An early morning panga ride to Isabella Island gave us an opportunity to hike on a fairly easy loop. We encountered giant tortoises and orange-coloured land iguanas. Both were completely unperturbed to see us. Harry estimated one large tortoise to be about 150 years old. He was hatched before Confederation !!
We snorkled from the beach, but one again, the visibility in the water was poor. I was followed by a sea lion, but I got a better view of him on the surface.
In the afternoon, we panga-ed along a rocky desolate dliff. The scene was arid and brown. Marine iguanas, sea lions, pelicans, cormorants and boobies watched us with complete detachment as we bobbed in the water. One boobie, perched on a ledge about 40 feet above, aimed a huge broadside of guano that didn't miss our panga by much. Harry commented that to be shat upon by a bird means good luck. If that is true, the amount of bird crap that could have hit us would have ensured each of us with "buena suerte" for at least 50 years.
We landed and began a dusty climb to a crater lake formed in the caldera of an extinct volcano. At least we think it is extinct! Whatever its status, it was an impressive sight. On our way back down to the panga, we saw graffiti from ships who had put in here more than a hundred years ago. Perhaps these sailors had seen our tortoise when it was a mere child. We were greeted by a solitary sea lion enjoying some peace and quiet. Harry said he was probably exhausted fighting off other males or tending his harem of demanding females. Whatever the case, he needed rest and we gave him a wide berth and let him rest. He undoubtedly had some hard work ahead of him.Thanks to King Neptune, we crossed the equator in peace and have an early final day tomorrow.
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