NEWS # 008
Hi everyone!
The Galapagos Islands ..... part 5
After breakfast, we head to the island and start the long walk to the top.
The island appears to be covered in a deep layer of volcanic sand but we are
aided to a large degree by a kind of boardwalk and steps which have been
built by the park authority. It still takes us some time to reach the top
and along the way our guide explains about how the island was formed.
From the summit we are afforded fantastic views of this and the surrounding
islands. This one appears to be made up of several craters and I imagine
that Mars looks something like this. There is very little vegetation and the
island has a stark beauty.
After lunch we are in the water again and see a massive stingray. It
seems that there is as much to see under the water as above it.
We then take a dinghy ride to Santiago and walk across the lava field, a
relatively new structure, about one hundred and twenty years old. The lava has flowed in rope-like formations and can also be found in the
Hawaiian islands. It looks amazing.
From here it's a three hour trip to North Seymour and the boys cast out a
line on the way to see if they can catch us some dinner. Sure enough, it
isn't long before we have a large Wahoo which the guys bring on board the
dinghy and then proceed to gut and fillet. We have dinner on arrival at
North Seymour.
The next morning we are up at 5.45 am for an early trip to the island.
After a slippery landing, we head off to the Frigate bird and Booby
breeding grounds and see lots of both.
frigate bird chicks, funny looking fellas
who's a pretty boy, then?
However, something else catches my attention as I see a plume of spray
moving down the coast in the distance. When we arrive I am treated to a rare
sight as a perfect four foot righthander barrels down the beach in front of
me.
Apparently on north swells it can get to over ten feet and breaks for
several hundred metres. Perfection!!! Am jealous of sealions who are surfing
today.
North Seymour, four feet and perfect
this little chap was just soaking up the sun
Back to the boat for breakfast and we motor to Baltra so that people can
disembark to catch their flights.
Susanna and I are both staying in the islands and on arrival at the airport
we put our luggage on the bus which, we have been assured by our guide,
will not depart before the first flight arrives. We go to buy postcards and,
on our return, find that the bus and our luggage has gone!
No point in
panicking. Thankfully the bus comes back twenty minutes later with our
luggage still on it.
Some hours later, we get back to Puerto Ayora and I start to feel unwell
once more. I check into the Hotel Elizabeth again and decide that rest will be
the best option. Room will not stay still, so I take some pills and go to
bed.
The next day I feel very little better, so decide to try to get a plane back to
Quito on Tuesday, the following day. The people at the airline office are
most accommodating and I get a reservation for the 10.45 am flight. Yes!!!
unusual shops here .... !
Go to Tortuga Bay for a last surf before I leave the islands. Powerful 3
feet but poor shape. Feel better for it but decide to pass on the food again
at dinner time.
Seeya,
Halesy