Starting on a remote beach on the Baja side of the sea of Cortez, about halfway down. You wake just as the sun is rising over Mainland Mexico across the Gulf. When you poke your head out of the tent the air is a little bit nippy but the sky is cloudless and looks like it will be another beautiful warm day. When you look across the beach and see the sleek double kayak loaded with a weeks worth of food you are excited and ready to begin the first days paddling. After a little bit of gently coaxing and persuasion (perhaps a little tickling or a few more minutes of snuggling) your partner is also awake and ready to go. Leaving the beach the first thing you hear is the breath of whales surfacing in the distance. The air is beginning to warm up and thee water is glassy calm as you gently paddle your kayak through it. Seabirds are beginning their daily routines around you, loons are softly calling to each other across the water, seagulls are trying to steal fish from pelicans and bickering about their lack of success, frigate birds are wheeling and diving as if they are trying to out do each other in an aerobatic display. Occasionally schools of fat little fish will simultaneously leap out of the water around you, sounding like raindrops. Having no particular destination you are free to stop anywhere on the miles of deserted beaches. You have a week...
Day one
God...what have I gotten myself into?? I never was one for camping but I have to admit, camping was never like this in all the other times I went. Having someone else handle all the minutia of the journey, leaving one free to just enjoy it might be the way to go. We pulled in late last night...unloaded the kayak and set up a shelter...well...let me rephrase that. I sat and watched while he did everything. The only thing I had to do was climb into the warm covers and wait for him to finish up with the camp. As he dimmed the light and crawled in with me, I pulled his cold body against me. We lie there together just listening to the surf...with an occasional night call of some invisible bird. I hadn't ever experienced such a quiet kind of peace. Even though I was a little trepidatious about the trip, the start of it had been incredible. I didn't even realize I had nodded off in his arms until I woke up the next morning, just in time to catch the sunrise over the horizon. I peeked my head out of the tent and was a little struck with the sense of isolation...never in my life had I been as secluded as we were now. It wasn't long before the chilly air drove me back under the covers and I think it was my cold nose against his side that woke him. I kissed his bare skin...and felt him stretch against me. Did he think I felt as wonderful as he did against me? He opened his eyes and his smile told me my answer.
We lay there a while pressed against one another, soaking in each others warmth, fingers stroking, lips touching. It wasn't too long though, before I could feel his eagerness to get underway overpower even our incessant passions. I wasn't too upset by this as I too was excited about the beginning of our journey. For a short while, I tried helping him pack up camp, but it became quickly obvious that he had a system that didn't include my clumsy attempts of aid. I grabbed my bag and dug through it coming out with a small bottle of soap and shampoo. I headed down for the water with hopes of washing some of the road dirt off before we began. The air was still chilly, but as my feet reached the water, I was surprised to find it warm. I headed into the water only to stop myself and laugh. I still had a suit on. I guess society instills modesty even when it isn't necessary. I stripped off my suit and dove , my bag held firmly, and let the water close over my head. I swam out a ways until the water was around my waist and pulled out my shampoo and soap and washed the dirt off of me. As I turned into shore, I saw him standing there watching me, towel and water jug in hand. I was thunderstruck at his thoughtfulness. I emerged from the water in front of him and he poured the clean water over my head. There was a twinkle in his eyes as he watched the cool waters effect on my nipples, which rapidly became hardened and taut. I pressed my wet body against him and kissed , as he threw the towel around my shoulders and pulled me in close to him with it.
We walked up the beach together and I threw on my clothes for the day, as he began coating me in sunscreen. Stowing the last of my things on the kayak, we were ready to go. He was so understanding of my clumsiness as I tried to get into the kayak, holding it steady for me, patiently telling me how. Once settled he pushed us into the quiet ocean and jumped in himself, and began strong sure strokes of the paddle, taking us out into the glorious sparkling water. It seemed as if the local birds found us fascinating as they followed our progress, diving and playing in the air currents or waves, as they are wont to do. We quickly fell into a rhythm together, slowly moving through the water. I was fairly sure he was slowing his normal pace in deference to me, and I appreciated it. I told him I was sorry I wasn't more sure at this, but he laughed and said he was merely enjoying the view. From that point on I could feel his gaze against my back, causing it to tingle. Now and then I would sneak a peek back at him and more often than not, catch him looking at me. He wasn't coy about it though, he would just smile that incredible smile of his and it would be me who flushed and turned away.