Day 25 - Espinoza Point and Punta Vicente Roca

Today after a good night’s sleep, we started early with a tour of the northern part of Fernandina Island, Espinoza Point.  It was a dry landing onto lava flows.  We saw lots of black iguanas, most of which hadn’t read the rule book and kept walking past us within the 2 metres we are supposed to leave between us and the wildlife.  Then it was on to see lots of Galapagos sea lions.  The young ones were basking in the sun or learning to play and swim in the pools amongst the lava flows.  As we walked further, we saw turtles pulled out onto a beach, plus a smaller reddish one of a different species.


After moving to Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island, Glynis had a go at snorkelling for the first time, having not felt up to it previously.  She gave up quite quickly with a fin that wouldn’t stay in place, but her compensation was to be allowed to drive one of the RIBs.  She got in for a swim later in amongst masses of turtles, at least one of whom bumped into her.
Later we all went for a panga (RIB) ride along the bay to see more sea lions on a rock outcrop and to look at the rock formations and the birds perched on the rocks.  One was our second of the 3 types of Galapagos booby.

Once we set off again, it was incredibly rough, but apparently that was to get us to our Equator crossing just before sunset, with hot cocktail to toast the occasion.  Once we had crept across the Equator, it was much less uncomfortable.

During the course of the day, Andrew, who is a UK doctor shortly to leave for Australia, was called to a broken toe, bashed ribs and a fall on the stairs, fortunately not us!



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