tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81008437461788869532024-03-16T23:55:55.250+00:00Voyages of ShimshalSally and Simon left Scotland in 2015 on board Shimshal to begin a slow circumnavigation taking in various high latitude destinations. After 3 seasons in Greenland we sailed south to Lewisporte in northern Newfoundland. In 2019 we cruised the Canadian Maritimes. In 2022 & 23 we cruised via New England, Chesapeake, Florida, Cuba, Cayman, Providencia to Bocas del Toro. In late 2023 we transited the Panama Canal in readiness of a Pacific crossing in 2024.Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comBlogger772125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-13352834207759045942024-03-16T23:55:00.001+00:002024-03-16T23:55:13.095+00:00Looking after the oily bits.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEgQ_eQ45VSie8isSON-rM1qNh3vxiMgQiFD6BywaMf_fAhX42p6VNOIqOm_X41Whh4VekH4fRaSNFuJL_vQpKu-uEOoJIeAuhEysTxBly0wKwi-3D0wiWO8CZLqI15O4kKj2WeL9tmOZg8AgqnGGh7q21qxEnSwpvTXSIqcd9sMgavVJrUo_Wrp9b"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEgQ_eQ45VSie8isSON-rM1qNh3vxiMgQiFD6BywaMf_fAhX42p6VNOIqOm_X41Whh4VekH4fRaSNFuJL_vQpKu-uEOoJIeAuhEysTxBly0wKwi-3D0wiWO8CZLqI15O4kKj2WeL9tmOZg8AgqnGGh7q21qxEnSwpvTXSIqcd9sMgavVJrUo_Wrp9b=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7347114160184463922" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqOmvRx98BbmE-iq89RnX9Z4q5lrGmUeNWyUMMeSU8Yn7Fus7t-ltB6UI8m7h_eeqfKB0J4iC-6nDzdVDgoUjk6zuGwfB8Q5yKFNa_mgMg7YWDjC2RcC2i6SUZPpqMqfiF4115IDQA_0gTrPEDrQul8-IjyJwsM7hOM38fTY7rowpWMrKNvEwTGXjZ"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqOmvRx98BbmE-iq89RnX9Z4q5lrGmUeNWyUMMeSU8Yn7Fus7t-ltB6UI8m7h_eeqfKB0J4iC-6nDzdVDgoUjk6zuGwfB8Q5yKFNa_mgMg7YWDjC2RcC2i6SUZPpqMqfiF4115IDQA_0gTrPEDrQul8-IjyJwsM7hOM38fTY7rowpWMrKNvEwTGXjZ=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7347114177347121218" /></a></p><div id="yiv2202623067"><br>Shimshal has 3 internal combustion motors on board. One, the outboard motor for the dingy, was given some love when we arrived 2 months ago, since then we haven't needed to use it as Galapagos much pefers the smaller electric one or even better, call up a water taxi.<div>The other 2, the main engine and the generator, are both diesel and calling them oily does them a disservice they are in fact very clean and don't leak a bit. </div><div>If the wind is good the main engine only gets to play whilst leaving and entering port, if the wind is not cooperating then it may be called on to run for a day or two or even longer. The engine lives below the saloon floor in its own bilge and deserves a little TLC now and again. A basic inspection, check of belts and pulleys, drain oil, change oil filter, fill with new oil and test run only takes a couple hours, just like serving your car apart for the fact you can't drain the oil out of the bottom as the sump plug is inaccessible , deep in the bilge. The oil gets sucked out using a handy vacuum cylinder which also means you don't spill oil everywhere or need a new sump plug washer.</div><div>The longest step is dismantling the saloon steps, carpet and lifting the floorboards to gain access </div><div>The generator is easier, slightly better access and no oil filter to change. Just drain and fill with lovely fresh slippery oil and a general check over.</div><div>All ready for the rest of the season and next stage of the trip. Job done, tick.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="yiv2202623067yahoo-compose-assist-image-card yiv2202623067ymail-android-inline-img-container yiv2202623067ymail-card" contenteditable="false"><img id="yiv2202623067ymail_attachmentIdf525364f-e400-48ed-b923-fe19eec76ec4" src="cid:Tz5ZTZ6E1L473y1Brf5x" yahoo_partid="2" style="width:100%;max-width:800px;" class="yiv2202623067inline-image-global yiv2202623067inlined-image-cid-f525364f-e400-48ed-b923-fe19eec76ec4"><br></div><div class="yiv2202623067yahoo-compose-assist-image-card yiv2202623067ymail-android-inline-img-container yiv2202623067ymail-card" contenteditable="false"><img id="yiv2202623067ymail_attachmentIdf952a335-7e8b-4aec-bc0f-3d9cb509f48c" src="cid:uADsAF22JiIoZbDVbtBX" yahoo_partid="3" style="width:100%;max-width:800px;" class="yiv2202623067inline-image-global yiv2202623067inlined-image-cid-f952a335-7e8b-4aec-bc0f-3d9cb509f48c"><br></div><br><br><br></div><div><div id="yiv2202623067ymail_android_signature"><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" id="yiv2202623067ymail_android_signature_link" target="_blank" href="https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=NativePlacement&c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_EmailSignatureGrowth_YahooMail:Search,Organize,Conquer&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=Global_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100000945&af_sub5=OrganizeConquer__Static_">Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer</a></div></div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-3647123459713473952024-03-16T17:59:00.001+00:002024-03-16T17:59:20.784+00:00More of Heather’s video<br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cbh1cppcCxY?si=8n27yZvieXPfCAJU" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_9e94_1506_c294_6954" frameborder="0"></iframe> Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-76351743576369905122024-03-16T17:56:00.001+00:002024-03-16T17:56:55.201+00:00More Kicker Rock video<br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cbh1cppcCxY?si=8n27yZvieXPfCAJU" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_4122_8e9_7e53_3ff4" frameborder="0"></iframe> Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-26900560292363944982024-03-15T23:37:00.000+00:002024-03-16T15:38:14.096+00:00How it should work.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGr4HNTsczwHHfDL8Sl4I8wRzeNyX1fR8s7sobvt6hrHmkyO16BVGcPnObCGTEM2zj1ZHVFlCgt4PTEV1iCMBlnVLESKkrx-nScbF78ttvDiiLgLWTgNnexVuN1btlvUZiVQ8clFMGsD5-1oa6ryQQmMc5sD1GxCU7O_TorCbS-HcpQG4YvBabJtOE"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGr4HNTsczwHHfDL8Sl4I8wRzeNyX1fR8s7sobvt6hrHmkyO16BVGcPnObCGTEM2zj1ZHVFlCgt4PTEV1iCMBlnVLESKkrx-nScbF78ttvDiiLgLWTgNnexVuN1btlvUZiVQ8clFMGsD5-1oa6ryQQmMc5sD1GxCU7O_TorCbS-HcpQG4YvBabJtOE=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7346738928417806802" style="width: 320px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE33rTpgCgkZ1b8ayRyvZyXW_qRkz9REqf1xWfGQh2Sh2cb7OXHPiG9z_LCROz-o0pKmfioV7bGBntQub6TydONMLr84YZ5bcd9TRWBKrDvW57SYPazND80nMldOBv6LelswT4XDjTORW5ZgLVw1eZ5svxyko0KaFzn8TFKWdcccclahvtU2eSmakf"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE33rTpgCgkZ1b8ayRyvZyXW_qRkz9REqf1xWfGQh2Sh2cb7OXHPiG9z_LCROz-o0pKmfioV7bGBntQub6TydONMLr84YZ5bcd9TRWBKrDvW57SYPazND80nMldOBv6LelswT4XDjTORW5ZgLVw1eZ5svxyko0KaFzn8TFKWdcccclahvtU2eSmakf=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7346738943694480258" style="width: 320px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFwz59pFabfazj4luijhbrf411qatUsPFjsKQEGdBzUHn-JLzxxgmbE4Ddlha7FHzZfzmprvuYAnbXOyp2IkHh3-wwpf7XxVqBplIF9C0knoeIsJ1IfDEtaSXd7YRaR4rMz49P1fpquNfidyIIQcXbIRS6NfGGDlOZmzN9ahMtJ1wu5YOuU6wF2Aak"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFwz59pFabfazj4luijhbrf411qatUsPFjsKQEGdBzUHn-JLzxxgmbE4Ddlha7FHzZfzmprvuYAnbXOyp2IkHh3-wwpf7XxVqBplIF9C0knoeIsJ1IfDEtaSXd7YRaR4rMz49P1fpquNfidyIIQcXbIRS6NfGGDlOZmzN9ahMtJ1wu5YOuU6wF2Aak=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7346738971711818674" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><br>Today is moving day, we are heading back to Santa Cruz, tha island we first arrived at a month ago, to begin the final stage of our time here in Galapagos. <div><br><div>This morning, just before 6 the kettle was boiled and we made tea. Even the skipper a long term coffee buff has finally grasped the idea that tea is the stuff which makes everything happen.</div><div><br></div><div>Sitting in the cockpit whilst the sun rose and the light hardened we watched sea lions cruise past and a new yacht motor slowly into the anchorage after a night passage from somewhere, they could have just hopped from another island or just arrived after a week passage from the mainland with all the expectations and excitement we had as we arrived.</div><div><br></div><div>At 6.30 we started the engine and pulled up the anchor, apart from a good tug to break it out of the sand it came up easily. As we motored away from San Cristobal we ate breakfast in the cockpit, frest baked goods from the island bakery. With very light winds we tried sailing and managed an hour.before deciding we were getting nowhere so had to revert to the motor. </div><div><br></div><div>Apart from being a bit rolly at is all very pleasant, a light breeze, sun out with a few clouds. The hours pass easily with boat chores, making water, a second breakfast for some and then lunch. An experiment, can you make potato cakes from mashed yucca, yes it seems you can, nothing left on the plate. </div><div>In due time we arrive in Santa Cruz, nose slowly into the harbour and find our spot. We of course avoid the place we were last time and the chain eating monster, we informed our agent but the spot isn't yet marked in any way so the monster awaits its next chain dinner.</div><div>We settle the boat in, tidy up and have arrived. Time to make dinner and watch out for other boats as they arrive and jostle for position.</div><div><br></div><div>Tim</div><div><br></div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-14036550202362095442024-03-14T16:11:00.000+00:002024-03-15T02:01:54.264+00:00Kicker Rock<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUQ52eeYtmFf4ZjqkoOavQhT7Q8h3vsOOaJOhtnbN2qwyODhb6ZpsTG1jH3gPrvvvYqTcD37bEx1HTse-bUnf56J3Uos3RhCbRzPJub_A-6N8XFlpXHUJPowCX4ZeZu4CG_EtZI3uFyMGVfEvBwg896Rg8AysAXWVOcflvYICKOtYb1u1RlGeN_Qfi"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7346252647105518514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUQ52eeYtmFf4ZjqkoOavQhT7Q8h3vsOOaJOhtnbN2qwyODhb6ZpsTG1jH3gPrvvvYqTcD37bEx1HTse-bUnf56J3Uos3RhCbRzPJub_A-6N8XFlpXHUJPowCX4ZeZu4CG_EtZI3uFyMGVfEvBwg896Rg8AysAXWVOcflvYICKOtYb1u1RlGeN_Qfi=s320" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmhmOdSg4XaBEJAiKGcxBVgkjB7uuw9B19uLryCaobtj3pvKzfiYEGLQke44gXV9xyzNzsRB28r6uyrP1aei62j3lS63h1YIE7HB25FR4bxOKjnJO8XIhxpnx5bEWzscMU_ISN04uqWHVMR-wtA-eVb0yORDAvC8gfPKp1Iy72VOGDDvxAJzjAiZzk"><img alt="" border="0" height="360" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7346252663889110882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmhmOdSg4XaBEJAiKGcxBVgkjB7uuw9B19uLryCaobtj3pvKzfiYEGLQke44gXV9xyzNzsRB28r6uyrP1aei62j3lS63h1YIE7HB25FR4bxOKjnJO8XIhxpnx5bEWzscMU_ISN04uqWHVMR-wtA-eVb0yORDAvC8gfPKp1Iy72VOGDDvxAJzjAiZzk=w640-h360" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" width="640" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQDtJBibEz-myW3059iddzx_UvQ9reOTkZ6wI5wMw5d4h7KR1kGAkm9nLHhcbxXSyks-IwsYV_I6HfBbbcU_dcO69z5SRBKLl58cfcdYHbBWHRscdYoidRSQIGC_cSKmD5UCZDpDl-qhHUnDJsaA0lV6f6g0VL383WEDPmHagIixwVLLMq59TkONT-"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7346252686357808578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQDtJBibEz-myW3059iddzx_UvQ9reOTkZ6wI5wMw5d4h7KR1kGAkm9nLHhcbxXSyks-IwsYV_I6HfBbbcU_dcO69z5SRBKLl58cfcdYHbBWHRscdYoidRSQIGC_cSKmD5UCZDpDl-qhHUnDJsaA0lV6f6g0VL383WEDPmHagIixwVLLMq59TkONT-=w400-h225" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" width="400" /></a></p><div id="yiv2433766872"><div id="yiv2433766872">Yesterday we dived Kicker Rock, our second visit there as 2 days before we had our snorkeling trip. That was an incredible so the dive had a lot to live up to. </div><div id="yiv2433766872"><br /><div>It was another early start, we left the boat at 7, far too soon but some times the water taxi arrives immediately other times we can wait 30 minutes or more. Obviously yesterday it came as soon as we called.</div><div><br /></div><div>12 of us clambered onto the dive boat, 8 divers 4 snorkelling, as the dive site is known to have some strong currents we stopped on the way for a quick check dive to ensure we were all carrying the correct amount of weight, if you aren't then you are unable to get underwater and can drift off in the current on the surface. Not what any dive guide wants at the start of a dive. Soon, correctly weighted, we were back on the boat, slowly cooking in our wetsuits as we approached Kicker Rock. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the side we splashed, cool water feeling wonderful, the 4 of us and our guide dropped slowly down the steep wall of the rock, leveling off at about 18m we swam along eagerly peering out Into the water. Visibility here is good but not the gin clear you sometimes get in the tropics, the ocean currents which make the Galapagos waters so nutrient rich ensure the water is full of micro organisms which are the start of the food chain, which of course supports the bigger animals we are all so keen to see. Yesterday we could see about 20m, looking down into the abyss it just got darker, the cliff dropping far deeper than we could see. Looking outwards things just fade into the fog at the edge of our viability. </div><div><br />We swam along, large shapes just visible in the gloom, as we turned around the corner into the gap which cuts the rock into 2 the water got shallower and we were able to settle onto a sandy bottom and hold on against the current. Then they arrived, first one then several unmistakable shapes circling above us, in and out of our vision but always there, hammerhead sharks have an incredible silhouette!. We slowly moved on, sharks always around but not always visible. There were, of course, many other fish, the odd turtle and sea lion but this dive we weren't there for them. We settled on the edge on an underwater cliff. Hammerheads cruising past out in the deep water, some above, some below, slightly mennissing, but in reality no risk to us at all, humans do not figure oh their menus at all. They generally eat rays and other fish much smaller than us, pinning them down with their hammer to allow them to bite off chunks. They apparently also feed at dusk.</div><div><br /></div><div>With dive tanks low we surfaced, another big tick on the wish list, diving with hammerhead sharks. </div><div>An hour or so later, the boat took us to the low end of the rock, here the water is shallower with a bottom at about 16m. We dropped into a shoal of small fish called Salema, literally millions and millions, from above they hugged the wall and spread as far as we could see in both directions, bulging out from the wall and dropping from about 5m deep to the bottom . The shoal bulging and pulsing like a single living thing, so densely packed it was Impossible to see between them. As we swam towards them the shoal parted to allow us to enter and them reformed behind us, we were in a fish bubble, a space about a meter all round us completely fish free until you reached the fish wall. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes the rock wall appeared, free of fish, then vanished again, sometimes we burst back into clear water and sunshine for a brief moment before moment before being swallowed again. Inside the bait ball, for that in reality is what it is, one huge fish take away, it was quite dark, move too far from your buddy and the fish move in between you leaving you alone in a fish bubble. </div><div><br /></div><div>Around the outside of the shoal stalk a multitude of predators, several kinds of sharks, tuna, sea lions and shoals of barracuda patrol the edges, above is guarded by terns, pelicans, boobies and yet more sea lions, all there to harass the shoal and prevent it moving off. All these predators wait their chances before suddenly shooting into the shoal in the hope of catching dinner. From inside all you see is a flurry of fish as they quickly part then the flash of which ever animal is hunting as it whizzes past. The top cover hunters waiting to try their luck with any fish trying to escape upwards. It was incredible waiting inside for the next creature to come shopping, not knowing if it would be a white tipped shark or sea lion. The bigger predators just barged right in, scattering fish like leaves, the tuna targeting those out on the margins, hoping to catch one away from the safety of the shoal, zooming in like arrows with a huge burst of energy, the birds bursting in from above with wings swept back after a kamikaze dive which would kill them if they misjudged the depth and hit something solid.</div><div><br /></div><div>To say we spent 45 minutes sitting in a shoal of fish doesn't describe our dive at all, but that is what we did, an experience like no other. There is something to be said for safety in numbers, we didn't see one successful attack, perhaps we put predators off but living in the middle of a bait ball seems quite a good idea if you are low down on the food chain.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later, back on the boat, we ate supper on deck as the sun went down, still not quite believing what we had just seen. Between us we have a lot of photos and video which will take Heather a while to sort out but no doubt there will be a bumper addition on her YouTube channel.</div><div><br /></div><div>Was yesterday better than the 360 tour?, Hard to say I will just leave it with the fact they were both brilliant days out. Both left us speechless, the sharks were better on the dive but we so enjoyed our time snorkelling with the sea lions. We would have been lucky to have done either one of the trips but the fact we went on both makes us really jammy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tim</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="yahoo-compose-assist-image-card ymail-android-inline-img-container ymail-card" contenteditable="false"><br /></div></div><div></div></div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-44399059044692465052024-03-14T04:29:00.001+00:002024-03-14T04:29:09.657+00:00An Amazing Day Diving at Kicker Rock<br><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/923196508?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&badge=0" width="500" height="281" id="v_id_5e46_7fab_6131_50d6" frameborder="0"></iframe> Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-31235039681837707772024-03-12T13:44:00.001+00:002024-03-15T02:02:28.638+00:00360 tour photos<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaLfa8VaTIdSL5U1C6NXTRfwLOwOTd6Ow_lbI0ynpE-3kkudseBZ9gdYmHT8uuBYatxd3F_ISOnjLmOk2fRbUH_mreJ9WmV6nr1BdSbIwJp3s8ybGUwMvV9dFpe35rmLkOen14MEvlYuo61TACfg3Vl1Du3i3CrXiYOUtqHER3C6OnnEzDEheviHiD"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7345472505719774610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaLfa8VaTIdSL5U1C6NXTRfwLOwOTd6Ow_lbI0ynpE-3kkudseBZ9gdYmHT8uuBYatxd3F_ISOnjLmOk2fRbUH_mreJ9WmV6nr1BdSbIwJp3s8ybGUwMvV9dFpe35rmLkOen14MEvlYuo61TACfg3Vl1Du3i3CrXiYOUtqHER3C6OnnEzDEheviHiD=s320" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHQgPvEvUJ-8xo5xxnZuptO_QPwOp2krFSebv0ddiYi5_xh8tIKzmJB2MU95oN_nPb3sa1iH7oTbhR80rg8RIGqa_tjds8OCt9OysyM5eA5GfMyxHR1fBFM0FjUi92baZ1FJly7GoCFwb9dB1rLViuZDyl6QFa6Zc1eexC89YenFyOxP6zZcO43qL3"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7345472527942812562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHQgPvEvUJ-8xo5xxnZuptO_QPwOp2krFSebv0ddiYi5_xh8tIKzmJB2MU95oN_nPb3sa1iH7oTbhR80rg8RIGqa_tjds8OCt9OysyM5eA5GfMyxHR1fBFM0FjUi92baZ1FJly7GoCFwb9dB1rLViuZDyl6QFa6Zc1eexC89YenFyOxP6zZcO43qL3=s320" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj88Cx09T3_BLksXOg6PEz6awtympNLhucgqkPa0ljBCT-asUAeMejl_ztLkgfzmzFS3ch0Hl5wYC5m9-BbOJAiXO_huvDYwIFLyERTxTw_1rNQ-WbwcAi8JsEMPKbUBInqBO4Yvvp2iXxL6rVKd9Jc55zkEjvRLMKLKsWuheP5w3nCZy6E5xbgokpa"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7345472549797761938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj88Cx09T3_BLksXOg6PEz6awtympNLhucgqkPa0ljBCT-asUAeMejl_ztLkgfzmzFS3ch0Hl5wYC5m9-BbOJAiXO_huvDYwIFLyERTxTw_1rNQ-WbwcAi8JsEMPKbUBInqBO4Yvvp2iXxL6rVKd9Jc55zkEjvRLMKLKsWuheP5w3nCZy6E5xbgokpa=s320" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" /></a></p><div class="yahoo-compose-assist-image-card ymail-android-inline-img-container ymail-card" contenteditable="false"><br /></div><br />Tim<br /><br />Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-47531433967849695872024-03-12T02:00:00.001+00:002024-03-12T02:00:15.454+00:00Noddy Terns and Pelicans<br><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/922234471?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&badge=0" width="500" height="281" id="v_id_92bd_af35_6684_9a99" frameborder="0"></iframe> Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-33621829672298735462024-03-12T01:37:00.001+00:002024-03-15T02:05:26.776+00:00San Cristobal 360<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmLI5-Rrm7VAtUNB0WENBb-aTGFO1cIrQSkV0xoSJNw-7Bm8JM9By9SPcW_6nRHMGLqpyjg1J3yxE0Wpz7yCQKKY-bm-VyqGEWfm717_euSEWTa2FdZve2UL9ZzBaU0JE2zlP77mDMBvDvto2IrMuqqKCH39WnFG17cdGzamEZqPo5dq-57MMpL8Re"><img alt="" border="0" height="434" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7345285082647362882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmLI5-Rrm7VAtUNB0WENBb-aTGFO1cIrQSkV0xoSJNw-7Bm8JM9By9SPcW_6nRHMGLqpyjg1J3yxE0Wpz7yCQKKY-bm-VyqGEWfm717_euSEWTa2FdZve2UL9ZzBaU0JE2zlP77mDMBvDvto2IrMuqqKCH39WnFG17cdGzamEZqPo5dq-57MMpL8Re=w640-h434" width="640" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgs-YumCVuEjKR7alQUcFxoQlub_hdIyPFVoomE3MaS31UWUHVaMuX4jbcGXwo55xVks4TBon_nmveXExrb8GefeHe3CLRQXl29jxRMCL0ussfRi2ylF4Pc1eOFlJEmUcY87wFuTmzDGxgj2xZLPNM5JSTPW7g9QsW-ERh5912IXVujkV01aYhW22sx"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7345285105182959906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgs-YumCVuEjKR7alQUcFxoQlub_hdIyPFVoomE3MaS31UWUHVaMuX4jbcGXwo55xVks4TBon_nmveXExrb8GefeHe3CLRQXl29jxRMCL0ussfRi2ylF4Pc1eOFlJEmUcY87wFuTmzDGxgj2xZLPNM5JSTPW7g9QsW-ERh5912IXVujkV01aYhW22sx=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsA1xbaVqfiEJRDkJ9eMetJpjtowYe7GPwJESVvntM9prNkgPDWzqLs7oqb5sHnx5fQxJrYj89Qe_nqoo67Brf5BJmcfBLDhsk9igqv9zlAfetmKL_4rpLuViRsCf8jAiF1Pu9mDOxAUbqg4mDfEDYbnTqR1LazyvuowK1k37y4fIUC6_Cxbrmjb6P"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7345285124154881794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsA1xbaVqfiEJRDkJ9eMetJpjtowYe7GPwJESVvntM9prNkgPDWzqLs7oqb5sHnx5fQxJrYj89Qe_nqoo67Brf5BJmcfBLDhsk9igqv9zlAfetmKL_4rpLuViRsCf8jAiF1Pu9mDOxAUbqg4mDfEDYbnTqR1LazyvuowK1k37y4fIUC6_Cxbrmjb6P=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p>Late on Saturday evening we dropped our anchor on the edge of the anchorage here in San Cristobal, it was dark and we didn't want to search for a better spot, just have a quiet night. We would have been earlier but we had a spot of bother pulling up the anchor at Floreana, this time it was Simon who had the early morning dip and discovered our anchor chain rapped neatly round a up stand of volcanic rock, after working out which way we were wound he was able to con the boat round in circles to untangle us. Anyway that delay and a 2 knot current going the wrong way meant it was dark when we arrived. <div>We woke yesterday and with the benefits of a good night's sleep and daylight moved Shimshal to a better location and then Sally cooked pancakes for breakfast. </div><div><br /></div><div>We went ashore later for the usual first day wander round to find out what was available. </div><div>San Cristobal is known for one of the best day dive sites in Galapagos, Kicker Rock. Heather and I were determined to visit as you are almost guaranteed to see hammerhead sharks 🦈. We quickly found the dive centre with the best reputation and booked on to the next available trip. That however is not until Wednesday. </div><div><br /></div><div>We also found out there is another tour called San Cristobal 360, a boat trip right round the island stopping at several places, one being Kicker Rock. Well we splurged and booked that as well, we will only be here once, and that is what we did today.</div><div><br /></div><div>At 6.15 in a torrential downpour we put on our snorkelling cloths at the boat before getting the water taxi ashore. We wouldn't get any wetter later than we did then. We swapped shimshals silent sails or plodding diesel engine for a tour boat GT with 400hp bolted to the transom and shot off towards Kicker Rock at great speed. At the risk of repeating my self, we had the best day, we arrived and quickly got into the water, within a moment we were staring down into a huge shoal of fish and then 3 enormous hammerheads just cruised on by about 10m below us. They turned around and came back, not bothered at all by us, mind you, why should they bother, we splash around near to the surface, they are 3 or 4 m long, perfectly adapted to move fast in water and have a mouth full of very sharp teeth, they are so at home they haven't needed to adapt in millions of years, they got it right the first time!</div><div><br /></div><div>We spent an hour snorkelling round the rock, every few minutes something new arrived, we had several more visits from as many as 6 hammerheads, turtles, huge shoals of fish, black tipped sharks, Galapagos sharks, tuna, blue footed boobies it was like being an extra in a BBC documentary. </div><div><br /></div><div>We moved on past amazing lava tunnels and Rock formations, pausing for lunch on a picture post card white beach for lunch to the next snorkeling site. This was a shallow, sheltered bay with a small sea lion colony close by. Here we had the usual turtle sightings but the stars were undoubtedly the sea lions, we spent an hour moving slowly round the bay whilst being visited by a whole variety of sea lions. From the big bulls checking us out to make sure we were no risk to playful juveniles enjoying themselves in the surf. We watched amazed as 3 youngsters argued over a stick, carrying it round and then throwing it away so they could fight over it all over again. One of our group, a young boy was swimming with the aid of one of the boats life rings, one sea lion grabbed the rope trailing from the ring and started towing the ring and boy around, much to the delight of everyone 😀 😉. We are not meant to approach closer than 2m to any animal here, no one has told the sea lions, they like to get close up and personal.</div><div><br /></div><div>We completed our circumnavigation of the island just in time for the rain to start again, we had been lucky all day after the initial deluge and had a dry day. </div><div><br /></div><div>A bit shell shocked after all we had seen we sat and had a drink before returning to the boat. We return to Kicker Rock in 2 days time, this time on a dive boat, hopefully it will be even better but it has a hard act to follow. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will leave the underwater pictures for Heather in her next video but will post a few stills.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tim</div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-58148306454244634882024-03-11T23:06:00.001+00:002024-03-11T23:12:54.166+00:00San Cristobal <br><br><br><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/922226848?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&badge=0" width="500" height="281" id="v_id_4405_c0ed_a763_fbd3" frameborder="0"></iframe><div><br></div><div><br><br><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/922227900?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&badge=0" width="500" height="281" id="v_id_a137_47f3_c4fa_6e71" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-90298739044046374342024-03-08T20:38:00.001+00:002024-03-08T20:38:47.337+00:00Floreana<img id="id_3da_e43c_e4d8_8de" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1neIbxA9vvjOv6Yuhid_60BhPpImO_kBs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><img id="id_f69f_9ade_15a8_1f7e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1u9YN2BuD2RGTsXZ01XMbxi2mtaE8ftf6" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_58ce_fadf_bbd_1301" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1SDzFCmPXTIPXa90KssxAV9wWQkYl1RJE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f880_a5cc_a71f_a4d5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1o-xVN_NZkIbsj9QokF9zCJ8QajweabXZ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-71630369038324019902024-03-08T20:07:00.000+00:002024-03-15T02:06:39.680+00:00Why is it so green here?<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEio-Srp9zjIwBgxoI9NcV-9F4W5-k61pveZSSge7HiZlmBfv0X-LW0y3UBkxVFdfNLgWAjCtkbcCN9HmauxasZ8oaZnAswSVePtG7ijnnASKwJJwx9Xa9QRuAq-NRTjy1nJ4qEIHQzWADNmBBYiYOuQIFKhfH-UdN2xP91CigFCQyB7cLMWhc90MbVY"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344126839669793266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEio-Srp9zjIwBgxoI9NcV-9F4W5-k61pveZSSge7HiZlmBfv0X-LW0y3UBkxVFdfNLgWAjCtkbcCN9HmauxasZ8oaZnAswSVePtG7ijnnASKwJJwx9Xa9QRuAq-NRTjy1nJ4qEIHQzWADNmBBYiYOuQIFKhfH-UdN2xP91CigFCQyB7cLMWhc90MbVY=s320" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvbf3elzsVX2KKfH3tBwH_2RFDiWOInBywgJZR4AmQynoMK33U41pVXCGtq1EH-qYLAmKD93ZVAyqyJiPHhbrfBDr9-O8GIUSgYNdvLRH23DHJYqPdNGSdSbzs9ZWbBft82VAgibXPcTwDyaw5cvygoDGXxUyedh0PhHYY3wmpvuPRisfWyXRKBUeI"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344126867158857426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvbf3elzsVX2KKfH3tBwH_2RFDiWOInBywgJZR4AmQynoMK33U41pVXCGtq1EH-qYLAmKD93ZVAyqyJiPHhbrfBDr9-O8GIUSgYNdvLRH23DHJYqPdNGSdSbzs9ZWbBft82VAgibXPcTwDyaw5cvygoDGXxUyedh0PhHYY3wmpvuPRisfWyXRKBUeI=s320" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqGVgIss2HOTiaTzTyRLNhjjRWkaPVnU-JdfERWjh_1h_TabadYAWBBEV1fAsuYPOxAixXwHoWIHOudGWpr2qmtlXwZm11xWp3DA2g6TNpoYOmAb1M8zxI9Och_xda9YbGDFvRIuBV2eR0ZI8SGwGaH1YRXclJ71ERhV4o5Q02_eIISgI2JXHNVD7S"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344126885333977506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqGVgIss2HOTiaTzTyRLNhjjRWkaPVnU-JdfERWjh_1h_TabadYAWBBEV1fAsuYPOxAixXwHoWIHOudGWpr2qmtlXwZm11xWp3DA2g6TNpoYOmAb1M8zxI9Och_xda9YbGDFvRIuBV2eR0ZI8SGwGaH1YRXclJ71ERhV4o5Q02_eIISgI2JXHNVD7S=s320" /></a></p><div id="yiv7928869362"><br /><div class="yahoo-compose-assist-image-card ymail-android-inline-img-container ymail-card" contenteditable="false">Tim</div><br /><br /><div id="yiv7928869362ymail_android_signature"><br /></div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-38648929129802201992024-03-08T18:37:00.000+00:002024-03-15T02:09:33.852+00:00Floreana island<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6hUrI5Q-_AzOLKNoe5ttkQ0tha5W1ZgQMkiPXFqORagTwkims57OtVHpMVzwzhfsUF7z13B6lKVv-9mZjL7RkCQ1rYN-Az62dirkIYEowQVJCJMDO1GDO5HswtQwZHdZk21hybdN2RXAzmkp_9DwDDgJFIAzs25m8CZ4rOHVA3jnQ9PR0yOp1-25Q"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344067854666374834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6hUrI5Q-_AzOLKNoe5ttkQ0tha5W1ZgQMkiPXFqORagTwkims57OtVHpMVzwzhfsUF7z13B6lKVv-9mZjL7RkCQ1rYN-Az62dirkIYEowQVJCJMDO1GDO5HswtQwZHdZk21hybdN2RXAzmkp_9DwDDgJFIAzs25m8CZ4rOHVA3jnQ9PR0yOp1-25Q=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX0nIf6QizJHC80fkPTXZ5a_oEEAjiq-qurwVeLyyYJA9glCpb67JQx3cuYMzRYrjlFL9wMBN8UzVgJ0oMep7e0-80XahCDrd9lLdmjX91HIq3WSg_HX47xw8a6VRwVk1I9iB8UhKCYs_NJXyu3Pf_O6eGIjjiLKTTkItTtx2T72axEUM7c-vgPilV"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344067869231693522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX0nIf6QizJHC80fkPTXZ5a_oEEAjiq-qurwVeLyyYJA9glCpb67JQx3cuYMzRYrjlFL9wMBN8UzVgJ0oMep7e0-80XahCDrd9lLdmjX91HIq3WSg_HX47xw8a6VRwVk1I9iB8UhKCYs_NJXyu3Pf_O6eGIjjiLKTTkItTtx2T72axEUM7c-vgPilV=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSvbco3893X2dyEc53e-B-4obwZ2hCoicKaRCsTb6stpJRFIBR2K961ZeI8K0mFETJS5qXCh-fILl1u3Kv-AQlc305EHQSIrryRbkDsTFj26VBGd1cR68jxUwANRqfmbwBnSG6fbG4l5DXLlUz5jzqvMXVdB074r6sYA_2llFYVNNFzs64skUk-fQz"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344067887820052530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSvbco3893X2dyEc53e-B-4obwZ2hCoicKaRCsTb6stpJRFIBR2K961ZeI8K0mFETJS5qXCh-fILl1u3Kv-AQlc305EHQSIrryRbkDsTFj26VBGd1cR68jxUwANRqfmbwBnSG6fbG4l5DXLlUz5jzqvMXVdB074r6sYA_2llFYVNNFzs64skUk-fQz=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></p>A new island for us, Floreana, is one of the smaller islands. It was the first to be occupied by the early visitors to Galapagos due to it having one of the few fresh water springs in the archipelago. Other islands now produce water but all from underground aquifers. <div><br /><div>The first inhabitants were apparently pirates who came for the water but made a base here in caves close to the spring. </div><div><br /></div><div>Other ships also called to resupply which unfortunately led to the islands native tortoise population being wiped out. Eventually a small permanent population developed growing their own food and even trying to run an early tourist business. </div><div><br /></div><div>The early occupiers developed a post barrel, passing ships would stop here, they would leave any post they had and take any which was addressed for their eventual destination. In this way post would eventually be delivered. There is now a replica post barrel, we all wrote cards and left them, who knows what happens now but I expect it may involve a stamp and a long wait. </div><div><br /></div><div>These incomers brought their own domestic animals which further damaged the local wildlife population. </div><div>Today there is a small population of about 150 people who fish, farm and cater for the tourists. There has been a lot of work done in eradicating many of the invasive species, they believe rats are now gone and animals like pigs, cows and donkeys are all domestic and contained to the farms. The land used for farming makes up a small part of the island, the rest is left for the natural environment. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the last 20 years or so a breeding program for the believed extinct Floreana tortoise has been developed on one animal found as a pet and some they think escaped when they were taken away for food. The Darwin institute believe the new Floreana tortoise is about 70% genetically identical to the original but as some interbreeding took place between the escaped tortoise and those on the islands they ended up on they will never be able to replace the original. These tortoise are short necked with a low front to the shell as the food they eat on Floreana as available on the ground and they don't need to reach up high to browse. </div><div><br /></div><div>There has also recently been a release of several hundred Darwin Finch to try and repopulate the island.<br />We spent yesterday on the island tour, we were taken into the Highlands where we were shown the tortoise enclosure, the oldest of these are only 20 and still need some protection and feeding, they have a large walled enclosure of 1km square so are able to range as they would in the wild. We also explored the caves around the spring which were home to the earliest inhabitants. We were then taken to a farm and saw how ucca, banana, plantain and citrus fruits are grown. It seems very overgrown compared to the farms we know, more just a concentration of one crop in the jungle than a field but obviously works.</div><div><br /></div><div>We then walked along the coast, here much of the sand is back as it is crumbled lava, and finished by snorkelling in a sheltered bay. Again we saw turtles, octopus 🐙, a small moray eel and huge shoals of fish.</div><div><br /></div><div>We will probably move on tomorrow as this is only a tiny island and much of it is reserved and not accessible to us. Today we will explore the small town, swim and relax. <div class="yahoo-compose-assist-image-card ymail-android-inline-img-container ymail-card" contenteditable="false"><br /></div><div class="yahoo-compose-assist-image-card ymail-android-inline-img-container ymail-card" contenteditable="false">Tim</div><br /></div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-10924628238547350852024-03-08T18:36:00.000+00:002024-03-08T20:38:56.661+00:00Floreana island photos<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2P72NANsOT5AwP3SX4Rh4Y_0A0W1S-cA-4hqY27locUkkZ4AonXIRMZG9jwfVZxAt82NuElCS26JybVMLNYpvJ8rPwaW5rFA2eRM-aKAn8pzWzv74pC5f0-UWbeYS2GvHj0vYwQlZeAwWZvRpixzeT1OzR7Bb7oVRtY5qh60aI4YbeGN-zfagkrIU"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2P72NANsOT5AwP3SX4Rh4Y_0A0W1S-cA-4hqY27locUkkZ4AonXIRMZG9jwfVZxAt82NuElCS26JybVMLNYpvJ8rPwaW5rFA2eRM-aKAn8pzWzv74pC5f0-UWbeYS2GvHj0vYwQlZeAwWZvRpixzeT1OzR7Bb7oVRtY5qh60aI4YbeGN-zfagkrIU=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344063967329510402" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4e5AzsuAqWw-4brAyUc03wejTITdijQBXGdMd3dUBsSo77XGQQPwm0UYt98lQBH9Swj_5-WcJS831pyuRJqp_TUVm2osU8suNBmhqR29Ily0c46ladMuMD_jROGQujt3JwXhRnaqgXsEuiGPTFek_jHGC3noclOcs_zm6piFLykJpOUwpeid4mLhd"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4e5AzsuAqWw-4brAyUc03wejTITdijQBXGdMd3dUBsSo77XGQQPwm0UYt98lQBH9Swj_5-WcJS831pyuRJqp_TUVm2osU8suNBmhqR29Ily0c46ladMuMD_jROGQujt3JwXhRnaqgXsEuiGPTFek_jHGC3noclOcs_zm6piFLykJpOUwpeid4mLhd=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344063985117008578" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHLjv8--3a4GKu_84UowFZHD5ZCrDIObnC_pOE3HVY3OtGRMfccThGodWNBSIAXgyTM4ca3aaCST-T2Pv5KdbRH5tpzK5rstsyQnSrs4B0fgZ-Gl1ZANJS1k21brvM42nsvrlnb99Cu0QWRrXKNgf7-TPBiNadHtw5gGiPW1Q6M_ot1dGJdJicyV8d"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHLjv8--3a4GKu_84UowFZHD5ZCrDIObnC_pOE3HVY3OtGRMfccThGodWNBSIAXgyTM4ca3aaCST-T2Pv5KdbRH5tpzK5rstsyQnSrs4B0fgZ-Gl1ZANJS1k21brvM42nsvrlnb99Cu0QWRrXKNgf7-TPBiNadHtw5gGiPW1Q6M_ot1dGJdJicyV8d=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7344064006475601394" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-86166134242745603462024-03-06T22:46:00.000+00:002024-03-15T02:10:50.560+00:00The Mangroves<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzcmS1woma0esCwo-wrQ7jCaVRuj3AK_h4lJrrZ9XmzCEI1SbhusuNwP6f4sj5Y8lNAa5hsYeDgAlxR7IJhmkghpxN0OwKognh82O2TRNwJCepE1tMzd_IQrKb-3uh5cTMIGds53J8nN_j3_L0mHPfI8TMYzi7r35hMA4baL2Uk15ai1ZM-IAt7Ldw"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7343423215267302466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzcmS1woma0esCwo-wrQ7jCaVRuj3AK_h4lJrrZ9XmzCEI1SbhusuNwP6f4sj5Y8lNAa5hsYeDgAlxR7IJhmkghpxN0OwKognh82O2TRNwJCepE1tMzd_IQrKb-3uh5cTMIGds53J8nN_j3_L0mHPfI8TMYzi7r35hMA4baL2Uk15ai1ZM-IAt7Ldw=s320" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSWvbi_bLYF5JIPlUtPtAh3mGTSjJrBJMc9-nVjBNfDoV03bUwIvg8G-IZT67QoRTOgzv13AzJrJpQ021GhVEaYi9B-552HR6_CYCJIpC_nW09MCDzvuwvzU4doXwu47F9IIGrLKdx4EzpBNtTwtJL-yJjaq_OMF9PhYUzvI0YKy40ucjQH6nYWmdE"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7343423235104997234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSWvbi_bLYF5JIPlUtPtAh3mGTSjJrBJMc9-nVjBNfDoV03bUwIvg8G-IZT67QoRTOgzv13AzJrJpQ021GhVEaYi9B-552HR6_CYCJIpC_nW09MCDzvuwvzU4doXwu47F9IIGrLKdx4EzpBNtTwtJL-yJjaq_OMF9PhYUzvI0YKy40ucjQH6nYWmdE=s320" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiblGehDAyUK2hbKEvz-sJU2_Oe9EckIMTAzKefp04XF83VvunEqRXy3Y9Ysiu-grzYcCV_42DmsfOnPj4dyEDnPGZ-7IWR9MLBexbrdaXWRKPTYIEI2hGSmeGZHGxWNRzfT0bkymK3OH5SqN79PpZcv4yQ-_fuPbqGkr82nRoN57wgYcDIohexXO2T"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7343423258923687250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiblGehDAyUK2hbKEvz-sJU2_Oe9EckIMTAzKefp04XF83VvunEqRXy3Y9Ysiu-grzYcCV_42DmsfOnPj4dyEDnPGZ-7IWR9MLBexbrdaXWRKPTYIEI2hGSmeGZHGxWNRzfT0bkymK3OH5SqN79PpZcv4yQ-_fuPbqGkr82nRoN57wgYcDIohexXO2T=s320" /></a></p><br />Today, Tuesday, our last on Isabela we decided to walk along the coast and revisit a small beach we had discovered on one of our bike rides. This was a river beach, hidden in the mangroves. In a small clearing a fresh water stream, the water clean and cold as it must have come from an aquifer deep below the hillside. The river wound through the mangrove, sometimes only inches deep, in other places we had to swim. It arrived at the coast at the head of a small inlet, the water getting more salty the further we went. In the inlet we found turtles and pelicans in the shallows. We retraced our steps, enjoying the cool fresh water before the long walk back along the beach to the boat.<div><br /><div>The mangrove swamps line the tidal edges of the islands, happy in fresh or salty water they drop branches down from the canopy which become roots. They provide an unique environment which both protects the island from erosion and provides a safe place for juvenile fish and other creatures to grow and birds to roost. We have come across them in Australia but there we avoided them as they are home to salt water crocodiles, not something we wished to get close to.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another good day and a beautiful end to our visit to Isabela. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow we move on to Floreana. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="yahoo-compose-assist-image-card ymail-android-inline-img-container ymail-card" contenteditable="false">Tim</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div id="ymail_android_signature"><a href="https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=NativePlacement&c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_EmailSignatureGrowth_YahooMail:Search,Organize,Conquer&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=Global_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100000945&af_sub5=OrganizeConquer__Static_" id="ymail_android_signature_link">Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer</a></div></div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-74905048351715659332024-03-04T16:49:00.000+00:002024-03-15T02:12:19.240+00:00More pictures<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYlmiLvHSJ4ASUw2ypWOsMmGCtu6AcQCAMLDhmS2JXrTY9aOZTOnA6cggWo13boUX5c72GZYtqUPGkrNnVjfp0d6zeI8CDon-jztlCriUQSxg9WUk2GhxlVH1nuA9EMSrv9ag-4Np_STO8w1m8U0cMI9dk7vkdWM_luCOyKwG5pjIAd3tqqVp7O5Xz"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7342553252295868738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYlmiLvHSJ4ASUw2ypWOsMmGCtu6AcQCAMLDhmS2JXrTY9aOZTOnA6cggWo13boUX5c72GZYtqUPGkrNnVjfp0d6zeI8CDon-jztlCriUQSxg9WUk2GhxlVH1nuA9EMSrv9ag-4Np_STO8w1m8U0cMI9dk7vkdWM_luCOyKwG5pjIAd3tqqVp7O5Xz=s320" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoQ8PORAUWA548RFxXibZe9NVpptj8xySS5fiSQ3bX-C58cM-iEslLtgjbM0t8Djuxu8uDZzpV1RB8IS0JKh6Yt3mqjiSm4YSLeCH3487X4sTqlw188PoSSBzATboZEhyQbm-hlnwS2w-87PHrK2cHooOBzSEwnr4o7ARFM9KU8BGNT8cIdV_FM8Dq"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7342553278238354770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoQ8PORAUWA548RFxXibZe9NVpptj8xySS5fiSQ3bX-C58cM-iEslLtgjbM0t8Djuxu8uDZzpV1RB8IS0JKh6Yt3mqjiSm4YSLeCH3487X4sTqlw188PoSSBzATboZEhyQbm-hlnwS2w-87PHrK2cHooOBzSEwnr4o7ARFM9KU8BGNT8cIdV_FM8Dq=s320" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKx4QSrsMzWEn3MRgBQcie7PKYOgwNSDP8JeOelN8xDiPRUzjTxyKGCCElsnbTzJe3PGaL8bWjlbilwPVKDQT7ibK1_09JAokiNtHUDQudyo9SJ3Nut5WQeM3T-3zoqzmkAwLzAReincBIISr9pJhIBR52FUMjiV30Kud540PziVniKsZLbXE-FJOJ"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7342553295145750210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKx4QSrsMzWEn3MRgBQcie7PKYOgwNSDP8JeOelN8xDiPRUzjTxyKGCCElsnbTzJe3PGaL8bWjlbilwPVKDQT7ibK1_09JAokiNtHUDQudyo9SJ3Nut5WQeM3T-3zoqzmkAwLzAReincBIISr9pJhIBR52FUMjiV30Kud540PziVniKsZLbXE-FJOJ=s320" /></a></p><div class="yahoo-compose-assist-image-card ymail-android-inline-img-container ymail-card" contenteditable="false">Tim</div><br /><br />Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-46482465088253836302024-03-04T16:48:00.001+00:002024-03-04T23:58:25.520+00:00Delivery day<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfezZuBJy0GWo7jr5UC3WCkYKzP9k3wWZdb7hctwBhj4J8Hr8ZJoz0oeMaNRyIKQwEqtYFfCjJnPGRjoaaMcNEclT7SvBgaD28bVDyT47zK0AD2So9_AxyXHpxr59b-3eakBRRXH_Kzyw9Y5IGNjyR52y9kmTi3IeUe_CN9goWvZBG2XSwGULGcDz3"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfezZuBJy0GWo7jr5UC3WCkYKzP9k3wWZdb7hctwBhj4J8Hr8ZJoz0oeMaNRyIKQwEqtYFfCjJnPGRjoaaMcNEclT7SvBgaD28bVDyT47zK0AD2So9_AxyXHpxr59b-3eakBRRXH_Kzyw9Y5IGNjyR52y9kmTi3IeUe_CN9goWvZBG2XSwGULGcDz3=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7342551103570654818" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEJMkUyVQyTw2ycrHqmgAsCW7pNjoasRA9d5OZ-sqQLYWZefKYjQZU90ypxBBh8OMeAfaMGDLrCS7tYeyA7JOzydlhttoYloWm2yzFeZg9m7TQI_uMwuBOydiEo8bmaog4VIY3jszPxJbAs7rdW8rIQVE7t59QY9TQ216qOr0zD3V3CjU7NQK1h8nS"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEJMkUyVQyTw2ycrHqmgAsCW7pNjoasRA9d5OZ-sqQLYWZefKYjQZU90ypxBBh8OMeAfaMGDLrCS7tYeyA7JOzydlhttoYloWm2yzFeZg9m7TQI_uMwuBOydiEo8bmaog4VIY3jszPxJbAs7rdW8rIQVE7t59QY9TQ216qOr0zD3V3CjU7NQK1h8nS=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7342551125403831250" style="width: 320px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge-oalkDhru_Q9b8VlPj5JCphWvFdBt7dR-jxIpD9ffxeWOMVRlteXGM-_Of2FpPxNxbxzlSD5RWPR6pBrkduqNcfahjolZjw3QGOmRw0SCbeToxcl3EtBMhyu7empAEqeCZqWS3m0mPw9cQMyyeTd1YlO0Sw2bIeFebFiNy0s-TPSLAzBpyPUik-O"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge-oalkDhru_Q9b8VlPj5JCphWvFdBt7dR-jxIpD9ffxeWOMVRlteXGM-_Of2FpPxNxbxzlSD5RWPR6pBrkduqNcfahjolZjw3QGOmRw0SCbeToxcl3EtBMhyu7empAEqeCZqWS3m0mPw9cQMyyeTd1YlO0Sw2bIeFebFiNy0s-TPSLAzBpyPUik-O=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7342551141310609122" style="width: 320px; height: auto;"></a></p><br>Galapagos is a collection of rocky islands almost 1000 miles west of mainland South America. As part of Ecuador all her supplies and necessary goods come from there. There is an international airport on Santa Cruz but flying in everything needed is both expensive and not possible. <div><br><div>The majority of goods arrive by sea. Last night the supply ship arrived at Isabela, an old, battered freighter probably 150 feet long. There is no harbour here, the only dock has at most 5 feet of water alongside at high water, much less when the tide is out. So Paula, the supply ship, has to anchor off in deeper water and be off loaded by smaller boats.</div><div><br></div><div>This morning at first light she was surrounded by an armada of the local skiffs, the same boats which do duty as water taxi, fishing boat and every thing else. Some were pushing stubby barges onto which the heavier pallets of goods were loaded, others just had the lighter supply's piled high and returned to shore. Even the latest addition to the islands truck fleet was picked up on the ships derick and lowered onto a barge. Pushing these (over)loaded barges prevents a challenge today due to a stiff breeze over the anchorage so they all crab slowly toward the key with their tugs working hard. All this seems incredibly labour intensive and time consuming but it works and has been doing so for many years judging by the battered state of the ship, skiffs and barges. </div><div><br></div><div>All this must be repeated once the barges reach the island dock, everything either either man handled or craned off and onto waiting trucks. How the vehicles are off loaded I don't know as I haven't seen a big crane on the dock.</div><div><br></div><div>Yesterday there were no potatoes available in the bar where we had a drink to watch the sun go down so no papas frittas, today, Heathers birthday we may be lucky.</div><div><br></div><div>To me, someone who loves watching the world go by this morning has been a great way to while away a couple of hours whilst doing odd jobs round the boat. </div><div><br></div><div>Tim</div><div><br></div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-82538423599025736522024-03-02T23:19:00.001+00:002024-03-02T23:20:10.084+00:00Sierra Negra and Volcan Chico<img id="id_b31c_ba43_7408_508d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1_0IFEbOaiymNQSz6QRAfQVZqL1XH2x6i" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><img id="id_322e_7e53_7ddc_bbd4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1MVoMRrZpBTQJXRSFtcTZqtCWEft1n_fk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3958_703b_9002_9426" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1F8rKaSyudYzQcPXPX5jCvQIPBXE3Xtvu" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_154b_a2fd_10a1_ec3e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1IrKe7MpafcgKxpF417arezPp44VUreqb" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d36_3206_64fb_e5c5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1C6yaLJJlqQlIATmArG5E-83LDMl-C9fl" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9a0b_190a_dbf8_dad3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1Du_4B_-Id_t2a9lXTIcZHlwc5NxJ2UEi" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_616c_1cee_87f_e137" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/10VglCh7sfLDkM0Pj0gsX4mYRZ9xX9sNk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-76003420328140645242024-03-02T16:21:00.001+00:002024-03-02T23:13:56.007+00:00More volcano photos<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj9y8-G87OMtQ6brw-ChH0jvmb383OYQtAeq81hjI4vhwfZ_vD9BsmQQR_mT7vk9tOM05U7Wj8CfHTkqNL3P6cFkhbGSNxmNdrJXk3qZvfmvjVX_1hMjWEEX9RokpcIWgdFWfPQPwyDXi3gDzeCRYwvzhj9n_ICY0ygZSrZ70TZmFbqlxhKncyBJbN"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj9y8-G87OMtQ6brw-ChH0jvmb383OYQtAeq81hjI4vhwfZ_vD9BsmQQR_mT7vk9tOM05U7Wj8CfHTkqNL3P6cFkhbGSNxmNdrJXk3qZvfmvjVX_1hMjWEEX9RokpcIWgdFWfPQPwyDXi3gDzeCRYwvzhj9n_ICY0ygZSrZ70TZmFbqlxhKncyBJbN=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7341802013101026898" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX5KHHHw28mVSIpmmIAAbq4HbMmAGsjXmAgwRVJMCHNW4QMPqPO6piBaJyHvGDhjxb679JmaRQJMexIHa02BWPl255oGgzd0Ikr0UlzwwInCIeh8rzZPHgBMOlbar5fOjN3Dt8torSR02UVaUM2dozFxBOhVIIGDsy5LhYokrqRCFfo_ZzbZ2d3wxr"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX5KHHHw28mVSIpmmIAAbq4HbMmAGsjXmAgwRVJMCHNW4QMPqPO6piBaJyHvGDhjxb679JmaRQJMexIHa02BWPl255oGgzd0Ikr0UlzwwInCIeh8rzZPHgBMOlbar5fOjN3Dt8torSR02UVaUM2dozFxBOhVIIGDsy5LhYokrqRCFfo_ZzbZ2d3wxr=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7341802037481382098" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB9Pja8EVv3e7YyN5eI-fH9o61BcTfUriNgMWLw3zp0b6A7_A5zOsvYHgaAVhsg8V0Ovp8mjmV8ZqTrBzYZdqn_Nn-gGvuad78AEddXq2Ff4UXqP5ljBLe-BqQ3Nf3e9Ah8TPw1mClkS2AG0tSdl6P15KfkW9rTFbnMNt5KBNz7FC388JevrfojjcY"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB9Pja8EVv3e7YyN5eI-fH9o61BcTfUriNgMWLw3zp0b6A7_A5zOsvYHgaAVhsg8V0Ovp8mjmV8ZqTrBzYZdqn_Nn-gGvuad78AEddXq2Ff4UXqP5ljBLe-BqQ3Nf3e9Ah8TPw1mClkS2AG0tSdl6P15KfkW9rTFbnMNt5KBNz7FC388JevrfojjcY=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7341802057317488418" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo">Tim</p>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-37758182533239995242024-03-02T15:23:00.000+00:002024-03-02T23:13:32.943+00:00Its not all about the animals.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1PAjmfQysiRbeCgutiXheN6oIe_M3Gb2Bl9VF9f23y3wm2OCbZsWruuEKVRVgzfARtFf5gvm24BlA2Y0SsMEtNw8gIpInOPU1HtNgScgh_e9-822rnj0ATFPKkCbG_31FRlYXldn5PoipjaoNFgue0CJpkCrwUF0TisByfEyToa2g7HrB8nkjWkOO"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1PAjmfQysiRbeCgutiXheN6oIe_M3Gb2Bl9VF9f23y3wm2OCbZsWruuEKVRVgzfARtFf5gvm24BlA2Y0SsMEtNw8gIpInOPU1HtNgScgh_e9-822rnj0ATFPKkCbG_31FRlYXldn5PoipjaoNFgue0CJpkCrwUF0TisByfEyToa2g7HrB8nkjWkOO=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7341788833071117378" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgwNwSVOQiuuNZGJANbik-l8v_NK_2CgO4eo-ydEcr365JbhQ2JPIYngEgIo_ToPheJhQJxqv5QPixlPTfyMd5gzTJK53moimgZofw3NeaB2KCHBD7F5jQkIBmzupX6Op1F6lA_wEusW7TYvC_3q936SqX7NhrcYRr2UVRsIYCVYqPxWwxXApBE9rJ"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgwNwSVOQiuuNZGJANbik-l8v_NK_2CgO4eo-ydEcr365JbhQ2JPIYngEgIo_ToPheJhQJxqv5QPixlPTfyMd5gzTJK53moimgZofw3NeaB2KCHBD7F5jQkIBmzupX6Op1F6lA_wEusW7TYvC_3q936SqX7NhrcYRr2UVRsIYCVYqPxWwxXApBE9rJ=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7341788849475580658" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWZN8sh30TTVew14T3PJgJ4JTuxd4BSTDl5uQwhGTbikYWNAlt4aNTowXfh9Wk0QyTtmX-LrArbjqZCNzKwlflSDhvMbXmdRxxMAslNSwmqHYtJwEKibhXEfqy4yI90zqLNu4cerwEIavkgEdpW8tCF3kAi7SGsQZl5VOttZMOWArRS9uJvgr2bwNo"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWZN8sh30TTVew14T3PJgJ4JTuxd4BSTDl5uQwhGTbikYWNAlt4aNTowXfh9Wk0QyTtmX-LrArbjqZCNzKwlflSDhvMbXmdRxxMAslNSwmqHYtJwEKibhXEfqy4yI90zqLNu4cerwEIavkgEdpW8tCF3kAi7SGsQZl5VOttZMOWArRS9uJvgr2bwNo=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7341788871296040930" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><br>Yesterday we decided to test out legs out after 6 weeks living on board and signed up for a guided walk around the summit of Sierra Negra, one of 4 active volcanic on Isabela.<div>Galapagos is a very young part of the world, the islands sit close to the edge of tectonic plates which are moving apart. The islands themselves are heading towards south America at about 6cm each year. Eventually they will all disappear beneath Equador. (But not in our life time). Isabela is currently sitting above a volcanic hot spot, the other islands having drifted over it a few million years ago and as such is still getting bigger, there have been 5 significant eruptions in the last 50 years. Our geologist guide was quick to point out that they were friendly eruptions, as the tectonic plates are moving apart it means little and often in the volcanic world. If they were in compression it means not often but watch out when it happens. </div><div><br><div>We took a taxi to the end of the road up the volcano, at about 1000m altitude and then set to climb the last 200m or so and walk round some of the crater rim. We would not be waking it all as the crater is some 10km across and the path all around over 40 km. </div><div><br></div><div>We walked upwards enjoying the cool of a 6.30 am start and the altitude, it was probably only 25 degrees and felt blissful. Once reaching the edge of the caldarer we finally grasped just how big it was. The crater stretched off into the distance, the far rim visible but indistinct in the early morning mist. The floor of the crater a couple of 100m below made up of black lava and looking like you imagen the surface of the moon. The crater is so big that the last eruption only took place in part of it so we were able to compare 50 year old lava with that some hundreds of years old which incredibly already has a light green tint of vegetation, amazing that anything can grow there.</div><div><br></div><div>We walked on around the rim towards the site of the most recent eruptions, only a vent on the side of the cone but as recent as 2018.</div><div><br></div><div>As we descended into the lava field our guide described lava tsunami, lava waves and gushing fountains of magma, i was struggling to visualise some of his descriptions but understood the lava tunnels. What was obvious was his absolute delight in his subject. We walked along over the Martian landscape at one point we were encouraged to put our hands into a small hole which felt like reaching into an oven.</div><div>An interesting way they have of dating the lava is using the candelabra cactus 🌵, it is the first plant to collinise a new lava field and then grows at 3mm per year, with or without water, so a 1m cactus is 300 years old, some of the bigger ones are 8m tall so getting on for 2500 years old.</div><div><br></div><div>Its hard to describe how raw the landscape is, crunching lava underfoot, sulphurous smells , gaping pits lined with strange coloured deposits and on closer inspection the jewel like colours in the lava gravel, the colour depending on the mineral deposits within. The most amazing thing was we were walking over land less than 10 years old, the newest part of the world. Jules Vern's journey to the centre of the earth could have been written here.</div><div><br></div><div>We retraced our steps wondering just how the birds and lizards we saw could survive, the birds can fly away but the lava lizards just must be tough.</div><div>We made it back to our starting point happy our legs still had 16km in them just in time for a delicious lunch at a farm come campsite on our way back down the mountain. Back to the anchorage for a swim and a cold beer watching the sunset.</div><div><br>Tim</div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-74652670315236652242024-03-01T20:06:00.001+00:002024-03-15T02:13:33.632+00:00Another great day in the water<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF6uaZo-_UZqI0y6Vp7vp0o-FJddr0Dd77qyjrl9roqs5AGFDWaKdgDOBs2UzEFbgwnZ6r5eBoAYU_TyimYa70rUoppfVQhMgkEkZmwMxSR9AccN8S66rucuPrTtDyXUnwSF0lxgFTwRwre-uGsKI28K1Z_wozvaJ7IUL8GxHvSO_35qLQTxcGADs0"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7341488940773638914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF6uaZo-_UZqI0y6Vp7vp0o-FJddr0Dd77qyjrl9roqs5AGFDWaKdgDOBs2UzEFbgwnZ6r5eBoAYU_TyimYa70rUoppfVQhMgkEkZmwMxSR9AccN8S66rucuPrTtDyXUnwSF0lxgFTwRwre-uGsKI28K1Z_wozvaJ7IUL8GxHvSO_35qLQTxcGADs0=s320" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOukEG6nQqsM2IdUL12kMU4VJoySLFJlPUh-Qweu6BNbKElCNi6BDHoEAswghDNILDg6Y-ASrlskvV35L6C_c8ZTvNXG9elxeevlSUi9--1XG7FtQKoiqesMEIGnidc8Lq8AfNiukGspNas3PGmI8H14zvjBMB_5t_hYaIWpXye_xOrcna_U2daeK7"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7341488963546586210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOukEG6nQqsM2IdUL12kMU4VJoySLFJlPUh-Qweu6BNbKElCNi6BDHoEAswghDNILDg6Y-ASrlskvV35L6C_c8ZTvNXG9elxeevlSUi9--1XG7FtQKoiqesMEIGnidc8Lq8AfNiukGspNas3PGmI8H14zvjBMB_5t_hYaIWpXye_xOrcna_U2daeK7=s320" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA9fu1mp8YdKIBtviLF9teG5Ov-q9CRIszJTYKFKf3zz3_eD8QcYGW7Ul9fGQVRZe5webgfqlt1MxZElbkZCaNDaLExXP96pKVyhnQxIqcuE8cW7ikdZzO7vVljCRhJh230ewXfsXCj_kE0uw8WuFvKKOgt1kQ7uIA0tDOPAJGICaHvVjkUXCibZok"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7341488979610160690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA9fu1mp8YdKIBtviLF9teG5Ov-q9CRIszJTYKFKf3zz3_eD8QcYGW7Ul9fGQVRZe5webgfqlt1MxZElbkZCaNDaLExXP96pKVyhnQxIqcuE8cW7ikdZzO7vVljCRhJh230ewXfsXCj_kE0uw8WuFvKKOgt1kQ7uIA0tDOPAJGICaHvVjkUXCibZok=s320" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" /></a></p><br />Wednesday was an away day, we had booked a snorkeling tour called "los tuneles", we were to be taken by boat about 45 minutes up the coast to an area sheltered by a reef and formed by lava flows into shallow bolder strune bays. We would have a short walk to see the flooded tunnels and some snorkeling. The lure here was that this is one of the few areas in Galapagos to find sea horses, and probably turtles and sharks as well.<div><br /><div dir="auto">Off we went, wizzing along at 25 knots enjoying the ride, the skipper suddenly stopped the boat and got very excited, causing past going the other way was a huge hammerhead shark 🦈 then another, it turned out to be several sharks hunting a shoal of red snapper. From the excitement of the skipper not a usual sighting. So we were off to a good start.</div><div dir="auto">Soon we were making our way carefully through the reef towards our spot when the skipper suddenly turned the boat and whizzed off back out to sea, our Eagle eyed skipper had done it again.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">This time several huge manta rays moving fast, the reason they were moving fast was the mother Orca teaching her youngsters to hunt. Again very unusual and a wonderful thing to watch, orca and mantas in the same view. All this before the trip had realy started, those sea horses had some work to do if they were to impress now.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">We anchored in the lagoon and jumped in, our guide soon found us a sea horse, about 4 inches long they were so camouflaged amongst the weed they were difficult to find. After getting my eye in i did manage to find one for my self but I can understand why they are so illusive. We moved on into the lagoon, rounding one large bolder we came across several more, these were moving however and were infact green turtles, huge turtles, moving slowly round the lagoon grazing on the weeds growing on the sea bed. They were quite oblivious to us and carried on with their lives as we watched. Next on the list was an underwater cave, as we poked our heads in and our eyes adjusted to the gloom we saw several white tipped reef sharks dozing in the cool shade, it seems daft to poke your head into a cave full of sharks but again they showed no sign of even acknowledging our presence. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">After an amazing hour we headed back to the boat and a short ride to where we were going to walk round the lava tunnels. Again the boat stopped and we were back into the water in a rush to see a huge gathering of golden rays, they move together across the sea bed like magic carpets, each tessolating with its neighbours. This was another wonderful surprise which we were lucky to see. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">By now we were a bit shell shocked with all the extrodenary creatures we had seen, snorkeling and then walking around the lava tunnels was spectacular but probably not appreciated enough. Back to the boat only to be handed a cold beer to enjoy during the trip home was an excellent way to end the day. </div><div dir="auto">Galapagos just keeps on giving!.</div><div dir="auto"><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /></div><div dir="auto">Tim</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-90283466180552505442024-02-29T04:05:00.001+00:002024-02-29T04:13:15.331+00:00Another amazing day<br><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/917767973?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&badge=0" width="500" height="281" id="v_id_4604_91b3_84af_6e52" frameborder="0"></iframe> <div><br></div><div>A squadron of golden rays, orca hunting giant manta rays, a 4.5m hammerhead sharks, scores of turtles, seahorses, lava tubes. We saw everything!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_2db_1992_b1a8_ec1b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1XfFh21-mUwWkK8DP7y9818A_XMpBzAPz" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3797_5759_f7c3_23df" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1c4AVMLqUsA9rWLJiOIPbu7OEBQ0H1LRF" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3597_6337_1be8_6f08" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1zAcqQCBPV2Zb6MgzzlwGZXUO7hzVAFg1" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5866_4221_13b5_fa70" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1xyqtBzPOfXv3fy82VmqtlrT1j9G4Sih1" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4e67_ceb6_b325_d95b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1pFaWgKX1FtqYjssHF24W5JQAaGB-agaF" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6b0c_6641_1b4a_decd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1WQm-yfM7gEW8HeqtYqY7xRr6DSGv1a1i" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_725b_32_789e_461" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1Hpp48h-5xs-i4Zeu8GrrtT26RAwyvd1d" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_10cb_5fa2_3573_67fd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1XwgEYn3LAeD3lW9XJnUaIAaxSypzuhoB" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_27b6_f349_f7c_344c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/15_AVuLLHupbhhYMo_-JF50pzuUTyQLBT" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1a57_c897_5b10_cd1f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/140w12jpc0ldjlIq6vPVx6vQPl-xcPOB8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_42aa_66ec_f20f_e58d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1H7QdN5jrApC73tnfitzjjhiPlJgWvOXP" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><br></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-7726640674024126192024-02-28T02:28:00.001+00:002024-03-02T23:15:11.317+00:00The local beach<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5mK4-Qm_znoF3KLiCY7US6505YyRsvFaqxJpclvd39V_w2PjSB3YgBQDjwQptP1w55VxJIFOFVOX3QKOGoirFMLmttYsmnj6bGQHEM1iBWek2Uxip-55li51X8v-Vstk01Io7G46qSF_WAMRuWJ--1Pir8K9uYOl0nqwV9BK69dnwuJmLLZa6AE-c"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5mK4-Qm_znoF3KLiCY7US6505YyRsvFaqxJpclvd39V_w2PjSB3YgBQDjwQptP1w55VxJIFOFVOX3QKOGoirFMLmttYsmnj6bGQHEM1iBWek2Uxip-55li51X8v-Vstk01Io7G46qSF_WAMRuWJ--1Pir8K9uYOl0nqwV9BK69dnwuJmLLZa6AE-c=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7340474142831295458" style="width: 320px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSXK0pYeC7h7RByNPo0o3Hm8nH7mYDikN39ULtVHXqnCK5bzIpEf4DeD0VcOaECulpV0ckFykkzDZh453ORS9limB6JJNL4kooSg8QLiaty29maBRTPsKguqLdHA4qeBzWLCRvDLWNObjKfvfzN-qTQzkRa94ujC6ynB7S6-Uo-fxkxxUjmqkZLfpw"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSXK0pYeC7h7RByNPo0o3Hm8nH7mYDikN39ULtVHXqnCK5bzIpEf4DeD0VcOaECulpV0ckFykkzDZh453ORS9limB6JJNL4kooSg8QLiaty29maBRTPsKguqLdHA4qeBzWLCRvDLWNObjKfvfzN-qTQzkRa94ujC6ynB7S6-Uo-fxkxxUjmqkZLfpw=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7340474158647709170" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFS9spLN7mrFnl5nKqEBhk0MNECjJwEFGtuKpsm5MgBFNPSMttHFcNcZbx0rhduupSdE4IiVEMVDUaRdxWMSnVrO2KCK7PqASo3Pv2yWN-wNtu19qrAGbsHz24CxzsNtm58IaDH_kRILoq4s73j9BJgEpLObVqpr91HWiWbsGujk7lsXb2UgY1Yjaz"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFS9spLN7mrFnl5nKqEBhk0MNECjJwEFGtuKpsm5MgBFNPSMttHFcNcZbx0rhduupSdE4IiVEMVDUaRdxWMSnVrO2KCK7PqASo3Pv2yWN-wNtu19qrAGbsHz24CxzsNtm58IaDH_kRILoq4s73j9BJgEpLObVqpr91HWiWbsGujk7lsXb2UgY1Yjaz=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7340474180066487858" style="width: 240px; height: auto;"></a></p><div dir="auto">We have spent the last couple of days just exploring within walking distance of the landing jetty close to where we are anchored. This afternoon just before coming back to the boat we decided to cool down with a swim of the beach just 150 m from the boat and right next to the jetty. We waded in and within minuits had been visited by a young sea lion, we didn't see him at first as he was gently swimming along behind us just watching what we were doing. As soon as we turned around he was off, whizzing around showing us what he could do. As we swam along he or a friend would shoot past or under us and then disappear into the murkey water. </div><div dir="auto"><br><div dir="auto">We swam on and found ourselves surrounded by a shole of tiny fish then pandemonium broke out, pelicans and turnes rained down around us and penguins appeared from no where flying along under water. We were mid feeding frenzy. As quick as it started it was over, just the penguins left mopping up the straglers. They kept us company for another 10 minutes and then they too were gone. Our sea lion friend showed up a few times more and we think a turtle swam by but the water was a bit churned up. Add swimming iguanas and it makes for a rather good cool down swim.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Tim</div></div> Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-44673956088326116232024-02-27T04:17:00.001+00:002024-02-27T04:17:00.732+00:00Another OCC 70th Anniversary Celebration<img id="id_710f_579a_66eb_60f2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1oqEsTIFCWjWqiMS3JEcOyXxKWokvwHNg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100843746178886953.post-67519936946224398582024-02-26T02:56:00.001+00:002024-02-27T04:15:45.532+00:00Just a local snorkeling tripTodays excursion was to be a short snorkeling tour around the seaward side of the bay we and many other boats, both cruising and local are anchored in. No big deal, but it will be fun. <div><br><div>Well, how wrong I was. Before we had got more than 50 m from the dock our guide, you can't do anything here without a guide, had pointed out blue footed boobies, penguin, and juvenile shark. We can't forget the sea lion and pelicans which are everywhere. Within 10 minuits, just cruising slowly across the harbour we added turtles and 2 sorts of ray to the total. Overhead wheeled frigate birds, turns and other birds i can't remember. </div><div><br>We then took a short walk across a small island, this baren pile of volcanic rock , a mere baby in geological terms, had only been around for a couple of 100,000 years. There was no soil, no useful nutrients but mangrove had already colonised its shores and it is now the home to bird colonies and the nesting ground to marine iguanas. Nest is perhaps a bit generous, more a hole scraped in the gravel to dump your eggs in and cover them up before running away back to the sea. Parenting does not translate into iguana. They have no need for the word.</div><div><br></div><div>Any way, back to the boat and into the water, we immediately discovered a huge turtle swimming along, no concern for the 10 ungainly humans gorping at it , several more turtles, Eagle rays, golden rays, sting rays scorpion fish, parrot fish, iguanas and much more. </div><div>After 1/2 an hour we swam, single file, along a narrow crevice in the black volcanic rock, looking down just a few feet below us there was suddenly a white tipped reef sharks, then 2 and then lots, all dozing in the cool shade on the bottom. These sharks are not aggressive but I guess most of us were playing the jaws theme tune in the back of our heads, that or baby shark..... these weren't babies though, they were up to 5 feet long. Then to finish it off a couple of playful sea lions spead back and forth amongst up, playing in our bubbles and nipping at shark tails as they passed, so perfectly adapted to their environment that fishing only takes a while leaving time to play and sleep.</div><div>That was it, 3 hours gone without going more than 1/2 mile from our anchor. I am beginning to understand how amazing these islands are, how diverse and unique their wildlife is and how fragile it all is. Definatly worth committing to save.</div><div><br></div><div>Any way, as I started, it was just a local snorkeling trip.</div><div><br></div><div>My photos don't do today justice, Simon has posted many excellent shots here on the blog so just wonder at those. Heather has also put some videos on Utube. </div><div><br></div><div><a id="linkextractor__1708916167809" data-yahoo-extracted-link="true" href="https://youtube.com/@HeatherBoneadventures">https://youtube.com/@HeatherBoneadventures</a></div><div><br><div id="ymail_android_signature"><a id="ymail_android_signature_link" href="https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_Internal_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=Global_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100000604&af_sub5=EmailSignature__Static_">Sent from Yahoo Mail </a>by magic </div></div></div>Simon Currinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01682509165477534847noreply@blogger.com