We were in the San Benitos for three days and spent one of our days exploring the main island. After rowing to the island and making it though the sea lions, we enjoyed hiking the island. The terrain is dry, fairly flat on one side, and a big hill on the other side, with a coastline of mostly cliffs with a few sandy coves here and there, and one flat rocky beach. We started our hike on the eastern side of the island. There were scattered rocks of different sizes and shapes, little cactus-looking plants, some low brush, and lots of dirt! We made our own path up and over the few little hills until we got to town. Well, it's a fishing port where a few fishermen live while they are there for the week. It is mostly dilapidated buildings and deserted generator equipment and other broken-down objects. A couple of the homes are hooked into the power lines that are run by a generator. There is a little church on the north side of town with fresh candles and flowers. From the church the town slopes down to the south until reaching the water. The fisherman tie up their pangas out in the little bay close to town. After checking out the town we continued west and started up the hill. There were these funky looking dried-up trees, and as we got closer, we found out they were agave plants! There were also little sparrows that are indigenous to this island running all around the ground. Someone has set up underground nesting areas here and there to help repopulate the birds. Little pipes sticking up out the ground that go to a little nest that is covered with wood at the top with a rock on top to keep it in place. There are a few of these spread across the island, I’ve never seen anything like it. As we hiked up the hill the stickers became more abundant. There are these plants that look like sea urchins that grab onto you if you're not careful and stick into your skin and shoes. It doesn't hurt until you pull them out, the little guys have hooks on the end. Ouch!
We hiked up to the top of one of the big hills until we could see the ocean on the other side of the island. Pretty cool view. Greg and I wandered off in our own directions for a bit until meeting down by the rocky beach. Then we headed back east towards the dinghy, stepping over the sea urchin plants and working our way around the bird nesting areas. We made it to the edge of the top of the little cove we had to climb down to. Of course we had a couple sea lions there. I let Greg shoo them away from the dinghy before I came down. We pushed off, made it through the waves, and rowed back out to the boat! Fun day.
