Traveling Baja – A Family Tradition
Baja Is for Everyone Essay Entry
Kelly Ann Fuller
Traveling to Baja has become a family tradition
My Dad, now in his 70's, had been an avid fisherman until my Mother's health deteriorated. After my Mother had passed, my family wanted to get Dad back into the swing of things, and with fishing in mind, where better to begin than the best fishing spot in the World - Baja Sur.
Initially, our family vacation began near the Town of Los Barriles, Dad suggested the Rancho Buena Vista, a quaint fishing resort where he and my Mother had once visited over 50 years ago. Things had changed some since then, yet the tranquility remained, nearly as if being in an oasis, completely separated from the everyday hustle and bustle, no telephones nor television, only the beauty around you. Needless to say, we easily adjusted to our new found paradise.
We hadn't seen such a smile on my Dad's face in years !!
It was unanimous, Baja shall be a destination to enjoy on a regular basis and the ideal location for our annual family vacation, so much so that just last year we elected to be adventurous and see more of this wondrous place, we traveled further South into Baja, and elated to discover yet another quaint fishing resort located near the town of La Ribera.
Fishing the Sea of Cortez is like no other. The Sea literally reams with life. It is quite common to see dolphin play along side the boat nearly within touching distance, huge Rays leaping playfully out of the way, and giant Sea Turtles that pop their head out of the crystal clear water as if to say "hello". Simply incredible !!
This last trip held a special honor of battling a Marlin, a certain rite of passage among fisherman. Hearts pound as Dad coaches his Grandson who has just hooked up his very first Blue Marlin, our boat Captain Ernesto and First Mate Francisco, locals of the town of La Ribera, precisely
maneuver the boat in such a way to ease the landing of this magnificent creature, a joint effort played in harmony and completed within forty minutes of initial hook up.
We watch intently as Captain Ernesto and First Mate Francisco, work in unison to lift the exhausted Blue Marlin out of the water and on to the boat with incomparable care, as Captain Ernesto reached in the Marlin's mouth and retrieved the lure, First Mate Francisco thoroughly checked for any injuries,
after a nod of approval, they gently held the beautiful Marlin still only momentarily for pictures; then just as carefully as they brought him out of the water, they placed him back in the water. One would have thought we were having a party on that boat with all the cheers that rang out as we watched that beautiful Marlin swim briskly away. To witness such reverence from someone other than ourselves was absolutely heartwarming.
The amazing fishing is only one of the many treasures Baja has to offer. Back at the resort after a glorious day, we relax under a late afternoon tropical breeze trickling through the many palm trees which adorn the Peninsula, accompanied with the sound of waves gently breaking against the shore of white sand, the Baja sunset will soon be upon us. Travelers gather to exchange their tales of the day’s events, many travel to Baja from far away, yet seemly there are no strangers there, we all share something in common - we each embrace this little piece of paradise called Baja.