Well, let’s just say it wasn’t the smoothest dinghy ride I’ve ever had.  OK, maybe worse than that.  But first, I have to note some “spiritual” doings from last night.

11.20.10-We’re still at Caleta El Candelero, and getting a little seasick right now I might add.  It’s 2200 and we have a 15 knot wind out of the SW that’s blowing right into the cove where we’re anchored, with a fetch of about 14 miles, so we’re bouncing in about a 2 foot chop.  We’re going to leave tomorrow for Los Muertos, since as of tomorrow, we’re now officially heading back around the Cape and back up to San Francisco.

So, about last night∑right about 1900 we were down below getting ready for dinner, when very suddenly a stiff breeze blew down through the hatch and got our attention (I mean a serious, sudden breeze).  Geoff scrambled up the companionway ladder to see what the breeze was about and was practically paralyzed.  He was muttering something about 2012 when I pushed up past him and we both were staring at the most amazing sight; a huge plume that curved across the-by now darkened horizon-and covered 1/8th of the sky with a bright light at it’s apex.  We both stared at it for almost 10 seconds in absolute wonder until the bright light dimmed and just the plume was left.  What could it be?  Spirits communicating with us from Espiritu Santo?  We might never know.  We did note that it was on a bearing of 250 to 260 degrees from our position and we’ll check with NASA when we get back to find out if it was a meteor or comet, but in the mean time all we can say is that it was most unusual.  On top of that, the fact that we have little information about the world outside of the boat and our immediate Baja environs and it’s a little strange not knowing.

This experience prompted one of those “blogworthy” comments of the day from Geoff; “We’ve been out here for 34 days and we’ve already seen a lot of cool shit”.  Translating the existential meaning; when you’ve been on a trip like this, you see stuff that fundamentally changes you.  The amazing things we’ve seen and experienced assure we will never see things the same was as we did when we left.

OK, about the dinghy ride∑ Geoff said; “hey are you down for going around the point?”  From the comfort of my hammock lazing away up on the foredeck, I hesitated a moment, but knowing that I’d get no end of grief for NOT going, I quickly said; “sure, why not”.  Why not indeed.  It’s one thing to go DOWNWIND and downwave for two miles in an inflatable dinghy with a four horsepower motor, it’s quite another to COME BACK the same two miles against a 12 gusting to 18 knot building breeze and two foot waves in said dinghy!  We had a nice downwind adventure to Partida Cove which separates the Northern part of the island from the South.  You enter a large bay at the end of which is a beach with a channel through it to the East side of the island.  Pretty cool.  Very beautiful, etc, etc.  The ride back was another thing altogether.  First off, Mr. Geoff didn’t tell me we were going two miles each way.  His invitation; “just around the point”.  Neither of us thought to check the fuel either, so added to pounding back into wind and wave, was the anxiety of having to row part of the way if the engine quit!  We did have an adventure though, we were very wet and we looked pretty cool as we passed some other real boats who no doubt wondered what the two idiots were doing out in the middle of the Sea of Cortez in a flipping 9 foot inflatable raft!  Mission accomplished.

We finished today snorkeling, finishing our ceviche and generally enjoying our last day at this beautiful spot.  Here’s hoping we get to spend more time here in the future.  One could easily spend a month exploring this island and enjoying its beauty.

Tomorrow 0500, up and out (yeah, right).  I have to finish this for now as it’s getting too rough to type anymore. I cn’t begimmmmmmm to tlle whtt thhhhhhhe nex wvve is doiiiiiingg.  Tooo bummmpyi.