I need to return to The States soon to have a medical procedure. Nothing life threatening but necessary nonetheless. In the meantime I am thoroughly enjoying the summer so far. It is hot, no question (mid 90's) and humid but the sea is like a lake, the water is warm and clear, there are soft breezes in the late afternoon and the shade under the palapa gives me a place to siesta.

Few tourists left in the village and only one last Ukiahian.

Rumor is that there is a pod of Orcas in the area and I think I may have seen them this morning from the bluff. I didn't have my binocs so couldn't be sure but they were too big for dolphins. There are however at least two species of false Orcas that inhabit our waters. Naturally I will go out to the whale zone in my kayak tomorrow and see if I can arrange an encounter. That would be ssoooo cool! I may try this evening too. My equipment is all ready to go. I could be launched in 10-15 min.

I took a walk along the beach this afternoon and decided to go in for a swim. There was a good sized dog where I was and he decided to swim with me. Great fun, he stayed right with me and when I turned so did he. At one point as I was swimming he ran right into me and I began laughing so hard that I had to get out. What a deal. I get run into by a DOG while swimming laps in The Sea of Cortez. I guess you had to have been there.

The pic of the little tree is my version of creative planting. That's the view from where I like best to sit under the palapa. The big house is to give you an idea of the level of development in our village. The shot down the beach shows the "bluff" I sometimes refer to. You can see my palapa roof and the trailer underneath just to the left of the big white house on the left of the pic.

I will report on any and all Orca doings.

Here are some recent photos I would like to share. It’s kind of a variation on red that is in my yard at present. I really can’t get enough of the cardinals around here and there are many. Such a delightful counterpoint to the vivid greens and muted browns of the desert. The flowers too of course….ah nature!

The beach photo is of our own main El Cardonal beach during the Fishing Tournament going on right now. The photo is taken from the top of my bodega (storage building) from where I also observe sunrises, sunsets, whales and stars.

Not much has been happening down here the past few weeks. Will do a catch up soon with some pics.

I’m feeling considerably better after my bout with the flu and then a follow up bacterial infection. Going at about 90% right now. I made the mistake of going out kayaking three days ago thinking I was mended and came back so exhausted I thought I was sick again but like I said, better now.

I have taken up archery again after a hiatus of about 10 years. I first took it up as a very young boy attempting to emulate one of my on screen heroes, Errol Flynn, in his role as Robin Hood. If that doesn’t date me I don’t know what will.

I took up the sport seriously as a graduate student at The Univ. of Arizona in the mid 60’s. In preparation I read two books, “The Zen of Archery” and "Tracking" and then took to the desert to hunt javelina and deer. Never even got within reasonable range for my skill so no animals were endangered by my intent. I do it now simply because I enjoy redeveloping that skill (and Robin Hood is still one of my all time favorite characters). Presently I can put 10 of 12 arrows into a 12” square at 50’. Not anything to brag about but I thought I would anyway. I use the same bow that I purchased in Tucson 41 years ago! New arrows though.

Due to the sickness I have not been able to start my reef survey but boy am I looking forward to that. I believe both Alan and George (my two fine buddies down here) will be back sometime in early fall and we’ll really do some work when the diving is superb. In the meantime I will enjoy my solitude on the reef and get to know it a whole lot better.

For those interested: the bow is a 62”, 46#, Turkish Recurve Browning Nomad II. I have a 33" draw so total poundage is around 60 I think?

The reef shot is from last year. What looks like a smiley face in the sand is NOT RETOUCHED, that is a partially sand submerged Banded Guitar Fish. They are related to the sharks (same order different family for those taxonomists among you….if anyone is there).

I have been out of commission for almost 2 weeks now due to the flu (no, not the "end of the world" stuff being peddled by the same old same olds), just the flu. Feeling better today but no guarantee it is the end of it. Have not been in the water since the 3rd so pretty anxious to reconnect with grandmother. Heard today that my buddy Vicente had a close encounter with a HB the other day splashing water in his panga! Hope this isn't the beginning of a tourist gig he is planning on doing due to his knowlege of whales now. I knew that might happen one day but I sincerely hope it's not the case.

The pics are of some of my friends; Gila Woodpecker, California Brown Pelican, Great White Egret and a Northern Cardinal. Hope to be back in the water soon.

Here's the Wren. Dealing with the flu right now so not inspired to write much.

Went out this morning in the kayak around 8:30 and was drawn to diving the reef due to the clarity of the water. Good and bad decision both. The reef was literally teeming with fish and that was very cool. I almost always have the entire reef to myself because most people don't like to get out as early as I do.

Now the bad part (how bad could it be?), as I returned to my paddle out to the "Whale Zone" I did in fact spot a HB further out going south. If I had not stopped over the reef I would have been right there for a definite opportunity to dive with it. As it was I got within 100 ft but no more. On the way back I came across our local sea lion, we dove together and I got some underwater shots (not digital so can't post them).

Going out again tomorrow.

The picture is of one of my resident Cactus Wrens. They have completed their nest and I anticipate little chirpings at some point.