Where's Walla: Our Whale Tale

On Saturday morning we woke up to heavy rains, poor Jon had to put the trailer away in a downpour, then safely drive us out that dirt road. I feel very fortunate that we didn't have any major tire blowouts or anything else that morning. From there we jetted down to San Ignacio, the more renowned location for the whales and also the furthest as we were hoping to dodge the storm. On the way we stopped in the town center for a little lunch and to stretch our legs then headed over to the lagoon. We arrived at the lagoon just in time to get on one of the last boats of the day. It was all a little hectic and rushed. The kids had been in the car for about 6 hours already and were about to board a small boat in the drizzling rain for another two. Definitely not how I'd envisioned this incredible experience going. But it still ended up being amazing! The kids were captivated by the whales and the whales were so incredibly friendly, giving everyone a turn to touch them. We were't able to get the best pictures this day because of how wet it was and a few mishaps along the way....Zion got the full force of the blowhole in his face while Jon was taking pictures so that sort of put the camera out of commission, then Eden semi fell in (?) on my watch (we have video of that that I may try to post later), needless to say after all that we put the cameras away and it was all hands on deck. The following morning we set out again early to see the whales. It was a bright sunshiny beautiful day but the ocean was rough from the wind the night before and my stomach was queazy from a touch of montazumas or something of that nature. Again it wasn't perfect and it left me longing for another try. After the boat ride we hung around camp and went for an explore late in the day where we landed on a beach so full of seashells that it didn't seem real with a coyote who followed us intent on being our dearest friend. That night the wind blew hard. The hardest we have ever felt it blow while in our trailer. Jon was worried about a complete trailer failure (collapse) and I was worried about it blowing over. I kept having to remind myself that it was not hurricane season so there was no possible way that we were in a hurricane. Nobody slept that night, especially not Jon or myself. The next morning we had to head home. We woke up early, packed up, and were on the road by 5am. I was intent on giving the whales one more try. Scammons lagoon was on our way home, and people were saying that 2,100 whales were in that lagoon this year. I really wanted to see what that was like. But once Jonny starts driving toward a goal it is really hard to get him to deviate (esp when there is a 16 hr drive ahead). I am so grateful to him that he stopped though. We arrived at the lagoon around 8:30 just in time for one of the first boats of the morning, and it was on this morning that I had that perfect experience. The sun was shining, there were whales everywhere just how you would imagine a lagoon full of 2,100 whales being. It was incredible! I really don't have words. I feel so very fortunate to have had that encounter with such majestic creatures. It was surreal and profound. I hope to share it again with the kids some day, next time we will wait till they are a bit older, perhaps 5 and 7 so that they can appreciate the wonder of it all more deeply, and so that they can reach out and touch the whales a little bit more independently and safely.

Zi looking out the window on the rainy road out.

This is not a great picture but I love any picture that captures the deep blue of Eden's eyes.

This is a beautiful old church, built by the Dominicans (?) way back when, that stands in the town center.

Prayer

This girl (I think her name was Lilly) was Zion's dearest friend.

This sign depicts the Gray Whale and points out the areas not to touch.

This is a picture of the lagoon. The lines delineate the areas that the tour boats are able to go. The upper portion of the lagoon is where they speculate that the baby whales are born.

Camp Sunrise

The Osprey nest here. It was so wonderful to see so many of these magnificent birds and their beautiful nests so close.

Osprey feeding her chick.

Zion didn't get the most consistent naps...he still seems to be recovering.

The shells were incredible. There were so many of them, that they simply began dumping them in the desert. You would drive around and there would be shell mounds as far as the eye could see.