Wednesday, April 16, 2025- Punta Marcial, Baja California Sur
After motoring north all night, we woke to find ourselves anchored off the rocky coast of Punta Marcial. We could see the Western Flyer nearby, where her onboard scientists had been up early, taking DNA samples and measurements from the sea.
A few mobula rays poked triangular fins out of the water near the boat, occasionally flinging themselves out of the water like exploding popcorn kernels. Looking out at the Flyer, it was amazing to think that Carol Steinbeck had been in the same vicinity on March 24, 1940, and that the Steinbeck expedition had collected on the same shores we were about to explore. Later that day, I looked back at what the crew had written about the spot 85 years ago.
Anxious to get in the water, I snorkeled at Punta Marcial, rather than joining the group that went tidepooling that first day. The fish, coral and invertebrates of the underwater landscape were stunning, and afterwards, I shed my wetsuit to explore some of the tidepools before catching a Zodiac back to the big boat.
When we motored back for dinner, the Western Flyer was anchored beside the Safari Voyager. I could hardly wait to visit her in the next day or two.
Back on the boat, we each got a sketchbook, watercolor pencils and a brush. For the rest of the trip, I used the art supplies to take notes and make sketches- some “en plein air” and a few from photos I took or objects we found. We were lucky enough to have a professional nature journalist, John Muir Laws, on board to inspire us and give us some workshops. That evening after dinner, one of the wonderful expedition leaders from the Safari Voyager gave a short talk about Baja and the Gulf of California.
Interesting (and sad) fact: The Colorado River once flowed into the norther tip of the Gulf of California, bringing with it red sediments, but dams built by humans over the last hundred years, beginning with the Hoover Dam in 1930, dried up the rich river delta and its ecosystems. Today virtually no fresh water from the river reaches the gulf.
And did I mention how beautiful sunsets are on the Gulf?
Coming up next…. San Lucas Cove