Crete day 3 - Balos

The next day we were counseled by locals to go to the north west tip of the island to the remote beach of Balos.  We were told there was a "dirt road" that took us to the trail head.  Something must have been lost in translation because the road was more what I would call a 4 wheel drive trail. .  We decided to park the car and walk several kilometers to the trail head.  Going a bit slower we got to enjoy the amazing scenery and even hang out with the goats.

The boys were amazing hikers all day.

A beautiful white church decorates the cliff tops.

There was even a bench for the boys to rest for a while.

At the end of the morning when we left the clouds behind and enjoyed blue skies and cool wind.

We then hiked down from the cliff tops to the beach - a shallow lagoon with warm water and white sand beaches.

Jaxon is a natural.  We gave him the camera and he did a great job taking pictures of us.

Jaxon rated the beach 2 thumbs up

Jonas agreed!

Daniel took the boys across the lagoon and ran in the ankle deep water on the other side.  The lagoon was not only protected from the waves of the sea, but also from the wind.  As hiking is required to arrive to this beach, it was nearly empty.

A rare sand foot crept up on us.

There was a restaurant on the beach overlooking the sea.  We picked a table with our feet in the sand.

Jaxon decorated the table with sea shells and relaxed for a couple hours savoring a long meal and not wanted to leave this wonderful place.

Jonas who was worn out by the long hike and running around in the lagoon passed out on mamma.

We hiked up to the wall of rock that protects the calm lagoon from the high waves of the rough sea.

Sea water gathers in holes in the rocks and evaporates leaving a salt deposit behind.  We all tasted the sea salt which was yummy.

At the end of the afternoon we noticed the blue sky was replaced by ominous clouds.  As such, we began the 2.5 hours hike back to our car.

Jaxon and Jonas the explorers did great and were still smiling at the end.  Somehow they still had energy for a swim in the pool at our apartment at 9 pm when we got back.  Daniel was nominated to swim with them.