Monday 26 April 2010
#21h Departure Isabela
We have cleared out of Isabela and will be starting the ¨puddlejump¨ to the Marquesas probably Thursday. We´ll do our best to update ¨our position¨ daily once we are underway. The passage will take about 25 days!
#21g Port Villimil, Isabela
We arrived at Puerto Villimil in the Galapagos late Friday afternoon after an easy sail from Santa Cruz. Our friends on Innforapenny & Aurora B were in the anchorage. 
There are also lots of sea lions and penguins. 
Innforapenny had arranged a trip to the volcano Sierra Negra for the following morning. The trip included a 12m (20km) hike along the cauldon´s ridge and a horse ride.
Next morning we left the boat at 0715 and made our way to the town. The streets are made out of sand. The population is about 2000. We met the tour operator who took us to a hotel where we were directed to make our own sandwiches for lunch. Then it was to the small bus with some other people joining us for the tour. The bus trip took about 45mins and the changes in scenery as we made our way were amazing.
There were arid lava fields, then a transition zone of holly trees which were a mile or two later all covered with thick vines. Then we came to the humid zone with trees and tropical rain forest style. We arrived at the park base and set off upwards towards the ridge of the cauldron. It was quite steep and when we arrived on the ridge the cauldron was covered in cloud. Within 10 minutes of our arrival the cloud drifted away. We continued our hike along the ridge.
About 1030 we were due to meet horses and ride the next 3 miles. The horses hadn´t arrived so we hiked the next 3 miles and then down the northern ridge to see the lava flows and boccas from the last eruptions of 5 and 35 years ago. Then it was time for lunch. It would have been good to have a hellicopter arrive at this point to take us back!
After lunch there was a 20 minute climb to get back to the ridge. The horses had arrived so we mounted up and enjoyed the 3 mile ride. Then it was time to dismount and walk back around the ridge and then on down to the car park. By this time our legs were like lead weights as cloud rolled in. We enjoyed the bus trip back to Villimil and a few well earned beers. We´d had a great day.
There are also lots of sea lions and penguins. 
Innforapenny had arranged a trip to the volcano Sierra Negra for the following morning. The trip included a 12m (20km) hike along the cauldon´s ridge and a horse ride.Next morning we left the boat at 0715 and made our way to the town. The streets are made out of sand. The population is about 2000. We met the tour operator who took us to a hotel where we were directed to make our own sandwiches for lunch. Then it was to the small bus with some other people joining us for the tour. The bus trip took about 45mins and the changes in scenery as we made our way were amazing.
There were arid lava fields, then a transition zone of holly trees which were a mile or two later all covered with thick vines. Then we came to the humid zone with trees and tropical rain forest style. We arrived at the park base and set off upwards towards the ridge of the cauldron. It was quite steep and when we arrived on the ridge the cauldron was covered in cloud. Within 10 minutes of our arrival the cloud drifted away. We continued our hike along the ridge.
About 1030 we were due to meet horses and ride the next 3 miles. The horses hadn´t arrived so we hiked the next 3 miles and then down the northern ridge to see the lava flows and boccas from the last eruptions of 5 and 35 years ago. Then it was time for lunch. It would have been good to have a hellicopter arrive at this point to take us back!
After lunch there was a 20 minute climb to get back to the ridge. The horses had arrived so we mounted up and enjoyed the 3 mile ride. Then it was time to dismount and walk back around the ridge and then on down to the car park. By this time our legs were like lead weights as cloud rolled in. We enjoyed the bus trip back to Villimil and a few well earned beers. We´d had a great day.
Thursday 22 April 2010
#21f - Leaving Santa Cruz
Tomorrow (Friday) morning we'll be leaving Academy Bay for Puerto Villamil, Isla Islabela. We don't want to roll out of bed anymore in the Academy Bay anchorage! Internet access in Isla Isabela will be more difficult but we'll try to do another update before we start the 3000nm (5300km) passage to Fatu Hiva in the Marquesas.
#21e Academy Bay, Santa Cruz, Galapagos
We arrived at the rollie anchorage of Academy Bay, Santa Cruz on Wednesday 21st April. The 43nm passage from San Cristobal took us 7hrs. Forecast wind was SE10 -12 knots but found 20kn until we passed the island of Santa Fe, then the wind dropped to 10kn.
After a night onboard our "bucking bronco," (yes, the anchorage is much more uncomfortable than it looks in the photos), we walked to the Darwin Center to see giant tortoises and land iguanas.
Tuesday 20 April 2010
#21d Happy Birthday Jane!
Happy Birthday to my little (bright eyes) girl on 22nd April! Happy Birthday Jane. We hope you have a lovely day. Love dad & Nani xxxx. We'll be thinking of you.......
#21c - San Cristobal, more photos
We have finally got our cruising permit and clearance from San Cristobal. We'll leave tomorrow morning and head for Santa Cruz (about 43nm). Meanwhile we 
have included some more photos.
have included some more photos.
Monday 12 April 2010
#21b San Cristobal, Galapagos
We arrived in Wreck Bay San Cristobal to clear in to the Galapagos. Sea lions swam around us as we dropped anchor. We met our agent and completed the necessary paper work. 
Our friends on innforappeny were already in the anchorage and we arranged with them and Mintaka II to do an island tour on Sunday.
Our friends on innforappeny were already in the anchorage and we arranged with them and Mintaka II to do an island tour on Sunday. 
Sunday - we set off in a ute firstly to a beach where we saw marine iguanas and sea lions. The marine iguanas wee much larger than we had thought. After this we went to the volcano and walked around the rim. 
Then it was off to see the famous giant tortoises of the Galapagos. The a large late lunch was followed by walk to a scenic lookout etc. What a great day. 
#21a Galapagos - arrival
After leaving Panama we spent almost a week in Isla Taboga before sailing to the Las Perlas Islands. In Las Perlas we visiied Isla Contadora, Isla Pedro Gonzales and san Jose before setting off to the Galapagos. As we left Las Perlas a pod of spotted dolphins swam with us. A great start to our trip!
We arrived at San Cristobal in the Galapagos at midday 10th April. It took us just under 7 days to complete the 840nm trip from Panama. We are now back in the southern hemisphere.
The passage was good although we didn't care much for the thunder storms in the Doldrums. We had a particulary large storm dump right on top of us. It was like being under a waterfall!
We arrived at San Cristobal in the Galapagos at midday 10th April. It took us just under 7 days to complete the 840nm trip from Panama. We are now back in the southern hemisphere.
The passage was good although we didn't care much for the thunder storms in the Doldrums. We had a particulary large storm dump right on top of us. It was like being under a waterfall!
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