Isla San Francisco
The winds died down leaving an exceptionally sparse layer of clouds and a light haze shielding the sun. We awoke anchored at Half Moon Bay, near Isla San Francisco, in the Gulf of California. Soon after breakfast we started our activities that included kayaking, a long hike and a medium walk. This part of the island is a very nice place to kayak, due to the clarity of the water, which could be compared to “dry snorkeling” because it is possible to see a number of fish and corals just beneath the kayaks.
Adrian and myself guided the long hikers to the southern end of the island, starting at the salt flats, and gradually making our way up to a set of cliffs. As we climbed, crisp, pungent aromas of torchwood and ambrosia wafted across the rose-hued cobbles. Walking by the rim, we had the opportunity to see a different perspective of our surroundings. On one side, down a breathtakingly steep precipice, the waves crashed against large boulders, causing white spray and foam to gild the intertidal. The other side, however, was the picture of tranquility: turquoise glass edged with a golden crescent of sand. The picture shows the long hikers following the path near the rim to reach the top of the mountain. The shape of the island was clearly visible, the Sierra La Giganta and the ocean dominated the horizon. One of the guests exclaimed, “This is the first time I have seen a flying vulture from above!”
After lunch, we snorkeled and visited tidal pools. At low tide, literally thousands of marine critters are exposed to our eyes, especially if we look for them under the rocks that protect them from the sun. Erika expounded upon about the multitude of incredible abilities of these invertebrates, holding us in rapt attention. Just as we thought there was nothing more that could be revealed under the rocks, another group of organisms was brought forth, greeted with exclamations of delight. We learned about urchins, sea stars, brittle stars, crabs of all kinds, flat worms and sea cucumbers just to mention a few. And of course, Erika’s favorite: nudibranchs, or sea slugs. Who would have thought a slug could be beautiful? But they are! (At least some of them are...) Wandering back across the sand flats, the Sea Bird loomed suddenly on the horizon, a welcome sight after a busy day on shore.
The winds died down leaving an exceptionally sparse layer of clouds and a light haze shielding the sun. We awoke anchored at Half Moon Bay, near Isla San Francisco, in the Gulf of California. Soon after breakfast we started our activities that included kayaking, a long hike and a medium walk. This part of the island is a very nice place to kayak, due to the clarity of the water, which could be compared to “dry snorkeling” because it is possible to see a number of fish and corals just beneath the kayaks.
Adrian and myself guided the long hikers to the southern end of the island, starting at the salt flats, and gradually making our way up to a set of cliffs. As we climbed, crisp, pungent aromas of torchwood and ambrosia wafted across the rose-hued cobbles. Walking by the rim, we had the opportunity to see a different perspective of our surroundings. On one side, down a breathtakingly steep precipice, the waves crashed against large boulders, causing white spray and foam to gild the intertidal. The other side, however, was the picture of tranquility: turquoise glass edged with a golden crescent of sand. The picture shows the long hikers following the path near the rim to reach the top of the mountain. The shape of the island was clearly visible, the Sierra La Giganta and the ocean dominated the horizon. One of the guests exclaimed, “This is the first time I have seen a flying vulture from above!”
After lunch, we snorkeled and visited tidal pools. At low tide, literally thousands of marine critters are exposed to our eyes, especially if we look for them under the rocks that protect them from the sun. Erika expounded upon about the multitude of incredible abilities of these invertebrates, holding us in rapt attention. Just as we thought there was nothing more that could be revealed under the rocks, another group of organisms was brought forth, greeted with exclamations of delight. We learned about urchins, sea stars, brittle stars, crabs of all kinds, flat worms and sea cucumbers just to mention a few. And of course, Erika’s favorite: nudibranchs, or sea slugs. Who would have thought a slug could be beautiful? But they are! (At least some of them are...) Wandering back across the sand flats, the Sea Bird loomed suddenly on the horizon, a welcome sight after a busy day on shore.
