2014 begins with a splash on the beach at el Coyote! After our one SUP (stand up paddle board) lesson in Hawaii we decide if there is any way to get a board to the beach this year, we will do it. But with all the initial packing and the scurry of leaving, we don't figure it our until we are almost ready to leave San Diego. The good news is, we go to West Marine and spring for it..one inflatable paddle board please!
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| Make mine a double! |
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| Pump 'er up! |
We are hopeful that this "blow up board" will be as much fun as our starter board lessons. A few young folks stop overnight at the beach and out come their inflatable boards and off they go into the wild blue yonder (sea)…and they come back still standing up! So, we have a good feeling about it. Now to actually try it!
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| In she comes! |
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Out she goes.
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On New Year's Day Pedro rounds up swimmers for the First Annual el Coyote Polar Bear Swim! First to announce the big event with a proper blast of the conch shell horn!
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| On your marks….get set…. |
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| Los Polar Bears of Playa el Coyote (Steve takes photo) |
Even Baja, Lori and John's dog, joins in the fun. Actually, Baja hangs on the beach waiting for anyone to swim with him. If you will only walk the beach, he will swim along side you…but if you actually get in the water…he's your Baja Buddy….
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| Polar bears Nan and Baja |
The next day, I have just finished floating around in the new floaty thing….and decide to dry off with a stretch out in the sun for "just five minutes." I get four…and Steve shouts…."Hey! Dolphins….100's of them! Right out in front of us!"
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| Floating the afternoon away…..until... |
We grab the porta boat….on it's new huge rubber wheel home built trailer…push it out in the water, throw the dogs in and ourselves…and ZOOM! We're off! Yes, truly, 100's of dolphins and maybe 1,000 birds…diving, spashing, feeding…jumping, wow! And we are in the middle of it all. We try to motor off to the side like good wildlife observers….but the dolphins have other ideas as they split into many groups, and go all around us.
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| Captain Steve and Mate Sparky |
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| Dolphinos! Many, many…. |
This is the second time this many dolphins are spotted here inside our bay in the last week. Spectacular…especially with all the blue footed boobies diving from such heights, pelicans, frigate birds, cormorants and gulls.
We are lucky and get another day of flat calm water, sunshine and warm temperatures. After our morning mile or two walk, it's back out on the board!
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| Out a little further….braver and braver... |
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| Speedy boarder Steve |
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| Fun, Fun…..FUN! |
What a grand beginning to 2014. The first week has been full of water fun, wildlife, photography and yes, ukulele! Oh, and did I mention GRATITUDE? Watching the evening sky dissolve from blue, to grey to a firey pink, I am full of gratitude for this Baja experience 2014. It's off to an amazing start…
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