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Saturday, July 30, 2011

East Cape Boating

The East Cape of the Baja Peninsula is hot, windy and still wild. Sport fishing here is bodacious, and the warm water is a clear green-blue. The unspoiled islands are a rich habitat for sea lions, countless colorful fishes, seabirds, and bizarre underwater creatures. Snorkeling, diving, and windsurfing draw adventurers from near and far.

I head northeastward from the Pacific, to La Ventana on the Sea of Cortez. Kate is at the wheel, as Elizabeth and I enjoy the scenery of Highway 19. We take a right onto Highway1 (the Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas Transpeninsular Highway) and pass the lovely old silver mining town of El Triunfo, with its rose, sunflower and mango-painted buildings, and Italian hilltown-like cemetery on the hill. We motor through post-rain green hills and veer north to the sea.

Soon we arrive at Elizabeth's brother's waterfront place. The boat waits patiently, anchored just offshore. We grill carne asada and fresh veggies, and sip Pacificos to keep cool in the humid heat.



In the morning we load up the cooler, jump on the boat and head to Cerralvo Island. As the community of La Ventana shrinks behind us, the sandy white shoreline of Cerralvo comes into view. Chris cuts the engine close to shore, we pull on snorkel gear, and in no time at all we're floating over underwater garden eels, like tall grasses waving in the current, poking up through holes in the sandy floor. The water is calm, warm and soothing as we bob around the shallow cove.




Isla Cerralvo ahead











Jackson and Chris






















Elizabeth swims

Kate scrubs


















Next, some wave board and water skiing, and after that a fast run around Punta Arena and Punta Perico to Bahia de los Muertos (or "Suenos," as it's been renamed. "Dreams" sounds better to investors than "Dead Guys") Sandy, salty and sweaty, we grab a table at the restaurant on the bay and recharge.




















Jackson and Chiquita



Bahia de los Suenos

Restaurante Suenos


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