November 2004 Islas San Benitos, Mexico

This is about to be our first stop in Mexico. We are heading toward the Islas San Benitos. It was quite exciting for us to cross out of the US and into Mexico!

The proud captain! He has managed to get us all the way to Mexico!!

As we anchored here, we found a sister ship to Fortuitous. This is Slip Away. We discovered, later, that we already had seen this boat several years earlier in Puerto Vallarta. At that time, she had different owners and was called "Mine Too". Jan and Rich now own her and have done many renovations.

We travelled here with Endeavour (in the foreground) and Sol Mate (Stan and MJ) in the back.

There was a lot of seaweed in the anchorage, but it was quite calm and pleasant.

We all went ashore for a little look-see and a hike.

This is a haven for seals and elephant seals. They look like rocks, from the boat, but closer up look like slugs!

Contrary to popular belief, this is not me in the water! This is a female elephant seal. They don't have the same big nose as the males.

We did not see any male elephant seals. The elephant seals come here to mate and calf. The females arrive here first, and rest up for the arrival of the males, when they will be kept very busy! So, what else is new?

San Benitos fishing village. Very few people here, right now, as it is not abalone season. They come from the mainland, we think, and stay here during the season.

After a somewhat difficult hike...lots of loose gravelly soil...we reached the summit. Fortuitous and the other boats are below.

This is our first contact with the terrain of the Baja. Very desert-like. Lots of cactus and rocks, and very little else.

A tiny cactus just coming into bloom.

As you can see, not much vegetation at all! Looking off toward the other island.

Another closer view of the fishing village. We were surprised how little these people can get by with...not much in the way of modern conveniences. Electricity appeared to be from a generator.