Day 78 - Galapagos - Equatorial Crossing

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Photo Album: Crossing the Equator at West Isabella

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Rough sea sleeping and the 3D seesaw didn't seem to affect the quality of the sleep anymore, and it was extreme calmness when I walked onto the deck after waking up, almost eerie!

Inside this quiet little cove, there are "graffiti" all around on the cliff faces, most with dates.  Some went back as far as 80 years ago, the 1930s.  Juan told us that some higher up ones, are over 100 years old.  These are left over from bucanneers and whaling ships, years before the Galapagos became a National Park.

We were nestling in Targus Cove, on the central western coast of Isbella Island, for our breakfast.  Across a narrow stretch of water, there lies Fernandina Island.

After breakfast, we collected our snorkelling gears, got onto our zodiac, crossed the water and went onshore at Puenta Espinoza of Fernandina. 

Again Juan led the charge ahead in his bare feet, pointing out various wild lives and explaining their position in the ecological jigsaw, as we walked, and navigated through lava tubes and fissures that was formed thousands of years ago...

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We then went snorkeling on the southern side of Puenta Espinoza, where there is a natural line of reefs acting as a tide breaker.....plenty of colourful fishes were seen, and again, more sea turtles and swimming iguanas.

After getting back on board, the anchor was lifted, and we motored north as we refilled the empty stomach with a nicely prepared lunch....

After a couple of hours, we reached a big rock with what seems to be a big water cave underneath, besides a cliff on the coast of Isabella Island....the Vicente Roca.

As soon as we anchored, we could already see a few turtles surfacing for a quick flap and peep...it augured well for the afternoon, despite the gathering clouds above....soon we were off in our snorkeling gears.......and there were full of treasures ready to be discovered, both inside and outside the large sea cave.

We swam along side the steep cliff walls into the darkness of the cave, which added a degree of eeriness !!

After we returned on the boat, we then went for a safari to check out the local birds and marine lives.  I was quite surprise to see Penguins so near the Equator, but here they are....

Blue Foot Booby nested on the cliff faces of Vicente Roca

Penguins near the Equator

and of course, marine iguanas

As we drew our boat towards the north of Vicente Rock, the cloudy sky was awlful, and it was decidedly cold.

But the best part of the day was to happen 30 minutes later, the sun came out to greet us crossing the Equator into the Northern Hemisphere for the 2nd time in this journey.

The Equator Marker on Isabella Island

The ensuing sunset was most glorious as the sun moved over to Australia......it's time for some home sickness.

Next Post:  Galapagos - From high sea to World Cup

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