March 20, 2016 - Isla Coronados

We came here last year and knew that we would definitely visit again this year.  The island is beautiful with white beaches and the volcano to hike up.   The morning after we arrived, we started the hike by 8:30am and were back down around 12:30pm.  It is only about 950 feet high, but there are several miles of walking across loose and jagged lava rocks.  The last 200 feet is steep and it is soft dirt.  The process of taking one step up and losing half of it is grueling, but knowing you are near the top makes it all worth it, not to mention the fun of running down it.  Last year Kevin ruined a pair of sneakers and this year Steve had a hole in his after this hike.  The rocks are not forgiving on the soles!

View of the anchorage from the volcano

The first part of the hike is easy, on a well marked trail.

How easy is this?  This "boardwalk" was not here last year.

Now the fun begins.  Sometimes it is hard to even see the trail

Kevin takes a break.  Yes, this is the trail.

Climbing up the loose dirt section.  One step up, one half back down

Victory sandwiches and lots of water once we made the top.

One our way down.  I wonder how many rocks there are on this volcano,
and how deep they are piled.

Running down the dirt section.   This was a highlight

both this time, and last year.

One afternoon we went over to the beach we love near the spit.  We had not noticed it last year, but this beach has a perfect section for skim boarding.  Steve went back to get the boards and the kids skim boarded for an hour or so. 

Taking a trip back to the mother ship for the skim boards

Cindy and Kevin are not the only ones hanging out in the shallow water

Tossing sand balls.  Why?  We don't know.

Ah, now this is the life!  Sand, sun, bright clear water, and the whole beach to
ourselves.  We are very glad we came back to Isla Coronados.

A 950' cruise ship off in the distance.  It is anchored in front of Loreto.  Not
a common stop for cruise ships.  The town was flooded with tourists from reports
we go from other cruisers.

Steve back with the skim boards.  Tossing the "anchor buddy" into the water to
keep the dinghy in place and off the beach with the falling tide.

Quite a contrast:  Black lava rock and white sand.

Kevin winding up for the skim board launch

Wow.  Beautiful!

Good times in Mexico.  

Cindy with her favorite skim 

Lucky Kids.

Both kids skim boarding

Oyster catchers looking for food.

Floating behind Adagio after a fun afternoon on the beach

We were ecstatic to see some old friends motor into the anchorage in the afternoon after our hike.  Two sailing vessels from our trip down Baja from San Diego to Cabo in 2014 (the so called Umbrella Dumpers group) came in.  It was great to see Scott and Tanya from s/v Kialoa and Gary and Karina from s/v Sea Rover II.  We shared evenings on the beach with appetizers, exchanging stories and meeting some new people as well.  The island has tourists come from Loreto so the main beach is full of people and panga’s during the day but they typically leave by 5pm.   Our second evening a group of college students came in with two professors.  They were from PA and here to study the geologic features.  We chatted with their professor and he claimed that this is the perfect classroom for a geology student.  He has been bringing students here for more than 20 years.  You can see it all.  He explained that back in Pennsylvania all of the geology is covered in trees and shrubs.  It is not easy to see.  In the Sea, you merely have to look at a hill and you can see the layers, or volcanic rock.  The professor noted that we are not in North America any longer as we are on the pacific tectonic plate.  He spent maybe 20 minutes with us but shared a wealth of knowledge and we were tempted to tag along to his hike up the volcano the next day (not sure he would have approved).  Lucky students who get to take a trip here for school!

Meeting up with old friends, and making a few new ones.  Cruisers are very friendly.

Roasting marshmallows with Tanya, and Scott (tending the dinghies) from s/v Kialoa