Author: Larry Hemmerich

 Thursday, Oct 20.. Yesterday was a rest day, or I thought it was.  We are staying in the Hotel Quito in between the Galapagos and the San Jorge reserve trips. Unknown to us the UN is having its Habitat III gathering here in Quito, so lots of security.  This hotel is having the closing cocktail…

Tuesday, Oct 18 Ponga ride at 06:00  to the black turtle Lagoon to see all kinds of stuff, Blue footed Boobies, Lava Herons and turtles.  The tide was going out and the white tipped sharks were leaving the mangroves in mass. Back at the boat at 07:30 for breakfast and then loaded into the ponga…

Monday, Oct 17 When we awoke and looked out…. Up at 5:30 again..breakfast at 6:00 and on to the pangas at 6:30 for a morning ride along the volcanic formations to see the penguins. These are the northern most penguins, small but with the white tux on.. The Island’s Pinnacle Rock is an icon of…

Sunday, Oct 16 Last nights cruise from Esponola was very, very rock and roll.  So much so, that we tried to hold on to each other in one bed…that did not work to well either. Breakfast at 06:00 and on the ponga at 06:30 for the Green beach. I think it should be gold beach as…

Saturday, Oct 15The only nesting area of the endemic Waved Albatross! Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies nest along the trails. Warbler finches and Large Cactus Finches flit among Sea lions and Marine Iguanas. The morning started slower today, breakfast at 6:30 and boarding the ponga’s at 07:00 for A few hours on this big beach.  We…

Sometime around 1 am the engines woke me and we were getting underway.  Lots of rolling it seemed.  This morning we awoke with the boat drifting in front of these big rocks.  Kicker Rock..( Leon Dormido ).  This was a snorkeling stop for those who wanted to snorkel thru the big split. The boat made several…

Thursday, Oct 13 We awoke anchored in a cut between two islands close to  South Plaza Island, our first venture for the day..Yes..breakfast at 06:00 and on our way at 06:30 Landing was at some steps onto this small island covered with white rocks…you can guess what the white is..we were greeted by a bunch…

  Wednesday, Oct 12 After motoring most of the night we’d arrived at  Genovesa  small island way North known as the Bird island.  Up at 05:30 breakfast at 06:00 and on our way to the island at 06:30.. it was a wet landing so that means our feet will get wet at least.   I…

Tuesday , Oct 11 Up at 03:30 so we can catch the bus to the airport at 04:30. Lots of paperwork I guess but Kevin, our photo leader, had it all arranged.   After the customs  and paperwork cha-cha we had about 40 minutes to wait until boarding   As we landed in the Galapolas…

We arrived late last night ,or should I say thus morning…about 12:30am..right to bed. Today we took a city tour of Old Quito…really something… Quito is at about 7500 ft and in a long valley with nothing but windy roads.  Most of shops were closed, it’s Sunday, but still interesting.  The Churches are beyond belief…

          Eleven years ago this month hurricane Wilma ripped thru FL and and KnottyDog I was there.  Here is that story. http://test.knottydog.com/kd2005/WILMA.htm Today, October 7 were are seeing another Hurricane turn up the East coast just as we are heading for the Galapagos. Got an email from the leader hoping those…