Where's Walla: Gray Whale Sojourn

After going to see the whales last year, Jon and I agreed to wait at least 3 maybe even 5 more years before going back to see them again. We figured the kids would get a lot more out of it when they were older and the whole experience would not be quite so daunting for them. But another year rolled by and we were both dead set on seeing the whales again. I don't know quite how to explain it except to say that they are just so captivating and beautiful. There is something about those giant beasts coming up to the small pangas and seemingly peering straight into your soul with their big oval whale eyes. There is also something about being in such close proximity with a creature that is so wholly unlike you. I can not rightly express it in words but the entire experience is other wordily - for me at least, and I'm not sure if one can ever truly get enough of an experience like that.

We pass through San Ignacio on the way to see the whales. It is such a quintessential Spanish town with a town square and the big old church.

The place we stay at is pure magic. I'm not even gonna try to describe it in words, and will just lets these pics tell its story.

Zion and his whale bone

The kids spent hours playing on these shell mounds.

Passed out at dinner

Feeling a little road weary

These pictures are such accurate representations of Eden - always observing, often looking up.

We drove a little further south on the trip to explore more and to check out a spot on the Sea of Cortez. It sure was beautiful but not actually very inviting with prickly thistles that pieced your feet almost every step you took making it so that shoes were required even along the shoreline. We didn't last here 24 hours, but it was really nice to see some different landscape.

Sea of Cortez

Sunrise. We didn't know it at the time, but this would be the last day of our Baja journey. On our way home we would have the most radical whale petting encounter of our lives and from there we would keep on driving and be in our beds that night complaining and laughing about our sore butts all the way.

Scammons Lagoon

This lagoon is less popular than San Ignacio and not quite as idyllic of a camping spot but its 4-5 hours closer and much less crowded. Both this year and last we had the best whale encounters at this spot. In the future when our time will be more limited due to the kids being in school we will probably skip San Ignacio and just come here from our camp for the day.

Eden was BUMMED out about how friendly the whales were being on this second boat ride. Which was totally understandable. At the end she was able to enjoy them more, when she felt she could safely watch from a more controlled distance.