Although we visited Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta I will only mention this last city and try to close out the once-in-lifetime boat ride we were privileged to take. The city is Cabo San Lucas.
Cabo San Lucas is the last Mexican city of any size before one arrives at Tijuana, hundreds of miles up the Pacific coast. No one was begging to stop and spend a day in Tijuana! We weren't properly armed for such an occasion.
Cabo San Lucas is another beautiful setting. It is at the tip of that long strip of peninsula called the Baja. There is an impressive rocky shoreline. The waves have carved the rocks through centuries and made them imposing. There are beautiful beaches as well. Our ship could not dock at Cabo. We had to ride the tenders (lifeboats) into the dock. James and Dempsey were off to surf at a special place. They had a great time, but the Pacific water is cold and they couldn't last too long. Ann, Laura, Emily and Self boarded a 52' sailboat of a vintage type and headed out to look for whales. They had started their migration days before. The captain felt pretty sure we would see some. The boat was also engine powered. Laura and Ann had misgivings about heading into the Pacific on a sailboat. They both have weak stomachs. It didn't encourage them when the capt came around offering dramamine! (sp) He said that the sailboat ride would not be as rough as the one the larger boat we were supposed to go on would have. I think he was right. It was a smooth trip and after about an hour the whale chase began. We saw boats gathering in a pod and knew they were there. After some maneuvering we soon had some large humpback whales really close. These are monstrous creatures! They weight 20 TONS or more. It was exciting. We had to watch our time. You do not MISS the boat! Coming back they raised the sails and increased our speed. Ann and I looked back and the captain steering this huge saling vessel was our ten-year old grand, Emily Duprie! No one was even close to her. She was gripping that huge wooden "wheel" and watching her compass guide. We are out miles from our port and from land and under the sailing guidance of a ten-year old! She STAYED there until we were back in the port area. By the time we were there she had become Ms Cool! She had on her shades and was steering with one hand while she ate an apple with the other. (And they said it took two years to get a license!) Well, Emily is already a pro, for one lady tipped her four dollars when she got off the sailboat. That was a fun trip.
We would board a tender at 3:30 for our brief run back to Constellation. Next stop would be San Diego. It was 745 miles up the Baja Coast. That evening was New Years Eve. We dressed formally for dinner! Men wore tuxes and the ladies floor length dresses. I wore my one sport coat with a tie (reluctantly). Ann looked great, and wore all her jewelry brought for the occasion. A guard stood near our table for protection. Ann and I celebrated New Years with Nashville, Tennessee on the TV. That allowed us to go to bed at 10:00 our time. After all, we had had a hard day on the sea, whaling.
