The last couple of days have found us doing some slightly longer or more difficult hikes. Yesterday we hiked all the way across the island from Bahia San Gabriel to the long white sandy beach at Bahia Bonanza. Then this afternoon while Jeanne was doing some sewing, I went ashore and hiked to the top of the highest peak in the surrounding area.

The hike to Bonanza Beach: We were off the boat early in order to be able to take out time going over, have a lunch there and hike back before it got too late in the day. As we were motoring over to the beach here in San Gabriel, it became apparent that the water was getting much shallower that we had expected. Even with the shore wheels down, we had to “walk” the boat over a hundred yards to the actual beach. This is kinda like pulling a really big wheel barrow thru soft sand and a foot of water. The first mistake we made here was not being sure of what the tide was doing. Going in or going out, and how much was it going go, which ever way it was going? To be on the safe side we pulled the dinghy all the way past the high tide mark just to make sure.



We were told that the hike was about a mile and a half each way, with no real trail, but lots of foot prints to follow. We were following a wide arroyo so it was really just a matter of working your way through the various different desert plants, all of which have some form of thorny protection. It is a harsh life out here in the Mexican desert, and every thing out here seems to have something sharp sticking off of it.



All in all it was pretty easy going, with the flat terrain. The previously quoted distance is in question though as we found that distance to be more like two to two and half miles each way. The weather was beautiful, very little cloud cover and low 80's for a temperature. We found the beach, and it was as beautiful as advertised. Nearly two miles of pristine white sand, all to our selves. Well, we did have to share it with two Yellow Legged Seagulls, but they did not seem to mind our intrusion too much. We had a nice picnic lunch, and headed back towards the boat.



This is were mistake number two comes in. The allotted water for each of us was one water bottle, capacity of a little less that a quart. When you throw in a ham sandwich, and some cookies, along with the warm day hiking thru the desert, we were a bit short of water by the time we got to the dinghy.



One bonus on the trip back was getting some beautiful pictures of my first Ladder Back Woodpecker.


Once we go to the dinghy, our lack on tidal knowledge was compounded, when we found that the tide had gone even farther out, and now we had 150 yards to roll the dinghy back across the sand to find some water to float it in. The haul was actually easier going out then it was going in, as` it was` now completely dry and there for the sand was much firmer. We made it to the deeper water, loaded up and headed back to Eagle. It was a great hike, and I highly recommend it to anyone passing through the area.

To the top of the Mountain: Right after lunch today, I took the dinghy and headed to shore. With the memory of the tidal fiasco fresh in my mind from yesterday, I had a plan. Today I got the boat to the first of the shallow water, and dropped the dinghy anchor in. Now all I had to do was wade in, go for a hike, and the dinghy would still be in the water when I returned. The base of the hill top that I wanted to climb was not the far from where Eagle is anchored, so after a short dinghy ride, I dropped anchor and wadded in. I got to the beach, changed in to long pants and shoes and headed up the hill. The first part of the climb was actually quiet easy. Flat rock, sparse foliage and not a lot a elevation. The terrain is mostly all rock, some flat, some round, some stable and some not. The bulk of the trip was a case of stepping from rock to rock, and having to pre-judge in mid-step whether the rock was going to move out from under you or not. The lower elevation rocks were all very stable. The higher I got the worse that situation got. By the time I was climbing the last hundred yards, it was actually quite nasty. I had come this far, I wasn't going to stop now! Finally I made to top, and it was so worth it!! Incredible views of the Sea of Cortez, and all the surrounding bays.



The hike down was accomplished with no major issues.

Just as I got to the beach, another brand new bird popped up and waited for me to get the camera out!! A Black Throated Sparrow.



Two great days of hiking. Just another thing really love about our life right now!