San Cristobal Island

San Cristobal Island

Let me start out by quoting a phrase from the Interpretative center on San Cristobal, “God had a lot of rocks left over from the creation of earth and piled them all in the Galapagos”. The rocks were extremely large, islands sticking out of the water from 200 feet, to huge, big, medium and small. Every where we walked the rocks were apparent. If you were walking on gravel or dirt it was ash that had filled the gaps in the rocks. The first glimpse from sea was of a massive island looming high above the horizon, and we arrived at night. The islands are mostly national park. 93% park and 3% private land with a few towns and land for farming.

On San Cristobal, our first stop, we were welcomed by sea lions in-mass. We had to block the open transom to keep the sea lions from coming into the cockpit. We allowed them on the swim platform, as it would be impossible to stop them. One night, a large male sea lion figured out how to get around our blockade. Brian got up and saw him siting up in one of the chairs as if he belonged there, head held high. He made a quick dive over the side as Brian opened the hatch.

On our first day we walked to a close by beach, 45 min to an hour walk. The beaches are mostly coral sand, mixed with the ash sand and lots of rocks. We were amazed to see and swim with a couple of sea turtles, and of course the sea lions. The the next day was a tour to see the only fresh water lake in Galapagos. It is in an extinct volcano crater. The hike was about a quarter mile up a steep trail. With this being the tallest place on the island, the moist Pacific air turned to rain and fog as it was lifted up over the volcano. The lake was visible for about three minuets and one photo. From there it was on to the blue footed booby. A photo that Darlene must have for her Galapagos trip. We took the pictures of the cactus that has a pine tree trunk as we walked to the beach.Then up the rocks again for the blue footed booby. From there it was on the the turtle breeding farm. There they have some breeding stock and then release the turtles when they are five years old.

The following day we went on the Kicker Rock tour. Kicker Rock is a large, no huge rock that juts out of about forty feet of water to a height of half a mile. The boat dropped us off next to the rock and we started snorkeling. The first look down showed a school of fish about half way to the bottom. Under the school of fish were many sharks. We weren't worried as there was so much food, that we are not on their menu. Brian took the shark picture with his Go Pro camera about twenty-five feet down. We also saw some eagle rays along Galapagos sharks, white and black tip sharks. We swam thru the opening between the rocks around to the other side. All the time looking at sharks, and fish at different levels. When it was almost time to get out of the water, we discovered a bait ball, a very large school of small fish swimming in union son. It was almost if it was one animal. I tried to swim through the bait ball, but it would change shape as I approached, never letting me get to it. A sea lion was. however swimming through and getting it's fill.