March 30, 2008 -- Bahia Santo Domingo; N 26 degrees 51' 58.6" / W 111 degrees 50'42.1"
Total distance cruised today: 12 nm; total distance cruised thus far: 163 nm House battery status first thing: 12.38 volts (identical to the previous morning)

I rose at 6 am and enjoyed my coffee while watching the sun rise. A light breeze was drifting into our bay. We had bounced a little last night with the slight swell that was rolling in. As long as the boat was pointed into the swell it was not noticeable. However, every time we'd swing broadside, we'd get rocked. I should have set a stern anchor, and all would have been well. Next time I'll go to the extra effort.

I was fairly pleased to note the battery condition. The frig is humming along at 40 degrees in the food box, and we've hardly run the outboard over the past 4 days. The solar panel has enabled us to hold our own. I think tilting it toward the sun, and shifting the boom to the side, to minimize shadow on the panel, helped a little yesterday. We should be in better shape by tomorrow morning, since we motored 12 miles today, at the modest speed of 4.5 knots.

We reached this lovely bay at noon today. It's a lonely, isolated place, just inside the tip of the 40 mile long penninsula that borders the eastern edge of Bahia Conception. The rugged mountains of the penninsula gradually kneel down, so that here, at Bahia Santo Domingo, they are nothing more than low hills, offering little protection from a strong northerly or easterly wind. Fortunately for us, the wind today has amounted to nothing more than a steady 5 to 10 knot sea breeze. Our anchorage has light wind chop but no swell. It's past sunset now, and the breeze appears to be dying down.

We enjoyed two delightful beach walks here today. The first was the longest. We strolled north up the beach, toward the tip of the penninsula. This is probably the most outstanding shelling beach we've ever explored. The shells here are notable both for their large number and interesting variety. It was a struggle to limit the number we hauled back to the dinghy. We went ashore again after dinner for a sunset walk to the south. The temperature was cool but comfortable, and we added a few more special shells to our collection. The setting sunlight stunningly highlighted the ribs on the tall cardon cactus, which bear a slight resemblance to the saguaro cactus of Arizona. As Sandy was framing her photograph, a great blue heron landed atop the cactus she was preparing to shoot. Unfortunately, the big bird flew off before she could snap his picture. We've seen gulls, frigate birds, and even ospreys perch on top of these cactus. The preferred perches are stained white from bird droppings. In a land almost devoid of leafy trees, these birds have to take advantage of what nature provides.