Laguna San Ignacio, Baja, Mexico
The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Hola de Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California, Mexico. I am fortunate enough to have fun-loving, adventurous friends. I guess it’s true what they say, birds of a feather flock together. But anyhow, some friends of mine asked if I would be interested and available to join them in flying down to Baja California in their little Cessnas. I checked my work calendar and managed my schedule such that I could take some time off to fly to Mexico and camp on the beach.
The friend of myfriends—Dave—has been flying down to this one little beach in Baja for about 30years. He has a deal worked out with the guys who run the fishing and campingvillage on the Sea of Cortez where he leaves his RV and flies back a coupletimes a year to camp, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors. He often invitesanyone who is willing and able to fly down because it’s pretty remote but doeshave a landing strip. I was fortunate enough to get invited down and...you knowme...I’ll seize any opportunity for adventure.
It was my first time ina small plane and let me tell you, I could get used to this! We flew fromMonterey to San Diego where we fueled up and had lunch and continued on to SanFelipe, an official port of entry for us to clear Mexican customs. But no trueadventure is complete without a hiccup or two and we were told we couldn’t makeit where we were going before dark. The FAA gentleman told us to relax, wewould have to spend the night in San Felipe. He called a cab—his dad—who pickedus all up and took us to a hotel in town and the next morning he picked us upagain, brought us to the airport and we were able to fly to our destination ofPunta San Francisquito where we buzzed the beach and found Dave and his 88-year-oldmother and some of his friends waiting for us. I just learned that “buzzing” inairplane speak is flying low to get someone to see you. So fun!
One day of this whirlwind adventure was slotted for whale watching. So we loaded up the three little planes with the twelve of us and flew to San Ignacio so we could get into boats and head out on the lagoon towards the Pacific Ocean to see the grey whales before they migrate north. It was such a magical experience, being in a small boat close to so many whales. And the calves are so curious, they would come up to the boat and nudge it and let us touch them.
After a lovely and turbulent boat ride we stepped into the restaurant for lunch and based on all the shells we passed on the drive in, I knew I was to order scallops, grilled and served with garlic. With of course, piping hot, paper thin tortillas and a killer margarita. It was just the perfect thing, making my own little tacos with the scallops on the hot tortillas and drinking the cold margarita in good company.
I have to say, this is a beautiful life we live and I urge you to seize any opportunity that comes your way. Or make adventure right here in PG…grab a friend—or take yourself!—and head to Peppers for Mexican food if this article has got you craving Mexican food. Or, did you know the new Poppy Hall on Lighthouse offers $1 oysters on Monday evenings? Along with a cava (Spanish sparkling wine) special. Regardless, there is no shortage for adventure opportunities in our little PG. It’s a matter of making magic.
