Today was the day I was dreading… two 2 hour boat rides were required to get to Isabela island, where I am now. The first left at 7 AM and arrived on Santa Cruz Island at 9. After a 6 hour layover walking around Puerto Ayora, the second was supposed to leave at 3. Well, it didn’t because the motor wouldn’t start. So, about 20 of us sat in the boat for an hour and a half and watched the guy lay on the floor unplugging and plugging wires after spraying them with WD40, tightening battery terminals and cursing in Spanish. Finally, he announced that another boat would be coming in 15 minutes. He disappeared up top and we all continued to make jokes (wish my Spanish was better so I could have caught more of them) and laughed. Well, 10 minutes later the three outboard motors all sputtered to life! “Es un milagro!” Divine intervention. We puttered out of the harbor as one girl dressed in a black evening dress and sparkly sandals fell victim to sea sickness. She didn’t look good coming out of the bathroom as they told her to sit in the back of the boat next to me. Ok, little space please…
I am convinced the rough seas here are normal, especially in a 25’ boat. We bounced and rolled and splashed all the way to Puerto Villamil here on Isla Isabela, arriving in the dark. And now I’m looking out my hotel room window at a lovely view of the sea. It’s all good!
2 Wheeled Wanderer 