Hey there my Steemit friends! Thank you for joining me on this second part of our adventure in the Galapagos, exploring the south western coast. In the last part we got an early start and headed out in the rain around 6:30 in the morning.
I always prefer to get an early start to my day when I know I'm going to be doing a lot of outdoor activity. The sun comes up at 6:30 in the morning but most people don't do much until around nine or ten am. Which is fine but when I know I'm going to be hiking I try my best to avoid the mid day sun by taking advantage of that early morning daylight.
As it turned out I really didn't have to worry about that. It was dreary and overcast all day, but I still enjoyed that early start. We made our way out of town and found the trail that took us to Playa Punta Carola. Here we observed some fantastic wildlife and caught our first glimpse of the cruise ship that turns into a good reference point during out entire adventure.
We ended off finding the trail that with fingers crossed would take us to the top of this hill called La Tejeretas. From there, there is a hiking trail that goes on for several kilometers north along the coast. Now we're still close to town there for this area is frequented often and has this nice walkway. Hopefully this path takes us to where we want to go. There is only one way to find out! Now come along and let's see where this leads to!
Here in the Galapagos the animals are your friends! They really can't be avoided. As we head up the path away from Playa Punta Carola this big Iguana moves out of our way. I'm sure we'll see plenty more of these guys. Let's keep moving.
We decide to go left which will keep us closer to the coast.
I've never been in an environment like this before. The plants, the trees, the volcanic rocks all over, the Iguanas all around! Just being here is an experience in it's own right.
Again left keeps us close to the coast.
Where are we? This certainly is not the way to the trail. What is this huge canon doing here? The sign says this thing was used back in the 70's for military practice. So I guess it never saw any kind of real combat which is good.
In the local museum we learned that shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked the US built a base here as a strategic point in World War II for control of the Pacific. However this cannon has nothing to do with that as it was placed here twenty years later.
I'm really happy to have stumbled upon this cannon, you certainly don't see something like this everyday pointing out into the Pacific Ocean way up high on a cliff. Well, let's turn back and see if we can find that trail we're looking for.
We turn left again to stay along the coast. Which would have actually been a right if we didn't take that cannon detour!
We turn left again! Maybe I just like to turn left! Well, we can see a short ways down the path that there is a platform for viewing the surrounding area. So let's have a look.
Hey how about that! Another Blue-Footed Booby. I love the Booby! In a recent Travel Pro adventure post, it was all about finding the Booby, and we did! The other bird is a Swallow Tail Seagull.
We can really see for miles and miles around. We see that cruise ship again, it's almost as if it's following us! We stay up here for a while, enjoy the views, the fresh air, the birds, and the calm of the early morning. Then I take a couple of videos and practice talking on camera. I'm quickly learning that it is a bit of a skill, but I get better throughout my adventures on the island.
As it turns out I'm very happy to have started the day so early. As usual, things are taking longer than expected to find the trail that leads up the coast. From this vantage point we could at least get our bearings. I recognize the hill as our destination and start of the nature trail. I'm sure we'll make it up there in part three. Until then, thank you for coming along! -Dan "World Travel Pro!"
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