Day 4: Beach Camp to Dune Camp 1

 

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The Trip

The objective of the day was to allow Kai and Sven to hold their private memorial service for their father Rogelio and then get from the beach camp to El Gulfo for breakfast, beer, ice and then head back into the deep dunes.

Sunrise brought nice colors in the clouds.

The rising sun illuminated sea birds hunting for breakfast.

Kai's father suddenly passed away the week before the trip. Kai decided that he would spread his father's ashes in the dunes next to the sea. Here, Sven (left) and Kai pay their father's remains in the urn. This was a "by request" photo as opposed to an intrusion of their privacy.

This was a nice urn made with intricate Chinese drawings.

The spot chosen for spreading the ashes was on a small bluff with a nice view of the ocean and the Sierra Juarez in the western distance.

Kai and Sven on their way back to El Gulfo after completing the ceremony.

Nothing like a breakfast beer to make the day go well.

Nancy discovers a dolphin jaw bone with teeth.

We came upon this sea lion on the beach. Since he was way up on the beach, we assumed that he was ill and coming ashore to die. He was not that motivated to get away from us, so we just left him alone.

His face was coated with dust from the previous night's dust storm. He had not been in the water to wash off the dust for some time.

Due to the low tide in the morning, we were able to negotiate the full beach route rather than having to climb the cliffs.

Local pescaderos launch their boat in the surf to the cries of hungry sea gulls.

Pichacho del Diablo's 10,000 foot peak is easily visible across the Sea of Cortez.

Yet another dead whale carcass on the beach.

Main street, El Gulfo, Sonora, MX .

Pichacho del Diablo as viewed from the beach at El Gulfo.

Finally back in the high dunes north of El Gulfo.

Mark having troubles getting over a steep razor back ridge due to the soft sand.

Yikes!!! Roberto nearly loses control on the steep down-side descent. If he had gotten sideways, he would have likely rolled.

The Altar is an ocean of sand. Here Kai's 416 is dwarfed by the size and scope of the dunes.

Hard pan valley with a mini-salt flat at the bottom. Note the dark sand that likely blew in from the volcanic Pinacate area.

We discovered a fully intact Toyota that got stuck and was subsequently buried by the shifting sands. When we found it, only a small part of the roof was visible. Here Matt and Nancy attempt to expose some of the vehicle for inspection.

The balance of the day was very casual. Dan set up his propane show and since we planned ahead, we had plenty of water. Gladly, the wind abated so the shower was not freezing cold. The plan for the next day was to do NOTHING and just hang out in camp.


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Photos and Text Copyright Bill Caid 2007, all rights reserved.
For your enjoyment only, not for commercial use.