Monday, September 22, 2008

Ferocious flies and whirling winds

Recently in the USA a Persian cat was observed.

The beautiful animal liked to lay down close when the morning meditation was performed on the sunny terrace with the wide view of the Ramona valley.

One day it was noticed that a fly landed on the cat.
The cat was stretched out and had his eyes closed.
Hence, he could not see a fly had landed on his fur.
Nevertheless, the cat felt the fly and was irritated by it.
Woke up and chased away the fly.

The fly was not on the skin of the cat but on his long hairs.
It explained how sensitive a cat is.
Even a little annoyance on some of the hairs is experienced as irritating.

The Persian cat is remembered many times a day now.
Because at “Estero del Tomate” are many flies now.
It must be because there has been so much rain here and of it being the season for these insects.

Besides the ordinary flies, well known worldwide, there are most tiny flies that hardly can be seen.
These tiny flies bite to suck blood.
The landing of these flies on the skin cannot be felt.
But when they bite a pain alarms the ferociousness of the insect.
And next, at the spot of the bite, intense itching occurs for hours.

Staying these days at “Estero del Tomate” therefore is far from a pleasure.
Constantly the small flies are successful in biting.
And by now the whole body is covered by insect bites and itching is all over.

Sitting outside reading the biography of Harry Houdini is made a torture by the flies.
Impossible to concentrate as permanently new bites are felt and time must be spend to kill a few.

Even doing the yoga exercises result in feeling the flies bite everywhere all the time.

Another characteristic of the west coast of Baja California is that late in the year a daily strong northwestern wind will blow.
Usually starting in December but sometimes as late as February.
This year the northwestern wind has already started.
Topping 26 kilometres per hour. (15 mph)
Never before has it been experienced that this wind was already blowing in September.
And it does.
Bringing salt air eating all metal of the Fuso Szulc and having sand enter everywhere.
Making the stay at “Estero del Tomate” tough and unpleasant.
To be in constant wind drives a sane man to the asylum.

This treatment by nature of biting flies and strong winds wear a visitor out.
It eventually makes a sensible person come to the conclusion that it is better to get out of there.
Not to suffer these negative influences ruining the mental and physical health.
And this follows the philosophy of living in an expedition vehicle.
When circumstances are not enjoyable, the caravan moves on.

But this is only day 5 of the period at “Estero del Tomate”.
It is known that these flies are seasonal.
Maybe they disappear in a short while.
Maybe this northwestern wind is temporary as well.
Calming down to return in January.

Meanwhile the idea is spinning in the head to drastically change a pattern around for years.
Always winters were spent next to the ocean and the sea.
But how will it be to find a peaceful and beautiful location up in the mountains?



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3 comments:

Ken Norton - Image 66 Media said...

Michael,

I looked at the water-vapor satellite images, and judging from them, the coastal winds from the northwest don't look like they will change anytime soon. At minimim, I'm guessing that this current weather pattern should hold for at least the entire week and probably longer.

I've always wondered why you haven't diversified yourself into staying in the mountains. Who knows, maybe new photographic concepts will emerge!

Oh, on a positive note, the bugs should be gone in two weeks. :(

Ken

Anonymous said...

Dude sounds like you are in Texas...If I were you and didn't have an anchor tied to my butt I would be turning the key and rolling the tires.

What page is the law on that says you gotta be by the sea in the winter?.... page 23 paragraph 6,7,and 8 says you are suppose to be where it feels good,

Rojo

Anonymous said...

The Flies are here on San Clemente Island in full force,they are breeding in huge piles of rotting kelp. The Mountains sound inviting, Robert