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Published: February 26th 2008
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February 21 2008
We anchored for the night by Rabida Island, the same spot we had been earlier in the tour. At 5 AM, the anchor was raised, and we were underway. I woke up as the engine was started. I decided that I wasn’t going to miss any of the final day, so I got dressed, and took my camera up onto the deck to watch the scenery and wait for sunrise. Our plan for the day was to get back to Baltra and the airport by about 10 AM. I took a few pictures of the sunrise as it happened, but it was not particularly spectacular. I was up to watch the sunrise most days of our tour. We had breakfast while we were under way, and then circumnavigated a couple of small islands (Daphne Islands) that were on our way. These islands had steep banks that dropped into the ocean, so the boat travelled fairly close to the shore to allow us a good look. I hung my legs over the edge of the railing and watched the shoreline go by. We saw a few seals and boobies.
I was actually sad that morning. I was
Sunrise
Near Daphne Islands, Galapagos sad that our fabulous week was over, and I was sad that Joan wasn’t there, or would ever be there again, to share such experiences with me. I thought of her often during the trip; at those times when I knew she would have liked, such as meeting people and seeing many of the great sights. And I thought of her at times when I knew she would have been challenged; such as the panga landing in Tagus Cove, walking on some of the rough lava terrain, and stepping over sea lions or marine iguanas on a trail.
Post Script
We arrived at the airport in Baltra about 10 AM. We had said our goodbyes to the guests that were staying on the islands for a while. By 11 had discovered that our flight off of the Galapagos was delayed for over two hours. We sat around and talked and passed time. The delay put me at risk of missing my connection in Guayaquil for Cuenca. I didn’t know if there was a later flight, and resigned myself to overnight in Guayaquil. As it turned out, I arrived in Guayaquil with less than 10 minutes to make my connecting flight. I had to exit the arrivals area, and then do security again for departures. As I ran into the departure lounge, a ticket agent greeted me as if he knew I was coming and asked “Cuenca?” and pointed me to the correct gate. I was the last one on the plane; they shut the door behind me. There could be no way in creation that my checked bag would have made the connection with me. I arrived in Cuenca, and waited around the conveyor to make sure it didn’t before making arrangements for it.
Don’t know how, but my bag was there! Then I thought back to Galapagos, and how they must have been making special arrangements for me behind the scenes. Right before boarding of the flight from Galapagos, they paged me and gave me a new seat assignment in row #1. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but it must have been so I would be first off the plane. Tame Airline, I was impressed!
That night, I didn’t sleep too well, even though I had been up since 5 AM. I just wasn’t used to a bed that didn’t move.
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Joan
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For me, I can hear Joan laughing at the theatrics of the Panga landing at Tagus Cove. I also believe that she enjoyed every minute of the trip with you. You took her (and us) on a great adventure!