Galapagos Day #4

Today we were on the front deck of the ship at 6:30 – the boat was traveling to the furthest western part of the Galapagos. There are all kinds of currents going on, which cause the water to be colder, have more nutrients, and therefore different animals – sometimes whales and dolphins. So we were watching for them!! Also, we would be crossing the equator, and the ship’s crew told us there would be a special ceremony. I was a little apprehensive, as Alice told me when her Semester at Sea ship crossed the equator, the tradition was to shave your head or be doused with fish guts. Hmmmmmm
Fortunately, neither of those two things happened. They keep pirate costumes on board for the kids to wear, and they were the equatorial pirates, with the crew joining in.
We went on the zodiacs to the edge of a “shield volcano.” Along the way were TONS of sea turtles. The most we’ve seen from the boat. Also, all kinds of birds, perched along the sea wall/cliff.
Brett went on the snorkel here – there is a remote possibility of spotting sea horses, and they’re deep, so I wasn’t on that trip. Brett looked, but didn’t see them. The water was supposed to be quite cold, but he said it wasn’t. I, of course, didn’t believe him, but they measured the temperature at 66, and that’s about what it’s been all along the way.
We ended up on the island of Fernandina – the youngest island – for an incredible walk around the marine iguanas and sea lions. There were hundreds of the iguanas every time we turned around. Incredible. I sat down to get sand out of my shoe, and almost sate on one. They’re SO well camouflaged, even though after the hatchling stage they have very few predators.
We were watching mother sea lions with their babies that were in the one-week-old range. The big male, father of all the babies in this location, was barking away full blast in the little cove. All of a sudden a second male apparently tried to land. Or, he did land, and the father, or dominant male SHOT out of the water like a torpedo. Which meant that the invader male also shot like a torpedo. RIGHT BETWEEN OUR LITTLE HIKING GROUP! ! ! Two three-hundred pound plus sea lions, 20 mph, 8 feet away!! Even the fancy photographers didn’t get photos of the actual event, but the one I took seconds after is pretty good. Watch for it next week!!!
I can’t think of another place in the world where you could have these kinds of experiences! ! !
Adios!!!!