A day exploring by Canoe at Isla San Francisco Bay

Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Sun 7 Feb 2010 04:25
We woke again to sun and crystal clear water, and a slight wind out of the
south, just a surface breeze. We broke out the Kayaks which we have 2 on the
side of the boat, a 2 man and single, and loaded up the snorkeling gear and
some lunch. We started a slow canoe around the headland next to us, with the
clear water you can ride over the rocks seeing the sea urchins, eels, and
huge array of fish below, this was ideal for Alex (1.5 years old, who could
lean over the side and spot different types of fish which he pointed out on
the chart afterwards), out off the coast about 1/2 mile we had Manta rays
jumping, these continued all day, and continue to fascinate me. On arrival
at the next beach we found a local fish man panga and a camp where they used
the caves, they were diving for clams and octopus, but we landed at the
other end. Sean and I went snorkeling and Sean continued to develop his
snorkeling skill, and wonder at the different view and world that lives
below the surface, he pointed out fish and different shell fish, it is nice
to see this develop, and as we move to warmer water it will continue to
accelerate. Also it is nice to see Tracy getting back into the snorkeling
which shows that the temperature of the water is not too bad.
I spent the afternoon in the sun on the aft of the boat watching these Manta
Rays just leap into the air about 400 feet away, not just one but many, I
wonder if they are being chased or something else. I did another dive to
spear a fish for dinner, I got a nice size parrot fish which I baked on the
barbeque and was tasty but the flesh is so tender compared to the game fish
like tuna, that we will use these ones for things like fish tacos. The
afternoon was finished off exploring the salt pans behind the dunes, and the
beach on the other side of the spit, finding skeletons and shells, the boys
enjoyed collecting and asking questions what fish made that skeleton.
Tomorrow we intend to move on to another location about 10 miles away
exploring some other bays and islands on the way, but the next bay has a
small settlement which will allow us to solve our major issue out here that
of rubbish (diapers just are an issue, we slowly potty training Alex).
We met another couple today they are in their 70s and from Canada, but have
been cruising since 1991, they did the passage to Australia in 93, and now
winter here in the Sea of Cortez on a small 32 foot boat) and then use their
42 boat in Canada in the summer, but each day they have been out canoeing,
walking and active, it is nice to see.
As the sun came down, and the stars lit up the sky( as the moon is very late
now), the water across the bay went to a golden red/ orange and the boats
sat on top, the odd pelican swooped down to catch fish, and the reflection
of the stars filled the space between the boats, with the hills surrounding
the bay, it is such a peaceful place, no wonder it is such a popular
location, I would not be surprised if we stopped in on the way back down
again.
Tomorrow a new location, and new things to see.