May not post this until tomorrow but today I went out for my first 2-mile kayak. That’s 2 miles straight out into the sea not along the coast. I do that because it gets me into the middle of what I call the Whale Zone. Most of my Humpback encounters take place from about ½ mile out to about 4 miles out. I’m always looking for a chance encounter that might prove exciting. It is of course almost impossible to try to “catch” a Humpback in a kayak but I have been able to plot an intercept more than once and it has been well worth the effort. Today the sea was absolutely calm so it was easy paddling and a beautiful morning.

No encounters but I did see a really good-sized Mobula (smaller version of a Manta Ray) doing some great flips out of the water. I get such a kick out of them and they always make me laugh out loud with their acrobatics. I also saw a herd of Dolphin further out but if you think catching a whale in a kayak is hard you should try a dolphin! There were lots of jellyfish out there which I hadn’t expected but I couldn’t resist going over the side and swimming for a bit...so refreshing and it was getting hot (no stings).

Vicente went out with some sports fishermen heading towards Isla Cerralvo but I haven’t heard from him if any whales were spotted. He has a network of friends that let us know whenever they spot a whale so maybe we can get an ID on it. Rest of the day I spent lounging in the shade of my new palapa reading and writing.

Went out today due to a break in weather and attempting to maintain a tradition (last year we ID’d our first HB on the 21st. It’s name is now Odin, the second whale adopted by my son Zack). No luck today but Vicente will come get me the minute he or his friends see one and we will vamos! Otherwise I will probably wait until the weekend to go out again in order to conserve research funds.

The land donation is still in the works and I am pursuing it at leisure. After all, it is a life style I am more than ready to adopt…and have chosen to do so. It may be necessary to establish a Mexican non-profit first and to do that I need to talk to Carlos Narro and I have e-mailed him and………it’s just not to fret about. In the meantime my whale loving friends down here are putting together presentations and benefits to help raise the money for next years season.

The American economy, or lack of it, has impacted people (the Natives) here and it is sad because for some it means taking animals (turtles & sharks particularly) that they otherwise wouldn’t. I can’t, and have no right to fault them so I just go on doing what I can, and believe me that is very little. Nevertheless I do sense a generally higher consciousness developing regarding the environment and that is of course terribly satisfying.

Friday, the Governor of Baja Sur is coming to visit El Cardonal. It appears that I may have a chance to meet him and perhaps mention the marine lab. Once again Vicente seems to have some connection there and suggested it might happen. On the other hand Vicente is a dreamer like myself and may be conjuring up realities that don’t exist, and as a dreamer also, I have learned how to wake up without it jarring my goals or my confidence.

While we were out today I realized once again what an extraordinary place this is. From the water one can see a narrow strip of Sonoran type desert running at a gentle slope for about 2-3 miles inland and then running into a relatively massive mountain range that rises abruptly to 3-4000 feet. If you then imagine that running out to sea below you is a sharp slope that is 3-4000 feet deep at 4 miles out…well it’s pretty damn impressive!

I’m really looking forward to getting out to that deep zone in my kayak. I never know what I will see and there is always, always a chance for a close encounter with a Whale, Dolphin or Mobula.

For any of you wondering what has happened during the last week whale wise.....well, nothing. The weather is STILL not settled enough to go out to sea so I have nothing to report. It's not as though there is some great storm out at sea (my standard on that is pretty high having "weathered" a gale in the mid Pacific while at the helm of the 84' sailing schooner Dariabar) but it is difficult to spot whales even in a 2-3' wind chop from a panga. Nothing from shore either so it's all good. Of course it would be nice to go out looking especially at this time in the season because this is when to expect to see females with new born calves.....and that is a real treat!

I am enjoying my time immensely, reading, doing lots of writing, drawing and working in my desert garden. Outside of a perimeter of two or three imported plants I am keeping the desert as it is (always loved the desert since my graduate days in Tucson) just trimming it and encouraging it to reach for the skies.

I have begun to regularly practice meditation again. A combination of The Mer-Ka-Ba, a little transcendental meditation from the 60's and some louise Hay mantras. Along with a bit of Native American shamanic practices and connection with my "guides" a la Ron Scolastico....I'm moving right along. It's actually quite serious business and very important and rewarding for me.

Hope you are all doing well and I will report on my first encounter whenever that might be.

Well, this is the situation. My “home” is all that I dreamed it would be. The palapa over the trailer is perfect!

The weather, not unlike previous years, is pretty blowy so I haven’t been able to get out to search for whales. They are here however and possibly in numbers greater than before…possibly. I’m OK with waiting though raring to go because soon the weather will break and Vicente and I will be on the trail like Holmes and Watson, though who is who is debatable!

Talk about synchronicity, the mother of one of the young women renting the “big house” across the road was a classmate of mine in………1947-1950 at Lincoln Elementary School in Redwood City, California. And she remembered me as one of her brother’s playmates during that time. Ain’t that a hoot. For the past few days we have been reminiscing about those innocent, wonderful days after the War (WW II that is) when everyone just wanted to forget the horror (though Americans have no idea of the HORROR of War) and get back to family etc. It was an idyllic time in the SF bay area for sure. Well for some of us anyway; the lucky ones. There were lots of folks whose lives were as tough as ever and we were not going to hear from them until the ‘60’s.

At any rate, it has been a treat. Wind is dying a bit as I write…enough to go out tomorrow, we’ll see.

I am settled in now and finishing up the business end of establishing my roots here. I am at the moment in San Jose Del Cabo completeing various forms, paying fees etc. 

The whales arrived before me this time, Vicente said he has sighted 15 already so we are going out as soon as the wind dies. Reports are that it will be good Friday or Saturday. I saw my first one from shore yesterday. Wind was up so couldn't tell much from the blow and the wind chop prevented seeing it's color or fin shape...nevertheless delightful!  

My posts will be relatively short due to internet server problems for me but I will try to keep those of you interested up to date. No major meetings yet just laying the ground work. No news on the land donation but however it turns out I'm cool.

Have arrived, am safe, palapa is excellent, spiritual journey beginning.

Arrived safely in Muleje today. I am 2/3 's of the way to my home in El Cardonal now. The desert I drove through today was exceptionally green this year, absolutely beautiful. I stopped for lunch at the base of Tres Virjenes (three dormant volcanos in the middle of the desert) and simply enjoyed the quiet and the natural beauty. I'm getting a bit tired of salami, cheese, crackers, hard boiled eggs etc but tonight I'm treating myself to dinner in town. 

New Years Eve in Ensenada was, as always, a surprise. Hussongs' was packed and I was on a roll. Perhaps one day I'll share some of the more intimate details, for now....well it was a "trip"! Hope you are all safe and will see 2009 as a rebirth, I certainly will.