This afternoon we indulged in snorkelling during beach time, the alternative being to stay on the boat. Never having snorkelled before it took a bit of getting used to. I wouldn't say that we mastered it, so we're a long way from being the next Hans and Lotte Haas, but we got by, and there were some really nice fishes to see, plus the usual sea-lions on the beach.
The trail started after the swimming, which meant walking with sand in the shoes, unless you wiped your feet really dry which Andrew never does!
The trail followed a rocky route, but the going was slow because of the things to see. The sea-lions were plentiful and always look cute, especially with so many pups about the place. At one point a bull sea-lion got agitated at the attentions other bulls were giving to his lady friend, so he soon saw them off.
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Marine iguanas lie around and get in the way with their aggressive shaking of heads and spitting. Also mingling with these and sometime climbing rocks solo were lava lizards and Sally Lightfoot Crabs.
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Along the way a blue heron was fishing while pelicans looked on and lava herons wandered about, too. To make the full set up, a yellow-crowned night heron was tucked away in a rock.
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The trail continued with plenty of pelicans and the ever popular blue-footed booby hanging out together, until we reached a "fur seal grotto" - an area where fur seals are often seen. Also at the turning point a small cave in the rock has waves continually washing into it and creating a noise like a flush - nicknamed Darwin's Toilet.
The way back was along the old road and, as was to be the trend for the rest of the week, we took it easy to see as much as possible with least people. Cactus plants are distributed about the area as we walk back.
A prickly pair
Extra treat on the way back was a nice setting sun, a hermit crab and two sightings of Galapagos Doves.
Galapagos Doves
We picked up our snorkel gear, boarded the panga and made our way back to the boat and dinner, preceded as it always was with a briefing for the next day. Tomorrow is an Island on the other side of Isabela called Fernandina. This was one of the Islands we were keen to go to.
