Day 54: Isla Floreana (01/20/10)
Today we're headed to Punta Cormorant, Devil's Crown (for snorkeling) and Post Office Bay.
We started our day with breakfast at 7 again and by 8 we were in the pangas (boat taxis) headed to Punta Cormorant.
After walking only a short ways we came to a lagoon with Pink Flamingos. I got a few pictures of them standing around and searching for shrimp, but didn't get any of them flying. They look very awkward flying. Their head/neck is as long as their legs. Their wings are either the same length as their head to toe length, or perhaps a little shorter.
One of them started flying the same way I do in my dreams (running until I take off, but in my dreams I don't have wings and the flamingo was flapping his/hers).
We continued past the lagoon to a beach on the other side of the island. It was another white sand beach. This one is where Green Turtles lay their eggs and where stingrays come to breath. This beach has continually oxygenated water (because of the never-ending small waves breaking constantly) which the stingrays enjoy.
We got to see several turtles and stingrays (as well as crabs). After wading with the stingrays a while we headed back up the trail and around to another part of the lagoon.
In this part there were around 20 Flamingos just hanging out pretty close.
Next we headed back to the beach we'd landed on earlier and took a closer look at the green sand (green because it was made up of your normal clear, black and brown parts as well as olivine crystals, which are green).
We headed back to the boat to get ready to snorkel next.
We snorkeled at "Devil's Crown" and along the side of Floreana.
While we were snorkeling around Devil's Crown I saw more sea lions, a shark and several fish and aquatic flora. The tide carried us around most of Devil's Crown, but when we went inside the curve of it, we had to do a bit of actual swimming to get to where we wanted to be.
We snorkeled along the edge of the island Floreana where the water was deep. I saw a bigger ray (than the ones we'd seen earlier) and schools of fish and lots of sea stars along the bottom. A few people saw a hammer head shark, but I couldn't find it to save my life (I was right near it too!).
When we finished snorkeling we returned to the boat for lunch and a break before our afternoon activities.
This afternoon we'll be hiking and going in a lava tube! I'm really wishing I'd brought a flashlight (but oh well).
At the lagoon today we also saw black mangroves that sweat out the salt, from the lagoon, through their leaves giving the leaves some sparkle.
After snorkeling I took a shower before out afternoon trek.
In the afternoon we headed to another part of Floreana(Post Office Bay). When we arrived we left our snorkel gear on the beach and walked a short distance to the "Post Office."
We dropped off post cards, for others to deliver to us at a later date, and rifled through the post cards there to see if there were a few we could deliver for others.
I only wrote one to be delivered and found two that I'm willing to deliver.
One is for some part of SW Portland I've never heard of and the other is for Corvallis. There were I think 3 others for Oregon, but not close enough to deliver myself.
After that we hiked a bit to get to the lava tube.
We took a very steep ladder to another steep ladder to a rope to another steep ladder to the ground level.
After about 5 feet of rocky ground water began to cover the ground. Only a few inches deep to begin with, then several feet deep, until (after going through a small tunnel-y area you came to a "room" that was deep enough to swim in (about chest/neck height). I had considered stopping one we hit the water, but decided to go up to my knees. After getting to knee depth, I decided the water wasn't so bad and continued until near wait height. It was spectacular! The highlight of my trip so far. Once I got in there (where the deeper water was) I was bummed that I had brought my bag (because I could've actually gone swimming if I hadn't). My shorts got soaked, but I'm so glad I kept going.
When we left the lava tube we headed back to the bay and snorkeled and swam a while. There were lots of Green Pacific Turtles eating and swimming around.
When we finished we all hopped in one panga and headed back to the boat. I rinsed off quickly, lotioned (the sun is seriously drying my skin out) and got ready for our "briefing" for tomorrow's activities.
Tomorrow we're headed to Isla Isabela for a bit of hiking, snorkeling and hanging out.
There's a chance of rain tomorrow so all of us have out fingers crossed for clear skies.
The water is colder and murkier near Isabela, so snorkeling might not be that exciting, but there is a chance that we'll see white tipped reef sharks.
After the briefing was dinner (the cake at the end was the best part). After dinner I grabbed my camera to show Barbara and Lon pictures from New Years (we'd talked about it at dinner) and joined them on the second story deck.
When they headed to bed I talked to Michelle, Betina and Warren for a bit, then they were ready to say goodnight too (I hadn't realized how tired I was until I came down to write).
Now it's bed time for me.
We started our day with breakfast at 7 again and by 8 we were in the pangas (boat taxis) headed to Punta Cormorant.
After walking only a short ways we came to a lagoon with Pink Flamingos. I got a few pictures of them standing around and searching for shrimp, but didn't get any of them flying. They look very awkward flying. Their head/neck is as long as their legs. Their wings are either the same length as their head to toe length, or perhaps a little shorter.
One of them started flying the same way I do in my dreams (running until I take off, but in my dreams I don't have wings and the flamingo was flapping his/hers).
We continued past the lagoon to a beach on the other side of the island. It was another white sand beach. This one is where Green Turtles lay their eggs and where stingrays come to breath. This beach has continually oxygenated water (because of the never-ending small waves breaking constantly) which the stingrays enjoy.
We got to see several turtles and stingrays (as well as crabs). After wading with the stingrays a while we headed back up the trail and around to another part of the lagoon.
In this part there were around 20 Flamingos just hanging out pretty close.
Next we headed back to the beach we'd landed on earlier and took a closer look at the green sand (green because it was made up of your normal clear, black and brown parts as well as olivine crystals, which are green).
We headed back to the boat to get ready to snorkel next.
We snorkeled at "Devil's Crown" and along the side of Floreana.
While we were snorkeling around Devil's Crown I saw more sea lions, a shark and several fish and aquatic flora. The tide carried us around most of Devil's Crown, but when we went inside the curve of it, we had to do a bit of actual swimming to get to where we wanted to be.
We snorkeled along the edge of the island Floreana where the water was deep. I saw a bigger ray (than the ones we'd seen earlier) and schools of fish and lots of sea stars along the bottom. A few people saw a hammer head shark, but I couldn't find it to save my life (I was right near it too!).
When we finished snorkeling we returned to the boat for lunch and a break before our afternoon activities.
This afternoon we'll be hiking and going in a lava tube! I'm really wishing I'd brought a flashlight (but oh well).
At the lagoon today we also saw black mangroves that sweat out the salt, from the lagoon, through their leaves giving the leaves some sparkle.
After snorkeling I took a shower before out afternoon trek.
In the afternoon we headed to another part of Floreana(Post Office Bay). When we arrived we left our snorkel gear on the beach and walked a short distance to the "Post Office."
We dropped off post cards, for others to deliver to us at a later date, and rifled through the post cards there to see if there were a few we could deliver for others.
I only wrote one to be delivered and found two that I'm willing to deliver.
One is for some part of SW Portland I've never heard of and the other is for Corvallis. There were I think 3 others for Oregon, but not close enough to deliver myself.
After that we hiked a bit to get to the lava tube.
We took a very steep ladder to another steep ladder to a rope to another steep ladder to the ground level.
After about 5 feet of rocky ground water began to cover the ground. Only a few inches deep to begin with, then several feet deep, until (after going through a small tunnel-y area you came to a "room" that was deep enough to swim in (about chest/neck height). I had considered stopping one we hit the water, but decided to go up to my knees. After getting to knee depth, I decided the water wasn't so bad and continued until near wait height. It was spectacular! The highlight of my trip so far. Once I got in there (where the deeper water was) I was bummed that I had brought my bag (because I could've actually gone swimming if I hadn't). My shorts got soaked, but I'm so glad I kept going.
When we left the lava tube we headed back to the bay and snorkeled and swam a while. There were lots of Green Pacific Turtles eating and swimming around.
When we finished we all hopped in one panga and headed back to the boat. I rinsed off quickly, lotioned (the sun is seriously drying my skin out) and got ready for our "briefing" for tomorrow's activities.
Tomorrow we're headed to Isla Isabela for a bit of hiking, snorkeling and hanging out.
There's a chance of rain tomorrow so all of us have out fingers crossed for clear skies.
The water is colder and murkier near Isabela, so snorkeling might not be that exciting, but there is a chance that we'll see white tipped reef sharks.
After the briefing was dinner (the cake at the end was the best part). After dinner I grabbed my camera to show Barbara and Lon pictures from New Years (we'd talked about it at dinner) and joined them on the second story deck.
When they headed to bed I talked to Michelle, Betina and Warren for a bit, then they were ready to say goodnight too (I hadn't realized how tired I was until I came down to write).
Now it's bed time for me.
Day 55: Isla Isabela (01/21/10)
This morning I went to breakfast in my pajamas plus a pair of jeans. I had been sleeping pretty heavily before my alarm went off.
The first thing we did today was walk around a small island just off of the Isabela shore. There were lots of iguanas and lizards, a few penguins and turtles and one white tipped reef shark. The penguins were tiny (a little shorter than the blue footed boobies). The iguanas were a bit larger and then colorful than the ones on the previous islands. I only got to see the fins of the shark as it turned a corner.
When we finished our walk around the island we came back to the boat briefly to get ready to snorkel.
The snorkeling was ok, but a lot of it was very shallow (I kept thinking I was about to drag my body on the coral and rocks). There were mostly just fish, but there were also a few playful sea lions.
After snorkeling we returned to the boat for lunch. At 2:30 we're headed to the main part of Isabela for some walking and a visit to a tortoise center where they have tortoises of many different ages and sizes. Later, in the day we're free to explore the town of Vilamil (I think) and nearby beach as we please.
Vilamil is small, but nice. The beach is beautiful and there aren't many people. When we finish at the Galapagos National Park Tortoise reserve (or whatever it's actually called), we head to town. In town we have almost 2 hours to kill.
First I went with the Swedes to a bar for a beer, then we walked around a bit (looking for a haircut for Uké (I don't know how to spell that)) and headed to the beach for a bit. The Swedish men went back to the boat early but the rest of us swam a while with the Italians. At 5:30 we headed back to the boat.
We ate dinner a little earlier than usual. After dinner we packed and had a drink and talked a while. The time to Santa Cruz was supposed to be a bit a longer and bumpier, so they started driving faster earlier (than usual).
My stomach wasn't sitting well, but once I was asleep I was out for the night.
The first thing we did today was walk around a small island just off of the Isabela shore. There were lots of iguanas and lizards, a few penguins and turtles and one white tipped reef shark. The penguins were tiny (a little shorter than the blue footed boobies). The iguanas were a bit larger and then colorful than the ones on the previous islands. I only got to see the fins of the shark as it turned a corner.
When we finished our walk around the island we came back to the boat briefly to get ready to snorkel.
The snorkeling was ok, but a lot of it was very shallow (I kept thinking I was about to drag my body on the coral and rocks). There were mostly just fish, but there were also a few playful sea lions.
After snorkeling we returned to the boat for lunch. At 2:30 we're headed to the main part of Isabela for some walking and a visit to a tortoise center where they have tortoises of many different ages and sizes. Later, in the day we're free to explore the town of Vilamil (I think) and nearby beach as we please.
Vilamil is small, but nice. The beach is beautiful and there aren't many people. When we finish at the Galapagos National Park Tortoise reserve (or whatever it's actually called), we head to town. In town we have almost 2 hours to kill.
First I went with the Swedes to a bar for a beer, then we walked around a bit (looking for a haircut for Uké (I don't know how to spell that)) and headed to the beach for a bit. The Swedish men went back to the boat early but the rest of us swam a while with the Italians. At 5:30 we headed back to the boat.
We ate dinner a little earlier than usual. After dinner we packed and had a drink and talked a while. The time to Santa Cruz was supposed to be a bit a longer and bumpier, so they started driving faster earlier (than usual).
My stomach wasn't sitting well, but once I was asleep I was out for the night.
Day 56: Santa Cruz and Hotel España (01/22/10)
This morning we started early to breakfast and then the Charles Darwin Research Center.
Breakfast was at 6 and we left about 7 for land.
The Charles Darwin Station is home to "George" the last surviving Giant Tortoise from the island of Pinta. The station is trying to breed giant tortoises and some iguanas too to restore numbers in the wild.
After we finish at the station I head to Tortuga Bay with the two remaining couples (all of the other passengers are leaving the boat today) I hadn't planned on going with them to the bay, so I was unprepared (no swim suit or towel or sandals). I decided to just hike up my passport pouch and go in the water up to my shorts. The water felt nice. I got to talk to Michelle for a while.
She's some type of consultant and Gawain is some kind of special effects guy, but they both quit their jobs to travel a while.
She said that they'd be in Ecuador a while and then were headed to the US. They'll fly into Atlanta and then probably drive cross country in a rental to California.
Walking back to the trail head I got some blisters and also got a cactus needle stuck in my foot. Not as bad as it sounds and totally my fault (I was walking barefooted). I pulled the cactus bit out and put my shoes back on.
We had taken a taxi to the beach, but there were none to be found for coming back, so we walked.
We got back a little early so we made a quick stop at the grocery store and I found another ATM that would take my Chase card.
The pangas came to get us at 12 and we headed to the boat for lunch.
I was supposed to grab my bag and pay for my trip and then head to the Hotel España, but the guide wasn't back yet from the airport with the new passengers. I wound up eating lunch, paying the captain, and heading to the island when they were going to get the new passengers.
I found Hotel España without any trouble. The room was plain, but air-conditioned.
I tried to nap, but was unsuccessful. I pried myself out of the air-conditioning to head to an internet place around the corner and then dinner.
Dinner was ok. I was a little worried I'd have trouble getting money the next day (I spent my last $15 on dinner).
After dinner I watched a movie and went to sleep.
Breakfast was at 6 and we left about 7 for land.
The Charles Darwin Station is home to "George" the last surviving Giant Tortoise from the island of Pinta. The station is trying to breed giant tortoises and some iguanas too to restore numbers in the wild.
After we finish at the station I head to Tortuga Bay with the two remaining couples (all of the other passengers are leaving the boat today) I hadn't planned on going with them to the bay, so I was unprepared (no swim suit or towel or sandals). I decided to just hike up my passport pouch and go in the water up to my shorts. The water felt nice. I got to talk to Michelle for a while.
She's some type of consultant and Gawain is some kind of special effects guy, but they both quit their jobs to travel a while.
She said that they'd be in Ecuador a while and then were headed to the US. They'll fly into Atlanta and then probably drive cross country in a rental to California.
Walking back to the trail head I got some blisters and also got a cactus needle stuck in my foot. Not as bad as it sounds and totally my fault (I was walking barefooted). I pulled the cactus bit out and put my shoes back on.
We had taken a taxi to the beach, but there were none to be found for coming back, so we walked.
We got back a little early so we made a quick stop at the grocery store and I found another ATM that would take my Chase card.
The pangas came to get us at 12 and we headed to the boat for lunch.
I was supposed to grab my bag and pay for my trip and then head to the Hotel España, but the guide wasn't back yet from the airport with the new passengers. I wound up eating lunch, paying the captain, and heading to the island when they were going to get the new passengers.
I found Hotel España without any trouble. The room was plain, but air-conditioned.
I tried to nap, but was unsuccessful. I pried myself out of the air-conditioning to head to an internet place around the corner and then dinner.
Dinner was ok. I was a little worried I'd have trouble getting money the next day (I spent my last $15 on dinner).
After dinner I watched a movie and went to sleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment