Academy Bay

9^th April

It would be easy to describe the remainder of our tour in a blow by blow detail but you readers would I am sure get bored so I will refrain.

Our time on the western side of Isabela was probably the highlight of the trip although one aspect of it got some members of the team rather upset.

I should explain that one of the greatest dangers to the indigenous wild life is the animals that have gone feral when being discarded by man.  Of these the most destructive are goats.  This is a particular problem on Isabela which is so big that any eradication program would be almost bound to fail and be very expensive into the bargain.  Locals are thus much encouraged to hunt and get as many goats as they can.  This is also popular as it supplements their food purchases.  Thus one afternoon as we motored along the coast the crew were watching the land with anticipation.  Goats were spotted and the panga,  along with three crew went ashore.  After much chasing over horrendous terrain a goat was cornered, tied up and brought back to the ship.  The crew returned to the chase but initially to no avail.  We arrived at the chosen visitor’s site, did our walk to see finches, land iguanas and a beach that was now inland and rose up in 1995 due to volcanic action.  On our return we passed floating goat innards and learnt that two others had been caught and duly despatched.  By now the vegetarian amongst us was in deep shock and at supper when we were served delicious goat stew I have to admit that one of my crew was unable to eat it.  The Waitrose stamp was not on the package!  The thing I could not help noticing and did find rather unhealthy was the blood lust that rose amongst the crew over the hunt.  The harsh side of the Spanish character was very much in evidence in these Ecuadorians and is not something that many Anglo Saxons find appealing.

The trip was a great success and will go down as one of the high points of our voyage.  The thing that we all found most rewarding and moving was the tameness of the animals.  It was not the fact that one was seeing iguanas, blue footed boobies, flightless cormorants, sea lions, fur seals et al but the fact that one was within inches of them and they were quite happy with the situation.  I strongly recommend a trip to these islands for those of you who can get here one way or another.  If we can be of any help re tours to do or any advice over the place then please feel free to ask.  We were lucky in the boat we chose and the fact that we had a week here beforehand to suss out the situation.

As I write our plan is to leave for the three thousand mile passage to the Marquesas Islands on Saturday morning after a trip ashore early to the fresh food market.  When we are at sea with a few miles behind us I will write again.  The weather fax is alas showing very weak or non existent trade winds so much patience, reading and in some cases learning the finer points of various computer programs may well be the order of the day.  By the time we get there I may be able to get rid of the wrinkles, tone up our bodies and otherwise send you cheating photos!

As always all the very best from

David, Annette and Christabel.