Monday February 11, 2013

Monday February 11/13 update  # 365

Sorry, my mind was so muddled yesterday from lack of sleep and exhaustion that I was not as exuberant and descriptive as I could have been.  I crashed about 10:30 our time, but 9:30 here as there is a time change here, same as Central time.

We have a lot of tiny green Geckos in the building, only about 2 inches long.  They are so cute and harmless.

It is so warm and humid that we don’t put any clothes on until absolutely necessary.  Please do not send me any comments about your mental pictures…

We were up before 6am to go walking to Tortuga Bay.  We were lucky to fins a restaurant that could sell us some water and Gatorade at that hour.   Naturally we have to take the water taxi to the town, then get to the 2.5km walking path.  Along this path are huge cacti, the only ones that grow like trees and end up with a kind of bark when they are mature.  The foliage is dominated by finches and mockingbirds and the path itself is cobblestone.   Marg and I are fast walkers so we would trudge on up ahead then wait while Bella caught up.  Bella has only 2 walking speeds, slow and slower.

We could hear the breakers crashing long before we could see the beach.   We knew the beach would be magnificent from photos we had seen but nothing had prepared us for the fineness of the sand.  It was more like a powder that it was granules.  The ladies had their shoes off immediately but I kept my runners on.  I was already lugging a backpack load plus 2 cameras and I didn’t have enough hands or strength to carry any more.  The beach seems to run about 2 kms and is just magnificent.  There were only 2 other people in evidence so we felt quite alone with nature.  The marine iguanas were plentiful on a nearby collection of volcanic rock.  As we approached the mangrove trees at the far end we finally came upon several more marine iguanas.  A person is able to get within about 2 feet without them budging.  I know I got some great close-ups of those guys. 

We also saw some great crabs in black, gaudy orange and hot pink.  Then there was the pelican sitting on a sign before he retired to a tree behind.  A graceful heron was also nearby giving us some poses.

Around the corner is a magnificent bay that seems like your own gargantuan swimming pool.  The tide was way out so it wasn’t as spectacular as usual according to Marg.  Marg is also a fellow photographer so we were having a field day with the many photo ops. I caught a nice sandpiper at the water’s edge.  This bay is sometimes frequented by the large Tortugas, sea turtles, but we didn’t happen on any this day.  On the left side of this bay is a rocky cliff that is usually occupied by blue-footed boobies and there seemed to be only one who was snoozing.  I took a very long zoom with my Sony but I know that shot won’t be the one I came for.

About 9am the crowds of Ecuadorians were arriving so we began our return trip shortly after that.  There were a plethora of these small chubby birds that were scouring the beach for morsels and the marine iguanas were leaving long trails with their big claws and long tails.   I hated to leave but the heat was just beginning.  The path back was now dominated with larger gun metal coloured Geckos who would scurry along with us for a ways before hiding, then another would pop up to take its place.

I figure that we walked 14kms for sure and the sun was getting through the clouds as we got back to town.  Believe me, the heat and humidity at the equator are things to be reckoned with.  They will sap your strength in no time and remind us that we could never live on the coast here.

The gals stopped in town for a few groceries while I desperately tried to sit in the shade.   As usual, there were sleeping sea lions dominating many of the boat docking platforms.  Barry had told me that the difference between a seal and a sea lion are their ears, seals don’t have visible ears!  Many of the boats in the harbour also have sea lions sleeping on their rear platforms.  I also thought I saw a branch moving in the ater but the movements seemed too deliberate and as it got closer I saw it was a marine iguana.  I thought right away of the scene in the movie Master and Commander when the biologist is surprised to find an iguana that actually swims.

We had a quick sandwich for lunch and then had a much needed shower again.  I can’t remember the last time I had 2 showers before noon!

Bella was reading in bed with the air-conditioner blowing before conking out.   I had gone up to the third floor terrace and soon succumbed to the invitation of the hammock after getting a few shots of the frigate birds circling about.

I tried and tried to do work on the computer before throwing in the towel.  Between crappy signal and a crappy old laptop I don’t stand a chance.

We went for supper with Barry, Max, Stu and Marg to a pizza restaurant and the meals were very good.  I don’t know why I opted for fish (tuna) instead of pizza, but I did.  We then returned home to play Mexican Train dominoes.  Bella had kicked everyone’s butt the night before and I joined in and was leading until the last hand where I beat myself by missing a play.  Oh well, I never get excited about cards or games anymore. 

Off to bed because we have to be up early again tomorrow.

That was today’s excitement.  Hugs to all.