Wednesday 13 January

Bartolomé Island – all day

Today we learned more about Galapagos’ volcanic history, visiting some volcanic areas. This morning was an early start with breakfast at 6.30am, so we could leave the ship at 7.30am to go across to the island and do an early ascent of the 370-odd steps (along a wooden pathway) to the summit to get a 360 deg. view of the Galapagos Islands, before the day got too hot. 

  

Afterwards it was back to the ship for a short break before we were out again to do snorkelling (Stuart) and glass-bottom boat (Lesley) fish viewing.

Stuart saw fish whilst snorkelling and took photos but he forgot to change the setting on the camera and without his glasses was not able to get decent photos. He also got tired and came out of the water and missed the sharks and sea lion which swam among the snorkelers, (but got sunburnt). Lesley had more luck and saw both from the glass-bottom boat, the sea lion coming up beside the boat to check out the occupants.

After lunch, served on the sundeck outside (under shade), we had an excursion onto the lava flow on nearby Santiago (James) Island. This is an extensive flow, formed only about 130 yrs ago. The demarcation between old lava and the newer lava was quite marked. 

 

Already little spiders and lizards have made a home there, and here and there are small plants that have managed to get a hold on the black lava. Also popping up occasionally were some lava cactus – so incongruous in this location. It was fascinating to see the patterns formed by the moving magma. It wasn’t too easy to move across – we had to watch our footing constantly.  Its depth averaged about 5m, and was like a rolling sea, with many ups and downs, and flows bashing into each other causing one side to rear up a bit. Some of it looked like twists of liquorice. As it ages lava weathers, showing the iron content. The old lava formations are an ochre colour and the oldest are now a dark red-brown. 

Lesley thinks the lava walk has been the highlight of the trip so far.

Tonight the ship leaves our current anchorage at 1am for a 5 ½ hour journey north across the Equator  (crossing about 3am) to tomorrows anchorage at Genoversa (Tower) Island.