A recent dispatch
from Espiritu Santo
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DAY ONE - Full Moon! Calm, no wind. Group arrived at camp
in time for lunch. Settled into camp and made ourselves at
home. Kayak introduction & wet exit demo. Practiced wet
exits and getting ourselves back into boats from deep water.
Our first sunset on the water! Happy Hour, dinner and/or
first ceremony about the power of the simplicity of nature.
DAY 2 - Another calm day- no wind & water like glass! After
breakfast we rode in the Cornuda (large boat) to Los Islotes.
A perfect day to play with sea lions! Very calm, great visibility
and the sea lion pups were playful! We all spent about an hour
in the water! After lunch, we went for an exploratory paddle
south to Playa Ballena. Checked out the blue-footed boobies
and the nesting pelicans before we all paddled back to camp.
An amazing yoga session. Wow, what a place to find peace and
bliss! The sunset was spectacular and an equally impressive
Happy Hour. After dinner, a breeze picked up and we huddled
in the lee of the kitchen tent told stories of adventure.
DAY 3 - Hiked to well after breakfast. Then paddled north to
Cardoncito. Some relaxed on the beach and read, while some
of us went out in the Cornuda to La Piedra de Partida to
snorkel. Water as still as glass- Great fish! Lots of large
schools, Parrotfish, Goatfish, Sergeant Majors. Had lunch
delivered to us at Cardoncito- the best Seafood soup ever!
After lots of lunch and cookies, we went for a hike up the
arroyo in Cardoncito. Through the shade of big boulders in
the arroyo and beyond. A few of us went up, up, up for a
view. Beautiful. We rode in the Cornuda back to camp and
towed the kayaks behind us. We saw jumping mantas and cruised
further out to play in a huge pod of feeding Common Dolphins!
Made it back to camp for yoga and sunset, We did a nice guided
meditation tonight which really allowed us to let go of all
the "stuff" back home and totally settle into the
peace and magic of this place.
DAY 4 - A light North wind started blowing early in the morning.
We all hopped in the Cornuda after breakfast and towed the
pangas north into La Partida. We visited the fishcamp there
and relaxed on the beach before we paddled back to lunch
at camp with the wind at our backs. Wind continued to grow
and we were forced to RELAX some more! Enjoyed our last dinner
together and a great ceremony focusing on how in the world
we were going to take this experience home with us. Made
commitments to how my life is going to be different when
I return home and felt the power of making conscious choices
in my life.
DAY 5 - Our last day together, we broke camp early and packed
our things. Went out for a snorkel to the Roca Monumento
in Candalero. Enjoyed our last meal of fresh fish tacos & loaded
the Rio Rita to return to La Paz. We met for Happy Hour after
showers and clean clothes, and enjoyed a very nice last dinner
together in La Paz. What a great group of friends we have
all become. This has been an experience of a lifetime. Only
a week away, but I feel like I've accomplished so much!
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Days are spent taking our skiffs to remote island locations
for hikes, snorkeling with the sea lions, kayaking remote
bays, yoga instruction, fishing, or simply just relaxing
in camp and letting your worries melt away. And of
course, with three delicious meals per day and a wonderful
happy hour, you will never want for food. Evenings
are spent telling stories around the campfire, taking in
the star filled sky or enjoying a night paddle on the calm
waters of the bay.