Stormsail » Holiday

A weekend in Fowey

andy — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:17:15 +0000

Just spent a nice long weekend at the The Cormorant Hotel in Fowey, Cornwall with Pheebs. This is actually the hotel in which we got engaged at so it was quite nice to return to the scene of the crime so to speak. The view from any hotel room, the food and wine quality were just as good as I remembered. We even returned back to the Lost Gardens of Heligan which whilst is still a magical place, wasn’t quite as vibrant as it was in spring. Still, it was a very pleasant weekend away with my wife.

Family Weekend in Oxford

andy — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:56:58 +0000

Just spent a really good weekend with Pheeb’s family at the Rose Barn in Oxford which managed to cater for all 12 of us. During the weekend we visited Cogges Manor Farm and had an enjoyable time attempting to avoid getting soaked by the falling rain! We also got a chance to visit Birdland and had some fun looking at the various birds kept there. I think the highlight were the Penguins, who spent a vast amount of time swimming and waiting for their next feed!

Zoo Keeping

andy — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:12:31 +0000

Pheebs and I have just spent a couple of days in Cambridgeshire staying at Springfield House B&B where we enjoyed a couple of nights in the country. After a nightmare of avoiding the M25 we eventually made it to the B&B which we just dumped our clothes and headed to the Dog and Duck for some food and a couple of beers. It was very pleasant having dinner as we were serenaded by a live jazz pianist! The next day we got up early to have breakfast and then headed over to Shepreth Wildlife Park as we were being Zookeepers for the day! Shepreth is better than a lot of zoos offering experience tours in that you don’t have to muck out the animals as part of the tour there which means more time with the animals. Whilst we were on our zookeeper experience we also got filmed by Jake Willers (whose family own the wildlife park) as they wanted some footage of people being zookeepers for their website which was fun. The whole day went far too quickly but I think our favorite highlights of the day were flying birds of prey, feeding the leemers (pheeb’s favorite), feeding the meercats and playing with the otters (my favorite!).

After we got back, we got cleaned up (after being covered in various animal food) and then headed out to The Crown for food and drink.

Galapagos Islands to Guayaquil to Madrid to London

andy — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:31:23 +0000

Was woken up at 5.20 am this morning as were going on our last dinghy ride around Black Turtle Cove and the mangroves. Whilst motoring or paddling we spotted quite a few turtles, a baby white head shark and pelicans. After the ride we headed back to Sagitta for breakfast (Whilst we ere having breakfast we moved from Black Turtle Cve to Batra) and to complete our packing. When the time came to leave we said goodbye to the captain and crew. We were then transferred to land via dinghy and then transported by bus to the airport.

After some last minute shopping in the shops by the airport we chilled for a little while whilst having a drink and chatting to Laura and Rob. After that we went through to the departure lounge and then to our surprise into the VIP lounge with the rest of the Sagitta passengers. Whilst waiting g for our flight we watched a bib documentary on a large TV which was cool as it showed a lot of the places we had already seen. After that we boarded our flight to Guayaquil which took an hour and fifty minutes. Once we arrived at Guayaquil we collected our bags and found a café to chill out in for a couple of hours before checking in (our flight was at 9.10pm and we arrived at 3.30pm) After some chilling out at the café for an hour and a half we headed to the check in desk and waited for an hour in the queue in order to get rid of our bags. We then headed back to the café for a hot chocolate and to charge my phone in preparation for the flight home (10 hours to Madrid) and then (2 hours of London Heathrow). We then went through to the gate and watched as the plane came to the gate and was refuelled and restocked. The flight left late and we were subjected to the long flight but managed to get some sleep as well as some food (if you can call it that) After the flight landed we had rush at Madrid to get to the next gate for our flight to London. We had to queue through passport control and then queue again through security. Evenutally we made it to the gate and flight in time and home to Basingstoke.

Galapagos Islands to Santiago! Bartolome Islands

andy — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:29:35 +0000

Got woken up early (6.15am) as breakfast was at 6.30am due to us starting our Island tow slightly sooner than normal. The boat had sailed all evening and anchored at 4am (which woke us up)! After breakfast we got our snorkelling gear ready and prepared ourselves for a wet landing on the beach. We had a walk through some vegetation and then arrived on lava rock pools and view of the sea. We spotted lots of wildlife again including seals, sea lions, iguanas, lava lizards, cuckoos mocking birds etc. We also saw some interesting rock formations and got wet as the tide came in and out of one (aptly named the Ecudorian toilet!). After that we went back to the beach and snorkelled around the rocks. It was certainly better that yesterday. We managed to play with a sea lion, spotted rays, turtles (1) a white tipped reef shark and lots of fish. After that we headed back to the shore and caught the dinghy back to the boat. Once on board we set sail again for a different island and chilled on deck watching the sights around, until lunchtime. After another 3 course lunch we chilled for a little while before getting ready for snorkelling. At the new island we set off via dinghy to the shore to drop the beach dwellers whilst we moved further around the island to be dropped into the sea for our snorkelling expedition. The snorkelling was very good and the visibility much better than some of our previous sessions. We spotted rays, white tipped reef sharks, seals and various fish. After we finished we headed back to the boat to shower and chill out. We also then prepared for our penultimate trip, to climb the pinnacle of Sullivan Bay to enjoy the views, from the summit. After that we headed back to the boat and had a few beers. After that we packed and then joined everyone upstairs for a drink before having dinner. After that we chilled chatting watched a slide show and the video’s shot by Heni (check out hist website -> Galapagos 2000.org). We then chatted to Laura and Bob for a while before going to bed. We have an early start tomorrow and the start of our long voyage home.

Galapagos Islands to Isabela /Fernandina Island

andy — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:26:54 +0000

Woke up around 5am with the sound of the engines starting for our journey to Urbina Bay further up Isabela Island. Dozed for w while until it was time to get up for breakfast at 7am (or just before). After that we got our stuff ready for the dinghy to shore and for our walk. The walk lasted about an hour and a half and we spotted land Iguana’s, tortoises(2) lots of finches, grass hopper, mocking birds, lava lizards etc. At the end of the walk we ended back.
On the beach where we went snorkelling but only saw one puffer fish and a Waho fish. due to the poor visibility. After that we headed back to the board for a shower and chill out time. Meanwhile the Captain moved the boat to Fernandin for the afternoon walk around Espinoza Point. Whilst the boat was moving we had lunch and watched dolphins, sea lions and hunted for whales. After lunch we go ready and set off via the dinghy to shore. There we were greeted by sea lions and iguanas on the black lava. We set off on the walk and spotted a lot of wildlife including various birds, near the tide pools (and turtles, rays, sea lions etc). The highlight was the vast numbers of iguanas sitting on the black lava minding their own business, warming themselves in the tropical heat. We saw lots of the little fellas and included spotting some baby ones as well. After the walk we headed back to the jetty and was picked up by the Mary Jane dinghy and taken back to Sagitta. There we chilled out over some cold beers and chatted to Laura/Rob Paddy/Steve. After that it was shower time!. As were passing the Equator (0.00.00) the Captain invited us up to witness the change o n the bridge, via the GPS. We also had a glass of fizzy stuff to celebrate! After that we had the next day’s briefing from Rafelel before dinner. After dinner I made some space on the camera’s memory sticks with the help of Himie’s laptop. I then hit the sack myself (Pheebs was already in the cabin asleep.

Galapagos Island to Isabela Island

andy — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 21:24:59 +0000

Woke up at 6am as we were having an early start to walk over Isabela Island (we had an interesting alarm call at 2am when the ship anchored off Moleno Point). We had breakfast at 6.30am and then left the ship via dingy to land on the lava fields. The lava fields look so barren and odd that I can understand them being likened to the surface of the moon or hell. The surface is totally uneven with strange formations in the rock caused by the molten lava cooling to irregular shapes. Rafelel reckoned that this was roughly 1000 to 3000 years old since it last flowed. We wandered around the fields seeing caked lagoons (with several flamingos) strange lava formations etc. Towards the end of the walk we found a large lagoon with two white tipped reef sharks in, a puffer fish and several other species of fish in it. We assume that during high (spring tides?) that the wildlife got trapped (which some unfortunate turtle did in the branches of a mangrove and was unfortunately trapped permanently).After that we were picked up by the dingy and taken to see penguins of the rocks, flightless cormorants land iguanas and pelicans which was very cool. Once back at the boat we got ready for snorkelling and then headed out again on the dingy off Moreno Point where we jumped in. Unfortunately the water was cold and the visibility poor but we did manage to swim with a single penguin. After that (and it was a short session) we headed back to the shower and chill out before lunch. Lunch was good and included some impressive food displays. It also included 3 courses as per usual! (we could get used to this). After lunch we went in two dinghies into Elizabeth Bay (in fact the boat moved after we got back from our first morning visit to Elizabeth Bay!) where we saw penguins on a rock along with blue footed boobies!. We also travelled into the mangrove forests and then turned off the outboard to travel by paddle so we could observe wildlife without disturbing it. We spotted various birds, a sea lion lounging in a tree and several turtles swimming. After a while we headed back to the boat to chill and I had a guided tour of the engine room by the ship’s engineer! We then had a G&T and read some Galapagos books before dinner. After dinner we watched some Galapagos DVD’s in the ship’s library before heading to bed at 9.30pm. Holidays are such a hard life!!

Galapagos Islands to Floreana Island

andy — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:23:10 +0000

Woke up after a reasonable sleep (the boat anchored about midnight) and got up for breakfast at 7.am. After that we got ready for our wet landing at Cormorant Point which had a volcanic sandy beach (olivine – volcanic crystals) and very different to the previous island. From the beach we walked inland to a lagoon with a lonesome flamingo. The lagoon smelt a little bit due to the stagnant water (filled by rain). We then wandered up to a vista before walking to a turtle nesting beach (with white coral sand). We did sport quite a few turtles in the water and even a couple mating close to shore. We also spotted turtle tracks from the shore to the nesting site. From there we headed back to the boat to get ready for our morning snorkelling session off Devils Crown. We spotted a school of puffer fish and dolphins before snorkelling! (off the bow and around the ship). The snorkelling session was great (I hired a shorty as my 5 Element top was not warm enough) and we spotted Whale tip reef shark, rays, puffer fish and various other fish. After having fun in the sea we headed back to the boat for
showers and lunch. During lunch the boat was moved to Post Office Bay for our afternoon walk and snorkelling session. For that we got our wet gear ready (and suited) before heading via dingy to the beach at Post Office Bay. From the beach we walked a very short distance to the Post Office barrel. The original barrel has long since gone but there is another in its place. During whaling times passing ships use to leave letters and parcels for the next passing ship to deliver if they were going that way. Pheebs and I wrote postcards to our parents in the vain hope that one day they will be delivered by hand to our parent’s addresses. We also checked to see if there was anything in our vicinity which we would deliver and there was not. After that we went snorkelling off the beach and spotted a Ray, a White Tip Reef Shark and quite a few green turtles. Watching the turtles was the highlight of the session as they did not seem phased by us observing them at all (even managed to video the underwater close up and also spotted a puffer fish!).

After the snorkelling we headed back to the boat to shower and chill out (which involved sitting on deck with a beer) During that time we spotted some blow spray from whales but that is all we saw. NOTE (Just before lunch we saw lots of dolphins in big schools* (also called pods) following our boat and others). After that we chilled further before having dinner and chatting to our fellow guests. After dinner we headed to bed as we have an early morning ahead of us. BTW we also started moving to our next destination after Post Office Bay so should arrive 2am tomorrow!

Galapagos Islands to Isla Espanola

andy — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:20:23 +0000

After a fun night rolling around as we sailed all night we awoke on Isla Espanola. After a hearty breakfast on the stern deck table we got ourselves ready for a wet landing near Isla Gardner which was a white coral beach. The beach was inhabited by Sea lions who lounged around the beach not really perturbed by their human visitors. It was truly great to wander amongst them watching them go about their daily lives of being Sea lions. After the walk we went snorkelling off the beach (Gardener Bay) for 45 minutes seeing turtles, rays, sea bass and an assortment of various fish. After that we headed back to the boat for a snack before having another snorkelling session (Gardener Island) around a rock (this time a young sea lion swam amongst us for ages chasing our fins). After that we showered and then had lunch. After that we had a snooze before our 3pm walk. The walk was pretty amazing for wildlife and we saw some more sea lions, Marine Iguanas, Lava lizards, hawks, albatross (and Bal ties)blue footed boobies. (The walk was off Svavez Point) and sea birds, land birds. We also saw a blow hole by the sea which shot water up into the air. There was also great views off the cliffs. Pheebs also nearly got run over by an inquisitive seal lion! After a long walk we headed back on board for beer and then showers before dinner. After dinner (or during) we left for our journey to Floreana Island which should take 4 hours. Hopefully we will get some sleep.

Galapagos Islands (PTO Ayora)

andy — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:19:20 +0000

Woke up quite early and well before the alarm went off to the gentle rocking of Sagitta with Pheebs in the top bunk! (I had the luxury of the bottom double bunk!) We got up and went to the dinning room for breakfast. After which our guide Alex told us he was not feeling too good and that we would be getting another guide for the rest of our trip (which was a shame as he was a particularly good one!) Anyhow we got our day packs sorted and were then transported to the port via dingy where we met our new guide Rafiel (who was also good but had a tendency to overload you with useful information) . We were then taken to the Darwin Research Station and shown giant tortoises (who were amazing) and various others (including the legendary Lonesome George!) We also saw baby tortoises of various ages and some Land Iguanas. After that we wandered back to town and met the rest of the group. We were then taken to Angemyer Point for lunch which was another 3 course meal!. After that we were taken by bus to the highlands and taken to a tortoise area where there were some mating tortoises! And a big pond with lots soaking and basking in the sun. it was pretty amazing to watch them moving slowly around and checking us out as we were checking them out! It is quite amazing to know that some are over a 100 to 150 years old and have been through two world wars! (and everything else). We spent a bit of time checking them out before heading back too the bus and PTO Ayora. From there we headed back to the boat to have a quick snack and a beer. We then had a shower in preparation for dinner. At 7pm the dinner bell rang and we ate downstairs around 2 different tables. After which we chilled out on deck watching the visiting Pelicans sitting on various parts of the boat. This evening was going to be our night passage to Isla Espanola (Hood) which commenced at 10pm!