Galapagos Tour

NORDLYS
David and Annette Ridout
Sat 5 Apr 2003 00:48
 M.V.Samba
 
At 1800hrs on the evening of the 2nd we were fetched from Nordlys and taken a hundred yards across the anchorage to the M.V. Samba.  After the usual slow introduction period  and cabin allotting twelve of us sat down to dinner.  Stuart and Annabelle off Troubadour, Paul a charming middle aged American who is crewing  friends who did the same tour the week before and who are also crossing the Pacific to NZ.  Cedric and Mary, a house master from Bloxham and his teacher wife, two girls, one English and one American who are passage
crewing a Swan 60 and finally an Equadorian gentleman and his four year old grandson.  A group where English predominates, 10 to 2 and where yachties out number everyone!  An enjoyable dinner followed with both good food and chatter.  Our guide gave us a full briefing.  An interesting man who obviously knows his stuff but does not understand the English sense of humour and abides by the rules to near military standards!  Messrs Ridout and Ingram are going to have to take themselves back into prep school mentalitly to survive!  At eleven pm Samba got underway  with most of us already in bed.

0700hrs next morning found us all having breakfast in a rolly anchorage on the island of Espanola.  An expedition to the beach was foiled by the
large swell/surf that was running.  A longish snorkelling swim followed and produced some fish sightings of interest.  I saw a Mexican Hog fish and also a  pair of Moorish Idols.  Juan the guide  mellowed and we were forgiven when we did not swim in perfect crocodile order!
 
Mother and suckling pup


Next we up anchored and after four miles found ourselves off a beach which had a good protected landing spot.  Donned in our life jackets we made it ashore with no loss of anyone.  A most spectacular walk followed.  Despite the midday heat and the rough terrain we were entranced.  Cameras were even hotter with use than their owners were due to the sun.  The teachers turned red, the yachties just perspired and the animals put up a grand show.  Sea lions by the hundreds, also iguanas which were so numerous one had to be careful not to tread on them.  A Galapagos hawk sat within feet of us. Mocking birds were almost underfoot and baby, adult and juvenile boobies sat within arm's reach.  All animals small and large showed no sign of fear at all.  We followed a strict trail which the animals could have easily avoided but chose not to.
Masked Booby 3 week old chick
 
After such exercise a late lunch and in some cases a siesta followed as the good ship Samba steamed off to Floreana island where we arrived in time for dinner.  A sing song followed as we were formally introduced to all the crew and the engineer's birthday was celebrated.  The crew proved to be expert at the maraquas, guitar and bongo drums.
 
4th April
Breakfast at 0700hrs, no slacking, was followed by a walk on Floreana to see various birds and particularly the pink Galapagos flamingoes.  Personally I could not tell the difference between those found on lake Navasha but I am sure a real expert would be disgusted at this remark.
This slightly non event walk was followed by quite the best snorkelling session we have ever had in our lives.  We snorkelled round the outside of the top of a volcano called 'The Devil's Crown'.  White tipped sharks,  a huge sting ray over a meter across, shoals of eagle rays plus hundreds of angel fish, moorish idols, parrot fish, hogfish and many other types that were a first for most of us.  The currents were fairly strong and the sea choppy so eventually tirdness of the limbs forced one back into the panga for the return to Samba.  Panga is the local word for tender or dinghy.  After lunch we were underway for the hundred mile run to Elizabeth Bay on the western side of Isabella.  We are doing this as I write.
 
Thus each of our days so far has included one quite unforgettable experience.  The walk on Espanola on the first and the snorkel today.
 
Our very best to you all from the three of us.