Isabela Island

Last night was a little rough for me. We had a 10 hour sail to our stop today so we started before supper last night. I was a cheap date for supper, I couldn’t eat any. One of the other girls ate part of hers but left part way through to go to bed, this morning we heard her supper didn’t last. It was funny at the dinner table the box of meds for seasickness were passed around, but by this time it was too late.

We all survived and were up with our wake up call at 5:30 for breakfast at 6:00. This morning we landed on Isabella Island for a 3 mile walk across sharp black lava.

Once again our guide did not wear shoes, I don’t know how he does it. On the zodiac ride in we saw the most amazing schools of eagle rays, and then some golden rays, fantastic.

Eagle Rays

Golden Rays

We got another geology lesson today, as well as evolution, I’m still a little worried about an exam at the end of this. Every now and then he asks us a question that he knows he told us to see who can answer him. I hate it when no one can, Joey do you remember Grumpy from Cuba, this guide has just a little bit of that in him, only he asks really hard questions, not just that you have to be in time for your turn in darts. 

There are some brackish lagoons that we saw some life, one had some pink flamingos, another had a flightless cormorant, another had some frigate birds come in for a bath, very fun to watch.

The last lagoon we were told to just sit down and watch. In come the white tip sharks to rest, very cool. The lagoon is connected to the ocean by tunnels and the sharks come in here to rest in the morning after they have finished feeding. Along with the sharks there were also sea turtles that came in, still one of my favourites.

White tip reef sharks

Back to the ship after about 3.5 hours on our morning walk and we are told to get on our snorkel gear. I have to say that these full length wet suits do help with the warmth, they are a royal pain to get on, think of a really tight pair of panty hose that goes right up to your neck, that’s about how fun it is to get into. This morning we did a wonderful snorkel tour, many many turtles feeding, the amount of turtles here is amazing, your really do not need to look hard to find them. Right at the end of the snorkel there was pretty much a turtle there for everyone to see , so cool. The variety and quantity of fish is nothing like we have ever seen before, simply amazing. We were in the water for over an hour, and it was very very cold, everyone was very happy to get back to the ship to warm up.

Arrived back at the ship and we set sail to go to the other side of the Island, this took about 2 hours. Lunch was served during the sail, and then I squeezed in a quick nap in a chair on deck. Time for another snorkel whoever wanted to go. Only 5 of us went this time, again an amazing time. We had 2 drops this time but they were both quick around tiny islands of lava outside the main island. Again we saw lots of turtles, a male sea lion that was none too happy to have us in his territory, and some penguins, which I think have now taken over my most favourite thing to see in the water over turtles.

 The problem is I think we can only do this in the Galapagos, so I doubt I’ll ever have the chance to do this again, I better really commit this feeling to my memory bank.

Back to the ship and we are told we have 10 minutes to get ready for the next excursion. A quick shower and change of clothes and we are off for a 2 hours tour by zodiac through a beautiful mangrove. The mangrove was so impressive, it is amazing how their root system is right in the water, not connected to the ground at all. Many interesting birds, turtles, penguins found along the way. The guide turns off the engine and just paddles through the mangrove so you are able to hear all of the wonderful sounds. The puff of the turtle when he comes up for a breath of air is great. The sea lions popping up as well, they break the water and surprise you, they are much harder to catch under water, they move so fast.

Penguins, my new favourite!

We are now back on ship, tonight we are being served dinner upstairs on the top deck outside. Juan wants us to sleep outside to see the stars, I’m not 100% sure whether he is serious or not. Till tomorrow, not sure what we are doing then, but I know it will be amazing. Dinner outside was spectacular. They turned off the engine and generators, it was dark outside and a clear night so the sky was amazing. We have been the only ship on this side of the island all day, so we haven’t seen or heard another human voice except ourselves. So a very romantic dinner with 11 of our closest new friends and adventurers. They had one spotlight on the table so we could kind of see what we were eating, and that was the only light. It was so quiet you could hear sea lions and turtles coming up for air alongside the ship. We were anchored about .5 mile from shore. By now we all know the sound of the puff that the sea turtle makes when they come up for air and the breath that the sea lion takes. A little bit of star gazing and just reminiscing about the day on the bow and then off to bed by 9:30.

 Wake up call is at 5:30 tomorrow again, Juan told us he would like us on deck at 5:30 and to be watching for dolphins, not like the other day when we were on deck and socializing and not watching for whales. This guy is truly hard core guide, I am going to look so hard for dolphins to try to find them before he does!