Updated photos coming soon - please comment!

I've had the benefit of Ashley's photographs for the last two or three posts. I'll be updating the posts for the rest of the trip as time permits.

Ashley's a much better photographer than I, and he has a better camera. I hope the improvement shows as I update the blog.

Please comment and post questions!

Friday (March 21) and Saturday (March 22) -- heading for home!

Today we said goodbye to our La Pinta home and its people, and arrived at dock in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island. The experience with Metropolitan Touring Company could not have been better.

We had to kill some time here before catching our plane back to Quito in the afternoon. We wandered around town a bit, dodged the warm rain, then made it through a very crowded and inefficient airport to our plane, which got us to Quito that evening, after a beautiful approach into and out of Guayaquil.

We got our flight back to the States at midnight, making it to Myrtle Beach and HOME without incident.

What a great trip!

At the dock -- where did our ship go?

Rainy town where we goofed off for several hours waiting for the bus to the airport

Mary not real happy with the waiting

Allen happy to be going home

Airport congestion

Our plane to the mainland

Thursday (March 20) -- Santa Fe Island and South Plaza Island -- Allen plays with the sea lions & we get close to Galapagos hawk!

Santa Fe Island

The day started early.

Sunrise at Santa Fe Island

I started checking in with the office -- not easy to do with spotty internet service

Getting my blood pressure up with office email

But before long we had arrived (via our pangas, of course) at a beautiful beach, surrounded by great wildlife prospects.-- this photo is from Ashley's hike later in the day. The seal beach is at the near end of the cove, near the green stretch of low trees and shrubs on the right. The great snorkeling is along the left-hand side of the cove, along the rock "wall" -- where I had my play date with the seals late in the day.

Beach and cove at Santa Fe Island

On the way in we cruised by the rock wall on the left, which hides a great snorkel spot and underwater playpen for the seals. Birds abound above the waterline, as do some seals.

Then we got to the beach, where I spotted this seal pup with guardians

Galapagos Hawk up close

My buddy. A few hours later this beach was wall to wall seals

From the beach we hiked up the high ground to a drier area, loaded with cactus trees, iguanas and birds.

Pale iguana -- unique to this island

Cactus grows in tall trees here

Taking a break on a rocky path

 

Returning to seal beach from hike

 Then we headed back to the beach for a special time with seals, which had come ashore while we were hiking

Seal siesta

Here come the pups!

Youngsters getting acquainted

From here we hopped back in pangas and went back to the mother ship fro lunch. After lunch we came back to this some cove, in groups. 

Embarking to pangas for the ride back to the cove

Carolyn and I went snorkeling along the "wall" mentioned above. I got separated from the rest of my group and stumbled upon an underwater cave that the seals used to play hide and seek in. I just floated above them and watched them surface and dive all around me. A real thrill.

Ashley's group went on a long hike beyond where we took our early morning hike, and got some great photos of wildlife and terrain --

Lava lizard on cactus "tree"

Cactus and La Pinta

Strange but beautiful terrain

Back at the La Pinta

After our long day of wildlife and wonder, we relaxed on the stern deck, then headed in for a staff goodbye and our final dinner.

Gang of four with champagne

Bartenders hard at work

Ashley and our three great naturalists -- Gabriel, Pablo and Kiki

And Jose, who was very nice to us all week until I wore the wrong team's jersey to a meal. Jose was superb.