The Baja California desert is shaped by sun, wind, and periodic storms. And the occasional earthquake. They continue to do their work. It’s easy to forget how temporary the calm periods are and how unstoppable are the forces.
My heart and support go out to those affected by the recent hurricane.
Meanwhile, the desert does its thing. Arroyos rearrange. Mountainsides move in short sprints towards flatness. And after the rain comes the green. The short-lived grasses. The fat cacti. The ephemeral blossoms.
The desert is beautiful both in its patience and in its drama.
I caravanned down the peninsula together with Operations Manager Maddie and Sea Paddler Training student Matt, in Maddie’s Subaru and a salvaged ’86 F250 I was just getting to know. Crossing the border was a multi-day learning experience, but thankfully the biggest adventure south of the border was an isolated thunderstorm that we stopped to appreciate.
Some arroyos still had water, others showed signs of having had a good blast. Wherever it had rained, the desert dressed up in all its tropical bling. Even my traveling companion of 25 years, Moose, had a good romp in the grass.
The islands around Loreto got rain, too. Some beaches on Danzante are hardly recognizable for all the plants! I do hope the mosquitos will die soon, though.
