Laguna San Ignacio!

What a day. We cross over the bar to enter the laguna a little after breakfast and anchor in the outer part of the protected sanctuary. The Searcher is one of three boats with permits to enter this wildlife preserve. We soon start out and spend six hours on small pangas, driven by the local fishermen. Four separate excursions, and each one is a different experience. This bay is noted for "friendly " gray whales who will approach the boats and enjoy being touched by us - amazing to look into the eye of a whale a foot away from yours. One boat (not mine) took it to the extreme and all eight of them kissed their whale. These whales have given birth within the past several months and mothers and calfs , bonded by nursing, approach together. There are so many whales here, I can't imagine how many I saw today - Some calm, some curious, some playful. I'm sure I can see personality differences between the whales we see.

Later, during desert (Bananas Foster)  we break to go onto the rear deck to view the new crescent moon and the just visable comet, which will hopefully be with us for the next several days. The comet is easily visible with binoculars and is one of the many highlights of day. After dinner is a final highlight as the captain shuts off all lights and generator and we see the spectacular stars and hear Michael's far ranging star talk. Later, in absolute silence we gaze at those stars, and listen to the breathing of maybe a dozen whales within earshot, the splashing of the ones closer, then the squeeky wingbeats of surf scoters flying low over the water,  and the call of a distant loon.