Friday 30 May 2008 - Bartolome Island

After a day swimming with sharks and penguins, stumbling upon old turtle nests, grazing marine iguanas ....

...and lazy dozing sea lions that remind me of my little dog Bronte when she is asleep - no wonder these creatures are called the dogs of the sea ....

...you would think there was nothing left to do!

But not in the Galapagos!! It is truly an amazing place!!

But there was one more thing to do before we left this incredible island. We had to climb.

We climbed past lava channels and cinder cones and a landscsape that more resembled Mars than Earth. The dark volcanic dirt and the remnant volcanic vents that were the foundations of this island were uninviting and yet completely captivating.

Once we were at the summit John and I revealed our t-shirts which were part of a Bootcamp challenge! Although I'm still not sure that our trainers really know where we were and how special a place it is.

The low lying clouds threatened a thunger storm which never eventuated. The light was fading and we watched the sun set over an amazing part of our planet. As we pan you can see the classic outline of Pinnacle Rock. You may also notice the black soil and the absence of vegetation, except for the short spit connecting the remnant cinder cones.

To the right you can see a small flotilla of craft, including our own small Lobo del Mar.

The walk way has been constructed to protect the landscape from the ever increasing number of tourists to this most popular stop in the Galapagos Islands.

After descending and returning to our boat for the evening, the fauna entertainment had not finished!

John and I sat up again to watch the great spectacle which is the night sky. If you ever have the chance to get away from the lights of the industrialised world to gaze upon the raw power of the night sky, then you must.

If that experience is followed by such an intimate and empowering experience of a wild sea lion leaping up to sit up next to you like it did to me, then you would be indeed lucky and blessed!

While John and I watched the evening antics of the sea lions hunt for fish as we had the evening before, encouraged by a few beers we sat closer - sitting on the boats transom with our feet dangling it the water.

Look closely here and you can see an older male having a rest on the transom after we have vacated our seat (an after the fright of my life!!!)

While watching the torpedo like motion of seal lions after invisiable prey, I was frightened to death and thrilled to it as well when one seal lion launched itself up on to the transom right next to me!!!!

This was indeed the highlight of my time in the Galapagos. The cross section of life and landscape of such a remote and remarkable land has truly inspired me.

I will return.