Santa Cruz Island
Extraordinarily, we spent the whole day on the island of Santa Cruz. We went for a succulent breakfast in the highlands to our usual place, and before we even paused for breakfast we already have seen two dozen large specimens of giant tortoises.
The vista up in the highlands showed perfect conditions. It wasn’t terribly hot, for it was overcast and a faint garua (misty rain) accompanied us for the whole expedition. As if the giant reptiles were a common sighting, we had the fortuity of seeing rare and aberrant finches such as the Vegetarian and the Woodpecker finches.
The vegetation is currently greening with the incoming water and the landscape is turning very lush. Later in the morning we experienced the awe of descending into the total darkness of a lava tube, but instead of scaring them out, our intrepid guests from the California Academy of Science enjoyed this almost religious experience.
The morning was then gone and we made a return to the Islander. A well deserved lunch was all but a motivation to regain energy (and the necessary calories) for the afternoon activity.
The ocean was somewhat rough, and the excitement of the disembarkation, made us all very alert. After an encounter with salt spray, “Lonesome George” will be waiting at the Charles Darwin Research Station to allow us to take some pictures.
Our tour along the Rearing Center is very encouraging and our guests are certainly motivated to keep supporting all the efforts to help these noble reptiles escape their place on the endangered species list. Thanks to you all for your vital and support!
Extraordinarily, we spent the whole day on the island of Santa Cruz. We went for a succulent breakfast in the highlands to our usual place, and before we even paused for breakfast we already have seen two dozen large specimens of giant tortoises.
The vista up in the highlands showed perfect conditions. It wasn’t terribly hot, for it was overcast and a faint garua (misty rain) accompanied us for the whole expedition. As if the giant reptiles were a common sighting, we had the fortuity of seeing rare and aberrant finches such as the Vegetarian and the Woodpecker finches.
The vegetation is currently greening with the incoming water and the landscape is turning very lush. Later in the morning we experienced the awe of descending into the total darkness of a lava tube, but instead of scaring them out, our intrepid guests from the California Academy of Science enjoyed this almost religious experience.
The morning was then gone and we made a return to the Islander. A well deserved lunch was all but a motivation to regain energy (and the necessary calories) for the afternoon activity.
The ocean was somewhat rough, and the excitement of the disembarkation, made us all very alert. After an encounter with salt spray, “Lonesome George” will be waiting at the Charles Darwin Research Station to allow us to take some pictures.
Our tour along the Rearing Center is very encouraging and our guests are certainly motivated to keep supporting all the efforts to help these noble reptiles escape their place on the endangered species list. Thanks to you all for your vital and support!
