27 March 2014

Women's Retreat March 18th-22nd



As a company, Sea Kayak Baja Mexico operates about a dozen trips per year.  Each trip is a different experience and becomes influenced by the unique participants involved.  From March 18th through the 22nd, Ginni Callahan and Bonnie Perry had the pleasure of leading a trip of women by sea kayak for an experience complete with a ukelele band and sing-alongs under palm trees and starry skies. 

Ginni writes about the wildlife, "Dolphins visited often, sometimes leaping to great heights. They passed our campsite chasing fish, an opportunity of which the birds took great advantage. I have no idea how the word got out—faster than texting—but they flocked in from distant parts to converge on the fish.

After the feeding, there were more birds lounging and digesting around Punta Baja, the southern tip of Carmen Island, than I've ever seen. Over a hundred Blue Footed Boobies, several dozen Magnificent Frigates, Royal Terns, Brants and Double Crested Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, Yellow Footed Gulls, Hermans Gulls."

The group were enthusiastic to learn more about paddling so they worked on rolling, bow rudders among the rocks, edging & bracing and forward stroke technique.  Inspired by this trip, a "Women's Retreat 2" is now on the schedule April 8-13, 2015.  In addition to the pure joy of spending time in a magical & spectacular place with wonderful people, the trip will focus on skill development.  What better place to relax, let go, better your paddling skills and create lifelong memories?  







11 March 2014

Rockhop Primer Trip Report

Ginni Callahan & Marcos Simental recently co-led a Rockhop Primer out of Loreto.  The trip was focused on learning more about rock hopping, padding close-in to shorelines and refining timing & technique.  In addition to some playful moments around the rocks, one of the special highlights of this last week was the Natural History focus that Andrew Emlen brought to the trip. Andrew is a co-owner at Columbia River Kayaking, a keen birder and an outdoor educator.  Next season, Andrew will return to Loreto to co-lead a Natural History trip with Sea Kayak Baja Mexico. 

"We saw blue footed boobies, magnificent frigate birds, least sandpipers, yellow-legged gulls; blue and humpback whales at a distance, a Bryde's whale fairly close, bottle-nosed dolphins, scorpionfish, and much more!"

Marcos is an accomplished fisherman and added a delicious fresh touch to some of the dinners. He's also an ace whale spotter and knowledgeable about all manners of sea creatures.  Look for another Rockhop Primer on our schedule in the future and join us on a Sea of Cortez paddling expedition.  







02 March 2014

Acupuncturists Without Borders visits Loreto



Acupuncturists Without Borders (acuwithoutborders.org) recently traveled to Loreto with a group of healers.  While in Baja they gave free clinics in the community and enjoyed professional development & spiritual refreshment on the Loreto islands with Ginni Callahan and Sea Kayak Baja Mexico.  

Ginni reflects "It was a very different trip to our usual expeditions.  Spiritual teachings, Qigong, practice clinics on the beach, a medicinal plant walk, motor support, kitchen tables, coolers with ice. Was it because there was an animal communicator in our group that the dolphins came several times a day to visit?  Or were we just lucky?"

"The clinics involved 5 needles in each ear, for general relaxation and health.  Participants then sat for 45 minutes and relaxed.  Dozens of townspeople came out for both of the clinics in Loreto.  Traditional healers are on the wane in modern times, and acupuncture has yet to become established here. People wanted to know when the acupuncturists would be back."

Many of the healers found their time on the islands to be transformational because of the support of likeminded practitioners, the special spirit of the place, the dolphins, and the time allowed to reflect and breathe while in Baja and on the Sea of Cortez.