“There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story.” Linda Hogan
We embarked National Geographic Sea Lion shortly after 10:00 last night. Our individual journeys had at last brought us together for the beginning of this remarkable journey. With partly cloudy skies at 6:00 a.m., our expedition leader offered the chance to touch feet to the shores of Isla Magdalena for our first sunrise of the trip. This initial foray onto sand and dunes whet our appetites for further explorations after breakfast. This anchorage is a favorite place for guests, staff, and crew alike, coming ashore from the bay, walking across stretches of sand dunes and valleys, and arriving to a majestic expanse of Pacific Ocean surf along miles of white sandy beach strewn with sand dollars as far as the eye can see. We parceled out into walks of various paces and focus to explore Isla Magdalena and Sand Dollar Beach.
If Eskimos have a hundred different names for snow, then surely desert dwellers must have as many for sand. And if we paid attention to this earth beneath our feet, we could see and hear and feel the infinite stories call out to us. For the history of the plants and creatures and elements is written here, waiting for us to be patient and quiet and observant enough to listen. Tracks of mice, beetles, birds, coyotes, and snakes going about their daily business, ancient shell middens highlighting that old saying that one person’s trash is another’s treasure, and ample vegetation indicating the abundant rains during last September’s storm and since.
Back onboard by late morning, we gathered in the lounge for introductions to the boat and the staff, while the crew reloaded DIBs and National Geographic Sea Lion got underway to head north. Immediately after lunch we had our first whale sighting—a humpback whale very near the ship. We stayed with it for awhile, tearing ourselves away to press on northward. Some bottlenose dolphins passed us in the distance, on their way to some pressing engagement. What a lovely taste of things to come, we hope. The rest of the afternoon was spent settling into our shipboard home and preparing for the next few days. We napped, relaxed on deck, unpacked, attended presentations about cameras and photography and whales, and then gathered on deck to share in the sunset. At this writing we are on our way to the lounge for a brief recap, and then to dinner. What a beautiful start to our voyage!
