As we ascended, the air grew cooler and fresher. The occasional gust of wind carried with it the salty scent of the sea and the dry air of baked earth . The water, dark blue to turquois, with small flecks of white  and the white sand of the beach sparkled in the sun's fading light. The mangroves, their roots submerged in the water, formed a natural barrier that protected the beach from the rough waves of the open sea. I could see sailboats motoring in for the night in this small protected cove.

We continued our climb, scrambling over loose rocks and boulders. I could feel my muscles protesting the effort as we hurried, but the view from the top would be worth it. Finally, we reached the summit, and I was not disappointed at the panoramic view that greeted us.

From this vantage point, we could see the meandering coastline, stretching out into the sea and Balandra Bay curving inward beside us. The orange and pink hues of the setting sun painted the sky, casting a warm glow over the rugged landscape. The Cordon cactus standing proud soaking up the last rays of sun. 

We could see the outline of  the distant islands, and the endless expanse of the sea, its surface shimmering in the light.

In awe and excitement, we stood there for a moment, taking in the beauty of our surroundings. As the last rays of sunlight turned the sky shades of purple and faded, we began our descent back down to the beach, exhilarated by the experience and already planning our next adventure.

 The warm salt air whipped through my hair as I gazed out at the never-ending expanse of the deep blue sea. The sun shone down on us, illuminating the undulating waves as they lapped against the hull of the boat. We sailed on, the wind filling our sails and propelling us forward.

As we settled into our spots in the cockpit, our captain regaled us with tales of sailing and the wonders of the ocean. Suddenly, he spotted something in the distance – a smooth trail of blue, a tell-tale sign of a majestic creature. We tacked back and forth, scanning the horizon for any signs of movement.

And then, in the distance, we saw it - a massive blue or fin whale, its sleek body blending perfectly with the deep blue of the water. As it crested and dove, we watched in amazement, marveling at the grace and power of this gentle giant. We tried to keep up, tacking and jibing in an attempt to follow the whale's path.

Each time we thought we had lost sight of it, it would surface again, spouting water from its blowhole and then disappearing beneath the waves once more. It was a game of cat and mouse, with the whale always staying one step ahead of us.

As we turned back towards our course, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment and relaxation wash over me. This was what sailing was all about - taking the time to slow down, soak in the beauty of the ocean, and let our journey unfold naturally.

There was something truly liberating about being out on the water with no real time schedule, no deadlines to meet or appointments to keep. We were free to explore, discover, and experience things spontaneously, just like we had with the blue or fin whale.

As we set sail for our original destination, I found myself eagerly anticipating whatever the ocean had in store for us next. Perhaps we would spot a pod of dolphins playing in the waves or catch sight of a school of brightly colored fish darting beneath the surface.

Whatever the future held, I knew that we were in good hands with our skilled captain and that the journey itself would be just as rewarding as the destination. With the wind at our backs and the endless expanse of the ocean before us, I felt a sense of peace and contentment settle over me. This was the beauty of sailing - a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and truly connect with the natural world around us.