Exploring Refugio
18 May 2018 | Puerto Refugio
Bill
Yesterday morning as we looked about the bay, we were seeing lots of rocks appearing out of the water that we not on on our charts so we decided to do some work and get them charted. Navionics lets you put in updates that can edit the chart you are looking at and once downloaded to their servers, everyone that subscribes to their charts gets the updates for the area. We launched Puff and took off marking this rock and that rock so the next time we have internet, it will send those changes off to them. It's always nice to know what the heck is under you and what to watch out for. Before I get on to the rest of what we have done but we need your help. Tracy's phone, a Samsung Grand Prime + has decided to delete just about all the pictures and videos she's taken have suddenly vanished. She's either lost or the phone has up and moved most of here photos to some unknown location that she can't find. To say she is PISSED, is an understatement!! She's lost just about everything since we got back to Mexico in February and yet she has viewed her pictures just about everyday after taking them. The ones she took even today, most have vanished. One or two from past takings are still there but hundreds are gone. If you have an idea where to look, PLEASE send us an email at WDE4653@sailmail.com. We really need some suggestions as to where to look. She does have an SD card installed but they do not appear to be on it either. Can't Google as no internet out here. Yesterday, we had to put put plastic shopping bags on Puff when she was in the water as sea gulls were having a great time landing on her and then the lovely birds would leave us nice white presents--yuck! We even left them on last night after Puff was on deck as the likes to land on our deck as well. Late in the afternoon, yesterday, we took off again and visited the western outside of Refugio to see what it was like. Not that much to see out there though there were some interesting rock formations and we could cross over a section that has exposed rocks when the tide is out. With the tide in, it's easy to get through the pass in Puff. Today, we ventured out to the eastern lobe and out to Isla Granito on the far north side of the bay. In the east lobe,(on Isla de las Cuevas) we found a pelican rookery with hundred of pelicans all sitting on the rocks with a few sea gull to entertain them. An amazing sight to see with all the birds. We then headed out to Isla Granito to see the Sea Lions that live there. HUGE noisy critters basking in the sun and barking at the top of their lungs at as as we passed. We didn't get that close(not stupid)but close enough to upset the occasional one or two that were on guard duty for the rest. They launched themselves(slowly due to their huge bodies) into the water and slowly swam about 30 yards off out side between us and shore, coming to the surface, barking a few times and then going under again and then barking again, over and over. We made sure to stay away from them. We zoomed back toward Zephyr but too a slight detour to shore in the western lobe we are anchored in and pulled Puff up on the rocks. No real sand beaches here but lots of small rocky beaches to explore. With a tidal range of about 9 feet, there is big water movement here every day. The reason we went was that we had seen a plague attached to a big stone on shore and wanted to see what it said. It was in memory of Del Marsh, 1929-2009 that was a very experienced fisherman so the plaque says. Well, going ashore to see the plaque led us to a truly wonderful place for exploring that has rocketed this cove to one of our most favorite places in all of the Sea of Cortez! Huge rocks and lots of water made caves to explore. Pictures were taken but the hundreds but can't be posted till we get to shore. Huge old trees dotted the landscape all white and with no leaves as it's so dry here but they live on on the hillsides. Huge cactus abound with really fascinating rock formations and shelves along the shore to walk on. Everywhere we walked was a photo op that we quickly took advantage of. We will be heading back there again as the sun starts to set to see the different variations in the rocks as the lighting changes in the late afternoon sun. We've found a place to stay for a while. I just went out on deck and found us surrounded but Pelicans and Sea Gulls but the hundreds, all looking for food. There are huge schools of small minnow like fish that seem to love to be near our hull and the birds come to take advantage of it. Hundreds more line the shore to our west. Yesterday, we had a few, today, we have the entire herd. We took some bread with us this morning to feed them but they were not having anything to do with what we kept throwing to them. We can hear the Pelicans and Sea Gulls dive into the water right beside our hull.