We enjoyed a small six mile sail back across the channel this time to Isla San Jose. Passing the lighthouse of Punta Salinas we enter a quiet, still, crystal clear bay. A gentle breeze barely moves the shade. What a welcome relief after the rockin’ rollin’ rodeo back in Cabeza de Mechudo. We admire the fish swimming under Hiraya as a turtle pops his head up to take a look at us. This slice of heaven will do!
This point was used as a salt plant which now lies abandoned. The equipment and buildings still standing but quickly showing signs of decay as the desert environment takes its toll. We paddle board over to the shore eager to stretch our legs. The light colored sand visible from under the water. Tiny fish swim around and more turtles begin to bob their heads in and out of the water. The beach is covered with sea shells of all shapes and sizes.
On land there is no gentle breeze. The sun beats down hot and stingy on our skin. Our walk will be short today. We will stay a few days anyway so we have plenty of time to explore at a cooler time of day. We walk until the heat sends us back to Hiraya where we watch the sunset while eating dinner. Both relieved for the calm anchorage and stillness of the boat.
The next morning we are greeted with the same quiet scene. Now with dolphin too! Morning coffee is even more magical when you can watch the dolphin quietly swim around doing dolphin stuff. After breakfast we head into shore trying to beat the heat of the sun. That is near impossible but we try.
Walking around t
he crumbling structures of concrete and rock and rusting equipment your transported back in time to when this plant was busy. What did it take to get the supplies and the equipment here just to work the plant? Had to be by boat and a lot of man power.
Just over the spit of land where the ruins are you can see the network of salt ponds. Some completely evaporated with the crumbly salt deposits visible and others with brine still in them. As you stoop down to look at the edges of the pond it takes your brain a second to register that you are looking through water. Clear still water covers the floor of the pond teaming with life. Tiny little shrimp, insects, and fish dart around as the tiniest of sea birds peck at them.
Looking past the ponds into land you see the magnificent cacti forest. Every inch has a large cactus standing tall covering the hills of the uninhabited island. We wonder back through the salt ponds through the ruins and back to walk as far as we can along the white crescent shape of the beach. First away from the sun then toward the sun as it begins to set. We are the only ones here.
One other boat anchored far on the Southern end of the bay where there are mangroves to explore. For us that will be another time. We will be heading farther north. Soon we will be back to people but for now we enjoy the solitude.