Secret Spot Baja - Newsletter

To trust is to love. Those of us who realize this have turned the corner...and have greeted 2004 with a grin...together. Those of us who still allow fear to steer the ship...will likely stay anchored in a bay for quite a bit longer. Marlboro Ron made a very astute observation on the way to our latest Mule trip. He said:

'People need to come on a Secret Spot Adventure not expecting to impose their own culture onto the place they are visiting...but need to enjoy a foreign culture for what it is.'

As our world becomes smaller, I realize that those Secret Spots that fascinated me as a child, and equally so as an adult, have become a precious commodity. The people I am fortunate enough to come in contact with constantly remind me that misery loves company; birds of a feather most certainly do flock together...and that materials goods do not bring one happiness. We have to view these tangible objects as vehicles that carry us to our respective Islands of Tranquility. We rule these objects...not the other way around. Ahhhhh...the winds always seem to blow me back to the Island of Serendipity...but hey(!)...I'm not complaining.

After a brief conversation with a very peaceful 80 year old man under the fichus tree just outside my front window, I wonder if he knows how his few words (not even in my native tongue) inspire me to write and try and visualize all his life experiences. It's not our worldly goods...but the sum total of our experiences that allow us to come closer to personal satisfaction. My vibrant soul coupled with my bionic heart help me keep my rose coloured glasses firmly planted in front of my eyes...and from seeing anything but a beautiful world where we all have an opportunity to live our dreams.

While typing from the La Paz...enjoying a few rare days in civilization...I smile a little smile as I edit the content for this Spring 2004 newsletter. Slowly we are making a dream a reality. I have gained a reputation for saying 'There is much time in the Baja'...no matter what the adversity. I am a promoter of Freedom with Intensity. Muy Pacifico!

As always, thanks go out to those who were good enough to retell tales from their various Secret Spot Adventures. If you ever have the desire to add to these writings, join us for some enlightening activity, or just feel like communicating...don’t even hesitate for a nanosecond, and email me at phill@secretspotbaja.com. Spammers need not apply. %^>

A long time friend who is about to celebrate more than 75 years of life informed me that these secretspotbaja newsletters just keep getting better and better....and I hope you think so too. Please take a few minutes or hours to continuing reading.

These newsletters will continue be published regularly. That’s 'regularly’ in Mexican time. %^>

So far this 2004 season, we have noticed that all the vegetation is literally bursting forth after the hurricanes and winter rains. The islands actually look green from a distance. The blue whales have returned, and while not here in great numbers they are an exciting presence. >>>Full story

Limited numbers of blue whales have been sighted this year, but lots of finbacks. There have been some spectacular fish balls totaling millions of fish, with whales, dolphins and sea lions knifing through the balls. Humpbacks have been putting on grand displays of breaching, and tail lobbing. >>>Full story

summary for the sea of cortez (spring 2004) by michael fishbach

Hello All, I have just returned from Baja California and wanted to let everyone know how this season went on the beautiful Sea of Cortez. >>>Full story

I met Phill Michael through my youngest son, Chris, when he invited me to join him on a two week Baja adventure that would include scuba diving in the Sea of Cortez and a mule trip into the mountains of Central Baja. Of course, I said “yes”! But, since I knew nothing of Secret Spot Adventures or Phill at the time, I decided to check out Phill’s website and its various links in order to obtain a little bit of background on what I had just agreed to do. Within minutes, I found myself intrigued by the various newsletter write-ups from Phill’s vast array of friends and clients who had their thoughts and adventures posted on the website. I decided I had just made a great decision.

It’s a piece of her soul. It’s an unwavering intensity. It cannot be matched by mountains or snow or material desires. It’s much deeper. A place satisfied only by the balmy breeze, the smiling sunshine and the ever changing tides. Waters that rush from tranquil blue to roaring green and back again, only to be greeted by the evening moon. The ocean boasts a consistency, yet nothing is predictable. Everything can change with the direction of the wind. >>>Full story

Tired of looking at ashes from the Cedar fire, dreaming of Baja… it’s probably too late to go now (early April), but maybe in the fall… I always wanted to see the cave paintings so I did a little Internet search and fired off email to a number of outfitters. Gina wrote back immediately, saying Phill was doing a mule trip in a week, would I like to come??? SURE!!!! I was worried about the trip because I’m really slow on the loose rocky terrain common in Baja canyons. They said no problem. Yikes, what have I done? >>>Full story

Just this past January I got my second Baja dive adventure under my weight belt with Phill. And it was fabulous!!!!!! I gained new experience by diving my first two wrecks- that could be accessed by boat straight from La Paz! I was, to say the least, a bit nervous on my first dive as I had to work out the kinks since it had been some time that I had done any diving. >>>Full story

The issue of trust and love came to me in the late June days of 1999. I had skipped a few days of school for my father and I to go on a five day canoe trip with Phil Michael…. The legend. My portly friendly friend and his family had done the canoe trip on years past and very much suggested my father and I attend this year. Not to be considered not British, my father readily agreed to take me for his extreme excursion of that decade. This was going to be the father-son, son who gets to chill with stout friend- trip of the times. It was pretty close… >>>Full story

Let me begin by explaining how Phill and I met. I currently work for Oakley (though only for a couple more weeks)- running the warranty area for watches. About a year and a half or so ago, I received a Time Bomb watch that was pretty thrashed. Normally I would have just laughed and made the owner pay for all new parts. I chose to just warranty it and send him a letter making sure he knew how nice I was being (actually just nervous of potentially confrontational situations…..but like I was really going admit that at the time…even to myself!) Needless to say…that watch belonged to Phill. Within a year or so of numerous emails and occasional exchanges of food, wine, and Oakley products…we became good friends. >>>Full story

With a liberal flair that I’ll term laizzez faire
Just prior to the turn of millennium
‘Pon the scene ‘peared a beast, whose works to say least
Were unfit for the forum’s proscenium