The warmly cool, clear, ringing, perfumed, overflowing, redundant days, were as crystal goblets of Persian sherbet, heaped up – flaked up, with rose-water snow. — Herman Melville
Allora at anchor in Wreck Bay, Puerto Baquierzo Moreno, San Cristobal, Galapagos
Some little penguins were swimming right here, but I didn’t get any pics
The sea lions hung out all around the dinghy dock – sometimes you had to walk RIGHT over them to get by
Sea Lion speak
(heart)
Pelican, San Cristobal, Galapagos
Plenty here to photograph
Whatever it takes
Iconic marine iguana
Wild waters
Egret, San Cristobal, Galapagos
My kind of taxi
Cool conversation en español
This always feels good
Around the corner from Allora’s anchorage
Whale bones on a short hike from Concha de Perla
Fascinating
Near Concha de Perla, a sweet snorkeling spot
Can’t get enough of the sea lions (even though their numbers are astounding)
phenomenal bird show
This is a dead crab. They seem to get stranded at high tide and they dry out intact
A reptilian ambassador
Ghosting along
A navigation lesson
Sibling teasing never ends
Maddi’s always happy to be underway
Wyatt’s getting equally comfortable on the uke and the guitar
On the way to Los Tuneles and Las Tintoreras, Isla Isabela, Galapagos
Blue Footed Booby on a nest
Natural arches
Los Tuneles, Isabela
Sea turtles and other marine life in these tunnels which were formed as lava flowed from Volcán Sierra Negra to the sea.
Blue Footed Booby, Los Tuneles, Isla Isabela, Galapagos
Hannah from s/v Makara came along on the hike
Sierra Negra Volcano hike
It’s often foggy in the mornings in this ecosystem
nature is wonderful
Moment of zen
Always such a surprise
The word ‘fumarole’ comes to mind, but I’m not sure that’s right?
CANDY to this mosaicist!
The mosaicist in me was going CRAZY!
Life finds its hold
There are seven active Galapagos volcanoes, and this one is one of the most active
Dreamy tesserae
The Sierra Negra is one of five volcanoes on Isabela Island and is considered the second largest volcanic caldera in the world (Yellowstone is the first).
Lava tubes
A kaleidoscope of color and texture
Taffy anyone?
We are all geologists at heart
perspective
This caldera was enormous and stunning
Agile creatures
Definitely marine iguanas
Surf or this? Hmmm …
Wasn’t a tough decision for Haley (having surfed before, she said, ‘Nope, did that!”
They each seem to have personalities
First time surfing for WS, MPS, MS and DS (2nd time for MS)
A natural
I’m not even sure if this is a thing, but it was far easier to carry this way
Joy
What a blast
Our inspiration
Not sure what this was about?!
Coulda been a ‘dude’
surfing antics
We had waaaayy too much fun!
Breathe NOW!
We got so pounded
We’re up, we’re down!
Oh yeah, I’m surfin’
Smooth
In total control
Best free fun
Earned that beer
Serene scene on the beach while we were pummeled in the water
Hale’s kind of sunset
Always drawn to the colorful wrecks
Basking in the tropical sun
Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, these little guys were around one year old
Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, Giant Tortoises, San Cristobal, Galapagos
I’m not sure what these were – Silk, Buck or Luna moths? Ideas?
These two (moths?) were cruising along this tree trunk side by side
Water break
A discussion over morning meal
Galapagos giant tortoises
Wow, crazy creatures
Our friends, Jennifer and Mark on their Nordhaven trawler, Starlet
Where is the tempo set?
on the avenues of new york london tokyo paris
or are they older than that
set by Luther’s hammer on the church door
the herd school flock shifts in rhythm to what secret signals
why does it matter if a man has something to do today
too much or too little
the sun is busy, the moon too with her secrets
and naked celebrations
water is always about to do something unexpected
the sky on a mission that does not tabulate human considerations
the stars are moving so fast they have time for little else
they don’t think for a moment about the implications of an infinite universe
belittling space and time and the business of anything or anyone, even stars
we move because life is motion
though even rocks are not still
there is no still point
no rest for the wicked
no rest
no rest
anticipation of the next wave or swirl of wind
is enough
until a stomach cramp, or the same anxious energy that brings a smile and satisfaction
sets a leg to tapping
mind worrying about something far away I cannot change
a fish and a hook
a plan and minor success to distract from the basic fact
that there are no ringing triumphs
or perfect endings
stubbed toes and broken knuckles and mosquito bites
that are more real than the scale of these mountainous islands
as out of touch as dreams and manmade stories
~MS
