Scorpions'
Whale-Watching Trip
A convoy of fifteen four-wheel drive vehicles full
of Scorpions set off for a five-day trip to see the
whales at Guerrero Negro. There was lots of desert scenery
that flew by at 30 to 60 miles per hour (I’m lucky
to have gotten a few photos pretty much in focus).
Our first night was spent at Gonzaga Bay, a great place
to go fishing. A working lobster boat lay in the bay
just in front of our motel. We weren’t sure it
was capable of working because it seemed too rusty to
actually be out in the Sea of Cortes but just before
sunset it cranked up its engine and headed out to Sea.
Seagulls, finches and coyotes were viewed during our
sixteen hour stay. We enjoyed a great buffet for dinner
and some Mexican Train to share the evening before an
early lights out.
Day two took us to Guerrero Negro through more deserts.
There was a quick stop at Coco’s. Everyone stops
there for soda and beer, a little conversation with
Coco and, of course, a potty break. We all signed Coco’s
guest book with our name and birth place. As we pulled
into Coco’s we spotted (hard to miss) two semis
hauling mining equipment. The drivers allowed us our
break and waited patiently for us to leave realizing
what a challenge it would be for us to pass them on
the narrow road. Reaching Highway 1 and airing our tires
back up allowed us to get our land legs back from our
43 mile bumpy short cut.
Guerrero Negro has numerous places to stay, most appeared
to have restaurants. What Mexican town would be complete
without a few little taco eateries and a few of us enjoyed
a little picnic in the park where a whale skeleton was
erected.
I know we were out to see whales on our third day.
However, it was raining a little. (Guerrero Negro’s
rain season is September; however, an inch decided to
come while we were there.) The Bay had relatively small
waves but small waves in a little ponga become huge.
I took my camera but was unable to click fast enough
to see the few whales that did come close to the boat
and the salt water splashing over the side of the boat
wasn’t conducive to camera well-being. We watched
them blowing and breaching and spy hopping but somewhat
off in the distance. Observing the natural environment
salt mine and the Osprey nest holding a little one was
an added treat. The next day broke sunny and clear and
a few folks went out onto the Bay again and actually
got to touch a whale as it swam by. There were side
trips taken to see Cave Drawings and a Monastery. Some
of us chilled for a day.
Our trip home started off in the rain again. I was
able to get some photos of interesting vegetation that
is different than in San Felipe.
A couple of interesting facts acquired on our
trip:
It is illegal to knock down an Osprey nest. So if
one is built on top of an electric pole and it interferes
with the flow of electricity the electric company has
to place a second pole near the first pole and relay
the lines. There is a ferry that travels across the
Bay and an Osprey nest travels with it undisturbed,
otherwise the ferry would have to be docked. There is
a $165,000 crane that is inoperable because it has been
taken over by mama Osprey.
Guerrero Negro’s salt producing area is the largest
in the world. Their salt is gathered above ground as
opposed to underground mining. They don’t produce
the most salt per year because other countries have
more salt mining sights country wide. The salt field
workers are very well paid because Guerrero Negro is
in the “middle of nowhere”. The salt company
has provided the worker’s with housing, tennis
courts, soccer fields, and numerous other benefits for
as long as they are employed.
THIS WAS A GREAT TRIP, we’ll do it again.
-- Marti and Elwyn Freeman
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