Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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COMING IN
It was our last day. As we watched the clouds approaching I knew we had to hurry or risk being stuck in our small narrow arroyo for another three
days.
We motored in at low tide and started hauling stuff to the boat. As I packed the stove and lantern it became apparent that the boat was now high and
dry with the water still receding.
That was at 4PM. Sunset at 5 found us sitting in our positions waiting for the water to float us off the sand. I remember being upset to discover wet
paw prints on my pillow from that pesky coyote that had searched in vain for the mozarella.
The clouds had reached us by now, forming a solid layer from horizon to horizon. It was night now and the darkness was complete. Losing patience we
removed our warm and dry boots and waded out to find the water's edge. It was a starry night but the stars were not above. With each step bright
specks of light shot out from under our feet.
The water, of course, did eventually reach the boat and after a few nervous moments the outboard fired up. It was jet black out there by this time.
The towering cliffs could barely be recognized against the lifeless sky. A couple of large luminous objects came shooting by in the darkness, which
turned out to be startled pelicans paddling like hell to get out of the way.
Thankfully we were out of the narrows now and heading for open water when the motor coughed a couple of times and unexpectedly died.
"It's the gill net, dad!", came from the bow.
The situation seemed disastrous. My fingers clawed at the monofilament in the darkness without knowing whether the loops were being added or removed
from the blades of the prop. "So this is where we will be passing the night", I thought as my eyes scanned the darkness.
But there is a big difference between a 14 year old fishing companion and the boy I brought to baja 9 years ago. Alex was by my side and I soon heard
the sweet sound of snippers cutting line next to me. I then went forward and rummaged blindly through the flight bag until my fingers felt the smooth
cold shape of a flashlight. We were free in no time and back in business. Did I mention the awesome green light emanating from gillnet as it was
lifted from down below?
Onward! As we entered open water the wind got appreciably stronger. Were we in rough water? I couldn't tell - it was black all around. Then I felt the
boat rise abruptly and come sliding down the face of the wave followed by ths familiar hissing sound of breaking foam. Alex turned off the light and
now I could make out the green light from the whitecaps. I told him how unsafe this had become and suggested turning back.
"But dad, we're half way there"
Well, I couldn't argue with that kind of logic. I motored on slowly now towards the calm safety of the launch cove. The low tide meant that the surf
would be breaking right near the entrance and the timing of the landing had to be perfect. We were at the breakwater now looking for the opening. Alex
was at the bow with our AA battery flashlight giving directions.
"To the left! To the left!"
"There's open surf to the left. We'll roll over"
"We're too close to the rocks. Turn left!"
All I know is that we somehow miraculously ended up right in the calm water behind the rocks. Yes, we had been in the breaking surf not 20 feet from
the beach but the waves were too small to capsize our vessel. In the darkness it was impossible to see the surf or the beach itself.
Two hours later we sat in the dry warmth of the camper staring blankly into space. Nobody said a word. Each had his own thoughts.
What one had found exhilirating the other found terrifying.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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YAAA---HOOOOOOOO!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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Well written!! He's young! You raised him well! He'll learn soon enough through life's experiences that a little fear at appropriate times can be a
good thing! He obviously trusted you to get him in safely....and a happy landing was had by all!
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Brian L
Nomad
Posts: 250
Registered: 6-21-2010
Location: Alpine, CA
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Mood: No Bad Days
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Wow! Thanks for the nice short story. I could read more like that.
Brian
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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I'd be pushing the "Like" button if there were such a thing on the Nomad board. Very well written.
P<*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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You know, I thought to myself today while reading the other thread:
Osprey has the drive to write something every day and here I was 2 weeks later without the will power to write a single word about our latest
experience.
So I sat down for a couple of hours this afternoon and wrote everything as I remembered, before it started to pale.
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Igor,
I keep thinking the same thing regarding writing a trip report for our Christmas/New Year adventure. When it comes down to it, I guess I'm just too
lazy to walk out to the truck to get my baja journal. I have downloaded the photos though. I guess that's a step in the right direction.
Thanks again for your story. I felt like I was in the boat with the two of you. Alex sure has grown. I've watched him grow up via the Nomad board.
He's one lucky young man for the experiences you've given him. Good baja memories that will last him for his life time.
P<*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Igor, you had it all along, you come by the storytelling naturally because you're out there having the kind of fun that has a little risk in it.
Danger, conflict and detail will do it every time.
Hope you'll think back on some more interesting adventures and spill em for us. My fun is making them all up hoping nobody will know fiction from
reality. I do most of my daring do stories without having to live through it -- they are mostly fashioned at night, safe in my bed, in the dark,
staring at a ceiling I can't quiet make out.
[Edited on 1-9-2011 by Osprey]
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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wonderful tale...a baja classic....adventure, fear, adrenalin...father and son teams are terrific...neat to watch Alex become a man.
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Ken Bondy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3326
Registered: 12-13-2002
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Mood: Mellow
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Wonderful story Igor, beautifully written and heartfelt. Glad everything turned out well. Alex sure seems like a great kid, would like to meet him
some day.
carpe diem!
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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I remember one night in the tent talking about those Tasmanian Devils from down under. Then we found one breaking in.
This is the sort of image kids nowadays like to post to one another on facebook.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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WIND
The wind was so strong one night that I remember laying there in the darkness listening to that ripping sound and thinking ....
"So this is what it must be like at camp IV for those Mt Everest climbers"
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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you REALLY must write more often. you have a gift. share with us !!
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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Excellent, well done, very good story, Igor!
I've always been a fan of your writing and this is definitely some of your best.
Thank you for taking the time.
And Paulina - will be real nice to see those photos, hear your stories... whenever the spirit moves ya.
nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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stimbo
Nomad
Posts: 289
Registered: 3-4-2008
Location: Crowley Lake, CA
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Nice post Igor!
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