I really enjoyed our bike ride yesterday. Jen didn’t have such a good start though. When I looked around she was lying in the deep sand with the bike on top of her. With only an imprint of the front gear cog on a leg and a bruised ego, she was soon back up and riding again. You have to admire her attitude.
Over night we motored to our current location, off a god forsaken looking, small island covered in scrubby, dead looking vegetation. It’s a cloudy, dull day outside. The sea has a very slight chop, but little swell.
After a 7am breakfast of both cooked and fruit selection with granola, we are in the panga heading around a bluff to a red sandy beach. The island, being volcanic has a high iron oxide content so everything is rusty looking. On a rock above us a lone Nazca Booby. White with black markings. His or her feet were unobservable.
Today’s activities.
Nazca Booby.
There is anticipation of seeing giant Manta Ray. It seems one was observed breaching by a crew member, but there was no sign from the panga.
Reaching the beach, feet wet as we swung over the side and into a few centimeters of cold water. There are 8 flamingo’s feeding in a small inland lake. Jorge tells us that in 1998 flamingo’s deserted the Galapagos with only a small number returning. Scientists are still trying to find out why.
Sea lions rest on the beach. Along the inland track we took, mockingbirds flit along the track beside us. A few Galapagos doves sit in the middle of the pathway totally unconcerned by our presence. Cacti proliferate.
Mockingbird
Afternoon.
Returning to Fragata there is time for a snooze before we are underway again. This time heading back to Santa Cruz Island but to the opposite side from our tour beginning. We’ll be close to Seymour airport for the return flight to the mainland tomorrow. Let’s hope we get to see some Blue Footed Boobies or Jen is going to be very disappointed. She bought me a T Shirt with ‘I Love Boobies’ on it. Blue Footed of course..😂.
We’re hoping to see the giant pink Iguana, the archipelago is renown for. However, our tour covers only part of the island group. A longer tour both more expensive in $, and time. Already we are getting to the end of September and a month since setting out from Cartagena.
It’s going to take a little adjustment to be back in Poki again and having to make and break down our beds every day and prepare our own meals again..:(.
Midday
As I write, we are sitting at the back on an upper deck, watching the Frigate Birds soar above us looking for any discarded food, no doubt. There are also tiny Swallow like birds following our path but not appearing to be sea birds. The wind is increasing and it’s not that warm, perhaps 18degC? It’s lunch time soon and we’ll make the most of it, as we don’t any longer take lunch when on the road, trying to reduce body weight…:)
Fast forward to 4.50pm. We’ve walked more, in the hope of seeing some large land Iguanas. Saw three, not so big, but quite colourful. The track from lava rocks on the shore, through cacti fields with lagoons and most importantly, the sun is out for the first time since joining the tour. Some photos to depict the scene.
Regarding photos. What we have found is that phones and iPad’s do not allow enlarging and clarity, as you will have noticed in recent postings. It’s a shame, but we are learning. We have had communication with the camera repair shop in Quito, the lens mechanism is broken and parts are needed.😞. So that won’t get fixed before returning home. I’m going to have to get used to the cumbersome but very grateful for, Canon.
Our berth for the night.
The vessel is now heading for its destination tonight, in the lee of the northern side of Santa Cruz Island and sun is setting low towards the horizon, on the water. It’s glorious. There have been some wale sightings, a mother humpback with calf, though we couldn’t get close enough for a good look.
Before dinner we all met in the lounge and Jorge gave us a commercial on his and the crew’s value and suggested that while not mandatory, a sizable tip was in order…:) A cocktail was served to all to lubricate proceedings. Being former tour guide, I understand and appreciated the gifts but they had to be by appreciation not coercion.
After dinner
The rear launching lights were turned on and there was a frenzy of sharks, pelicans and fish.
We retired early as there was a 5.30am wake-up call!
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