Arches National Park, Utah

Arrived in Utah from LAX on Monday last week. Rudi picked me up at the airport and we drove down to Draper, about 1/2 hour south of SLC.

Spent Tuesday in SLC looking at the Mormon temple square area and shopping.

Went for a 4-hour hike on Wednesday in Mill Creek Canyon area just west of SLC.

Drove four hours to Arches National Park on Thursday and spent the afternoon hiking to some of the arches. My nephew, Jo, and a friend of his, Malanie, came with. Slept over in Moab. Place booked out and had to pay $150 for a room! Returned Friday night after we spent the morning driving to Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park.

BBQ Saturday.

Drove out to Mt Timpanogos area on Sunday for a look (half hour south of Draper).

Drove 1 hour north to Antelope Island State Park on Monday and spent 2 1/2 hours hiking up a hill to see the east side of the great salt lake. Good views. Also spotted the bison (introduced onto the island) and mule deer. Then went to Waterfall Canyon in Ogden (just north of antelope island area). Parked at 29th street trailhead, where I thought the trail started. No signs, so walked about 2km out of my way to end up where I started and headed up the canyon. Not much of a waterfall to talk of, but a steep climb to get to it.

Went back to Mt Timpanogos on Tuesday to go to Timpanogos cave. Steep climb up to cave then a 1hr cave tour. Very nice. Also go a good pick of a little chipmunk. Too cute. Lots of squirrle-like animals running around.

Much time was also spend shopping...

Packing now, leave for LAX this afternoon. Should be back in Australia on Friday.

Inka Trail done

I hiked the trail in two days. We went in at 88km and spend the first night just up the trail from there. Walked a couple of kilometers to the start of the race the next morning (that was yesterday). Set off at 6am. Left my gloves behind and my fingers were frozen for most of the day.

Dead woman`s pass was steep up and slow. I enjoyed the down runs (lots and lots of steps). The Red Arrow runs really helped with those!

Took me 9 hours to go the 27km for the first day - I´ll use the excuse that I was taking photos, lots of them... The winner, Roxanne, of the marathon did the entire trail in 6h12min!

Froze last night. Anne, from Adelaide, estimated it was about 6 degrees Celcius. I had everything that I brought with me on the trail on, and I was still cold.

Poured with rain during the entire night. Thunder and lightning too. Tents held up really well.

Today took me another 5 hours for the last 17km! Insane, but at least I know I did more than that as I went the wrong way (yes, impossible as it sounds, it´s possible for some of us), went back to the correct trail and then on to Michu Pichu.

Overall it was a fantastic few days. Hiked just about the whole way all on my own.

First run at altitude of about 4000m or so.

Arrived in Cusco yesterday. Had some coco tea. Ran 6km today. Did okay.

Visited some archeological sites today. Free time this afternoon. Needed to buy new sunglasses. Got some for S/. 26.00. Also bought some baby alpacha jumpers - beautiful and soft. And a pair of gloves for the trail. US$286! Oeps, shopping done for now.

I think I might be cold on the trail. Will need to get into my sleeping bag, at least that´s warm.

Gotta go, on free internet access and others want to get on.

Bundu Bashing

I miss Isabela Island life terribly. Been difficult to sleep in Guayaquil, Lima and Iquitos with all the road noise.
Been in the jungle the past 3 days- nearly exactly like the blue arrow, except there are lots of things that can kill you. My guides took me on a few different trails and on a couple of occasions we were just bashing our way through the bush. They always knew where they were, and so did I, thanks to my GPS watch.
Seen four types of monkeys, a squirrel, poison dart frog, lots of other frogs, sloth, pink dolphin and grey dolphin, nice big gecko, lots of different birds, including the hoatin bird, parrots, macaws. May sound great, but without binoculars it was pretty crap. But the tame monkey made up for it. She would sit only on my lap, to the disgust of the other guest that was with us. Visited three villages and had breakfast with one family (they ate their food, I ate mine). The food at the lodge was fantastic. I still eat my two cups of rice with each meal, even if there is a choice...
I`m now in Lima and fly to Cusco tomorrow to start acclimatising for the run. It`s on later this week. I`m looking forward to the trip. Tonight I`m in a very flash hotel, had a BATH with lovely hot water (then washed my clothes in it! Ha!). A bit different from the rainforest lodge where there was no electricity.

Day out at the zoo.

Ended up going to the zoo. Fantastic day, but lots of kids! Saw so much - condor, otters, lamas, totugas, preditor birds, parrots, pirana, rodents, tapier with stripped baby, piglike animals - really cute, penguinos, lobos, giraffe, 3 JAGUARS, lioness, lion, tiger, swans black from Australia, and white ones, and lots of other things I cannot remember now. Cost me about US$30 including taxi to and from zoo. The guy that took me there also picked me up.

Crap computer I`m on, so cannot type much.

In Iquitos now, had to pay S/. 140 (not sure how much that is, about US$60) for a room - travel insurance should pay for it though. Going to lodge tomorrow, there is a tour group going so I`m getting a lift with them.

Really tired, up at 2:15am this morning. It`s 10pm now and I need to find some food and a few last minute things for jungle. Lunch today was soupa with a chicken foot in it. Sort of ate around that. Main was rice, chips and crumbed chicken??

Have not seen a mozzie yet.

Lima for a bit longer than anticipated.

I am well and as per usual there are dramas with travelling. My flight to Iquitos was cancelled today due to bad weather. I`m on another flight at 6pm tonight. I got in from Guayaquil (Ecuador) at 7 last night and had to be at the airport early, so left the hotel at 2:30am! Just to wait until 5:30am to find out the flight was cancelled. Mad rush to get hold of people to check what to do. Got email from Peru Jungel people to say that they will meet me at the airport tonight. The boat usually only goes to the lodge on Mondays, so maybe it was also delayed due to the weather?? Will find out when I get there. Also spoke to my travel insurance co as I thought I may miss out on the Jungle trip altogether. Spent about an hour sorting the paperwork in case I need to pay for accommodation tonight and my trip is cancelled. They will pay up to $200 for a hotel. (Ha! It costs about $50 for a VERY nice room here, may be living like a queen for one day of my trip...)
Today is Independance Day in Peru, so I`m not sure what is going on in Lima. I`m looking on the internet to see if the zoo is open today. One taxi driver said it will be like a madhouse as all the poor families with their screaming kids go there for the day as it`s a holiday today (actually, he didn`t really say that, I`m just paraphrasing into Ingles).

There is also a celebration at Plaza de Armas in historic downtown Lima, so I may go there. But it only starts at 11am and I don`t feel like being mugged today.

I`ll come back to the airport at 3pm. Spoke to another couple who missed their flight to Cusco. The plane left 50min early, while they were having a coffee yesterday.

Bartholome

Went to Bartholome on my last day in the Galapagos. Pic of pinnecal rock and snorkel to see the choc-chip starfish.

I`m at Guayaquil airport now and board my flight to Lima in a couple of hours. Didn`t do anything while here in Guayaquil. Got in at about 4pm yesterday and just went to hotel. Watched TV and then went to the restaurant in the hotel for dinner. In bed by 9pm.
Decided not to run the 19km I was suppose too, as I`m sooo tired. Got up at 7am, packed my bags and went to the river. Very nice, but everything closed (Sunday??). Watched Batman, the dark knight in Spanish. Not too hard to follow...
Gotta go. Don´t know when next I`ll be able to contact you. Going to a hotel in Lima tonight, out very early tomorrow to go to jungle until Friday.

Santa Fe

Went on a really fancy big boat to Santa Fe today. It´s a 2hr jouney (on the boat we went on). Got there at about 10am. Went for a little trip in the dingy to look at blue-footed boobies, sea lions, marine iguanas on the rocks. Then onto the beach where there are sea lions. Not the mating season so it was pretty quiet.

Walk on a path to spot the land iguana. That was nice as I`ve not seen them yet. Only hunderds of marine iguanas. Also spotted a baby land iguana. They are a greenish-yellow colour where the marine ones are black (because they eat the black algae on the rocks - apparently). Spotted a Galapagos hawk, but it was flying and couldn`t see it up close.

Snorkel. Visability pretty good.

Fantastic lunch - better be, cost me $95 for today´s trip. Then home. Only 4:30pm. Meeting Helen, John and Susan for dinner tonight. May head over to the Darwin Research station now.

Tried to organise for a group to go to Bartholome tomorrow, but don`t think that is going to happen. Next time...

Another week gone.

This entry is a bit all over the place, but I´m too tired to fix it up!
Finally I´m at an internet cafe again. Most days I´m out from 7 or 8am to 5 or 6pm. Internet not always open either.
Been to San Cristobal and am now in Santa Cruz, the island I started on. Will be here until Saturday morning and then I fly out to the mainland.
Didn´t see much in San Cristobal. A small snake on a walking track. Sharks, green sea turtles and an eagle ray snorkeling. Cycled 60km yesterday, 20km up onto the highlands, looked at what should have been a small crater with fresh water, but it was so misty I could hardly even see the water. 10km down to the coast, walk to beach. Then 10km up and 20 down again (all in the rain). Didn´t go for a run. I did my last long run on Sunday before I left Isobela (I flew out on Sunday at 2pm). Ran 15km at night when we got back from Floreana ( an island 2hrs south of Isabela). Great snorkeling there. Then 22.5km on Sunday. Not far enough, but ran out of time. On Saturday night I saw two barn owls.
Ran 8km tonight. Saw another owl, but before I could take a pic (didn't have my torch with me), a motorbike came past and scared it away.
I´m going to Santa Fe tomorrow for the day. Also trying to get 10 people together to go to Bartholome on Friday, but not sure if that is going to happen. May go to Floreana again.
Boat trip from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz this morning was the same as most of the others - really bumpy! A wave hit us from the side and all the people on the opposite side to where I was sitting got thrown on the floor of the boat!
In San Cristobal I stayed with a family in their home. $15 per night, all meals included. Here in Puerto Ayora (the main town on Santa Cruz) I´ve booked into a hotel. $20 per night. Just went to the shop and got some buns, tuna, jam for lunch and dinner.
A few people I know from Isabela will be here tomorrow, so we are meeting up to go to dinner. I also met a few older German ladies and went with them to the highlands of Santa Cruz today. Pretty much the same trip as I did when I got here. But this time we visited a couple of small craters - I saw a Vermicilli Flycatcher (think that is spelled correctly). Walked throught the lava tunnel again too. And in the bush looking for giant tortoises. We fed one some guavas and took photos as it was chomping away. Very cute.
I think I´m getting worse with my running! I seem to be tired a lot and I´m a bit worried about my Inca trail run. Will have to wait and see how I go...
I miss Cairns, we have such a nice spot. I cannot wait to get home and just see the wallabies and the odd echidna. Here on the Galapagos there is not a wide variety of animals, and I´ve not been able to go to all the places where I know you can spot them. But it is very nice. Saw 20 pelicans on the beach at Isabela the other day. And the sea lions are very cheeky, they will swim right up into your face. And the yound ones play with each other, jumping out of the water. Lots and lots of marine iguanas.

The weekend from hell

As per usual it was overcast and raining on the weekend. Friday was sunny, so that at least was good.

The weekend eight of us went to volcano Sierra Negro and volcano Chicho. Walked in the mud and mist for about an hour before we got a bit of a view of Sierra Negro´s crater. Volcano Chicho was like walking on the moon. Some good views.

Sunday six of us went to the Tunnels to snorkel. Didn´t see anything. Well, everyone else saw turtles, sharks and various other underwater stuff. I just saw sand. Mantarays absolutely huge on the way home. The others went for a swim with them. I stayed on the boat. Best part of the day was the flying fish that flew next to the boat.

I´m going to leave Isabela probably on Sunday. Going to look around at the other islands.

Turtle Breeding Center

We work at the center each weekday from 8 until we are done (usually about 11 - and that includes extended standing around time, chatting to each other). We have breakfast at our hostel at 7 am. It´s always the same: egg (scrambled, omlette or boiled), a bun (each of us get our own plate with a tablespoon of margarine and jam), freshly squesed juice and a cup of hot milk. Well, I get hot milk, some of the others get hot water. That´s so you can make your own coffee (Nescafe).

At the center there are currently people from three different volunteer groups. There seems to be no control on how many people arrive, as it seems that each day we get more people! There are now four teachers there. Three of us teach high school Biology and the other one is an IT teacher.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday is feeding day. The tortoises are so cute. They literally come running when it´s feeding time. Someone collects the food somewhere and we put it in the cages. As us girls feed the little ones, we get to put in leaves - lots of big spiders... Even found a frog today. Big deal as frogs are introduced into the island. We called the boss to come and take it away and dispose of it. You also clean out the lagoona that holds their water.

Tuesday and Thursday is cleaning day. Clean out the left over food from the previous day. Sweep the paths. That´s about it.

We had a look at the incubation chambers today. Pretty primitive. Just an old wooden cupboard with a fan at the top (to control temperatue). The eggs are kept in plastic containers with sand in them. 6 eggs per container. Container wrapped in gladwrap.

There are of course adult turtles here too. It´s their young that are reared here at the center. The babies get released when they are about 5-6 years old. By this time their shells are hard enough to withstand the introduced predators - cats, dogs, donkies, rats, etc.

Isabela Island

Internet slow, and on my way to lunch - usually a soup, then rice, beans and a meat. At least the juice varies each day. Passionfruit, orange, paw-paw, grapefruit. Fresh.

Been to some of the outerlaying islands. Swam with the sea lions and penguins - on the equator? Yes!

Work at the breeding center is pretty easy. Got 4 girls and 5 boys there at the moment so we are done by 11. Start at 8.

Been for a few runs. There are road here, made of sand or gravel. Very nice tropical island, but windy and it´s been mostly overcast.

On Galapagos

I don`t know the time difference. Just get on the internet when I get time, usually at night. It´s 7:15 pm here now.

On Galapagos.

Arrived at about 12pm.

Went to a nature reserve and saw some male giant tortoises. Also went for a run to one of the beaches. A bit late (gate closes at 6pm), so I just got to run to the beach and then had to turn back. Will go there again tomorrow and run along the beach. Only about a 7 km run. I´m not sure how long the beach is, but it will be good to go to the end. Saw a couple of little lizzards. They are very jumpy, hopping from rock to rock. Also saw the finches on the beech.

Got until 1pm tomorrow here in Porta Aura, then we go to Isabela Island. We work every weekday from about 8.30 to lunch time. Then it´s free time. I don´t have any swimming goggles, so I hope there are some there that I can use. Bought an underwater camera.

IT problems

Figured out the @ button. Control, alt then the number 2.



Thought I could download photos direct from my camera onto WAYN, but now I cannot get it to work. Too tired to try now, will try again later.



Mobile phone doesn´t have roaming here in South America. I already knew that, but tried it anyway. Local sim doesn´t work, so will not use the phone. Internet access on Isabel Is, so I´ll just use that.



Not sure if Larry fixed my emails. Got two messages that was sent yesterday

Quito

Went for a 8km run. Felt bad. 3000 km above sea level may have something to do with it. Saw lots of people out playing soccer, running, walking their dogs. Helped the one lady catch her poodle. She let it off the lead, and it was not going to let her put the lead back on!

Went to the markets later in the morning. Same old, same old. Got a shirt and 2 fridge magnets.

Looked around for things to get in case my bag didn´t turn up. Bought a few things (soccer shirt (anyone want a shirt when I get back?, shampoo (don´t have any anyway), soap, razor (knew I should have got my legs waxed before I left), underarm roll-on (the ¨salt-crystel¨just doesn´t work that well...). Decided not to buy too much until I knew my bag was actually missing for good.

Nathan is 18 and turns 19 in September. He´s here before he goes to uni to study Zoology in Newcastle. We spent most of the day together. He can at least speak a little Spanish.

Finally got to go up the cable car to get a view of Quito. Huge city. Went up another 1000km. Even Nathan was feeling it then.

Got back, had a quick dinner and then went to the airport to get my bag. Glad it was there, did not feel like going shopping...

Keeping contact

Wanted to go for a run, but had a 2 hour sleep instead. Now I´ve nothing to do. It´s dark out, so no walking around outside. Just walked accross the road from my hostel to this internet cafe.

Going out for dinner with Nathan. He is also on the Galapagos volunteer program, and staying in the same hostel as me. I only met him briefly. I think he must be a student. Looks about 20 years old!

What do I really need?

My bag is missing, so lucky I have everything I need in my backpack. Except for my sleeping bag. That´s really the only reason I took the big bag in the first place. I´ve arrived in Quito and I travel to Galapagos on Tuesday morning. We have a ´briefing´ tomorrow at 10am.

No-one came to get me at the airport (they had me arriving at 4pm?). I got a $3 phone card, but couldn´t figure out how to dial the numbers I had. The people at the airport were really friendly and helped me out. Got a taxi to my hostel. Nice enough area, if you are willing to live in a 500m square spot. Security guards and police all over. I´ll find myself on the map and go for a run tomorrow morning.

Apparently there is one other person staying at the hostel where I am that is also going on the volunteer trip. But I couldn´t figure out how to ask the women behind the counter who they are, so I´ll have to wait to meet them tomorrow.

Hot shower. Bought an apple and big bottle of water at the corner store and now I´m doing this...
Everyone just speaks Spanish. Surprise, surprise. Even the keyboard is in Spanish, and I cannot find out how to use all the buttons. Hense ´square´and the copy and paste of the ´at´button for emails.

Things seem really cheap. It´s 20c for 15 minutes online. The water and apple put me back just over a dollar.

Why do I possibly need a bigger case?

WEARING ONTO PLANE:
Money belt; Passport; Wallet; cash, credit card and ATM card
Soloman shoes; pair of socks; Shoe inserts; Crop top & panties; Skivvy; Pants with zip-off legs; Long-sleeved shirt

IN CAMELPACK (Carry on):
Plane tickets; Three copies of passport page; Email addresses/webpages; Travel insurance details; Combination Pad lock; Business cards; International phone card

Toilet paper; Facecloth; soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, ear plugs; Moisturizer; Lipstick; Eye pencil; Period pain tables; Sanitary Pads; Lip balm

Camera; 2 x extra memory cards for camera; Camera cable; Camera charger; Wristwatch; Mobile phone; GPS watch; GPS watch cradle & cord; Battery operated charger for GPS watch & phone; MP3 player & earphones; Skype headset; Memory sticks; Torch; Sunglasses; Reading glasses; Maps; Killerdoko; Spanish dictionary; Pen, small notebook; cup

Rain jacket; White jacket; Running shorts; Running shirt; Beanie; pair of socks; Skins; Underwear

IN SUITCASE (Check in):
Bladder for Camelpack; Cable ties; Photocopies of passport etc. (photo & data page); Souvenir list; Postcard list/labels; Sleeping bag; Silk sleeping bag liner; Binoculars; Maglight; Pocket knife; Umbrella; Heavy duty rubbish bags; Spoon; Books – Kokoda; Ecuador guidebook; Glue stick; Large envelopes; Gifts; Batteries for charger and bathroom light; Mobile phone charger; Brush for cleaning shoes

Toilet paper; Inflatable hangers; Towel; Toilet kit: soap, shampoo, ear plugs, hand sanitizer, dental floss, nail clippers, sanitary pads; face wash; Sards soap; Sink stopper; Rubber door stop

Sewing kit (cotton, needles, buttons); Safety pins; Cloth tape; Nylon cord

Gu-s; Hospital-grade food supplement; Cough and throat drops; Anti-inflammatory; Imodium; Paracetamol; Aspirin; Topical antibacterial ointment; Anti-itch - mechanical device; Sunscreen SPF 30; Insect repellent; Alcohol swabs; Band-Aids for blisters; Bandages; Scissors; Tweezers; Water purifying tables; Eye drops

Running shoes; Thongs; Reef shoes; Hat; Gloves synthetic or wool; 5 pairs running socks; 1 pair sleeping socks; Lightweight shirt; Pants with zip-off legs; Long-sleeved shirt; Underwear; Light scarf; Nighty; Fleece, short-sleeved

One day to go

All packed and ready to go. My trips are on WAYN.com, but you'll only be able to view them if you are signed up as my 'friend'.

Itinerary for trip

I've finally got it ready to send out to everyone. Will email it tonight and tomorrow.