Pitufa.at

We’re still having a good time on Isabela. Yesterday we joined a hiking group and spent 5 hours walking past the gigantic 10 km wide crater of the volcano Sierra Negra and through the caldera of Volcano Chico with impressive lava tunnels and flows of different ages and colours giving evidence of the stages in which plants manage to settle on the craggy inhospitable volcanic slopes.
This morning the sea lions, penguins, pelicans and boobies gave an extra lively show around the boat and I couldn’t resist, put on my mask and snorkel and joined them. It’s fascinating to see how graceful and quick the plump sea lions maneuver under water, dart after fish and happily munch them floating on their backs.
We’re planning to leave after the weekend and are busy buying veggies, checking engine, rigg, sails, etc. Everybody seems to have the same concerns before the passage and this morning 3 of our neighbours climbed up the mast to check everything, later on a few started scrubbing the hulls (something we still have to do). For most crews the impending passage to French Polynesia is going to be the longest they’ve ever done (very few boats here have already been around the Pacific or the world and are on their second visit to this area). Despite the fact that we’re all preparing to spend 3 to 4 weeks on the ocean the general atmosphere is very positive, info’s exchanged, plans are being made and remade while chatting with other cruisers at the many social events that are organised (today’s potluck on the beach at 5, everybody brings booze and a meal to share) and everybody’s looking forward to reaching Polynesia.