How's Yer Willie? (Part 10) Exploring the Galapagos

Well we got here in the early hours of Sun 1st April after an 8 day sail. We did pretty well . All the others we have talked to motored for at least two days and took  about the same length of time. We still  have most of our diesel apart from the stuff we use to recharge the batteries and make fresh water. We were greeted on the way in by the most magnificent sunrise. It is true, red sky at morn, look out. It chucked it down later in the day.

This is what the street looked like later in the day.

Checking in in a place like this is pretty convoluted. You have to use an agent, be taken to immigration, register with the Port Captain, register to get fuel, have your boat inspected, have it fumigated etc etc. It is pretty much the same process to get out. That, plus fixing a few things on the boat, and getting some replacement provisions means that the days slip past pretty quickly. As I write this, we have been here seven days and are hoping to leave in the next few days.

The thing that impresses most about these islands is how much wildlife there is and how tame it all is. The port is literally littered with sea lions. You have to pick your way between them. There are millions of crabs on the rocks, giant tortoises, blue footed boobies and giant marine iguanas. I have included a few shots of them so you get the idea.

The iguanas are fearless and don’t move no matter how close you get. The sea lions threaten to bite you.

 

I managed a fishing trip for tuna and wahoo. I hooked and lost three very big tuna and finally managed to get the wahoo below into the boat. We also had a tuna later so we have lots of lovely fish to eat again.

Tomorrow I am going diving with turtles, sharks and sea lions. Wish me luck. More later…