this mushroom can leave here ? |
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| Probably a member of the local coyote family... |
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| So simple so perfect...nature drawing as anywhere in the world... |
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| ...n a bit more up comes the reward with this spendid north view of the North side of MAGDALENA |
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| Why this circle ? |
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| All the paws converge to a bush at the inside base of the sand hill... |
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| But the tide is down n Helena must pick me up after a refill of the main gas tank...out of the range of the no see ums.. |
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| Still time to explore mangrove channels of the tortuga lagoon... |
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| with unexpected encounters... |
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| ...but human presence is not far from here... in laguna ALCRAN... |
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| Adaptation is on the move onshore... |
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| ...as offshore as this boat carry a lot of birds... |
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| Tidal stream near ALCATRAZ is more than 2k |
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| Last anchorage in laguna, closed to the fish farm |
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| Last walk onshore...with following strange discovery on the gravel beach... |
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| ALCYONE sail out of the MAGDALENA now, but we want to have a look to the supposed locked south entrance... |
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| No swell today outside the laguna ..luckily ! |
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| Hello ! |
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| PUNTA TOSCA , we have to stop here... |
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| With this weather easy to anchor ... |
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| welcome show for the dinghy, in the water with sea lions... |
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| n in the air with the kings of soaring... |
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| ...including the first colony of fregate birds. |
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| Nobody anymore in this place, with a 360 degres view... |
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| ...From NW to E through S, here is one of the best in the world for whale watching, but you must store water n food ! |
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| NE view is on the canal of REHUSA, south access to MAGDALENA LAGUNA... |
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| We see a panga in the channel: With little swell n around high tide, it seems any shallow draft vessel can do the same |
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| A paradox of MEXICO with often a much better respect for god than nature |
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| Time to leave and to make n overnight sail south to CABO SAN LUCAS...another world ! |
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| CABO was a fishing village...a long time ago... |
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| ...Noisy traffic jam around the famous arch... |
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| 2 mega cruise ships at anchor today... |
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| ...All inclusive resort in a raw in front of our anchorage... |
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| ...frenetic activity in harbour where nobody say "hello"... |
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| Fortunatly if you want to stay around CABO, you have a super choice of medicine ! |
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| 16 december...tomorrow we leave, CABO SAN LUCAS is not our cup of tea, and the sea of CORTEZ wait for us ! |