Killing time, reflecting on the wins

I figured I'd document some recent physical, mental, and spiritual wins since we officially have a week left in Ecuador. We are posted up in a coffee shop on Santa Cruz Island between ferry rides. Spoiler alert: the ferries are fine. The sea has been pretty smooth and it turns out I worked myself up for nothing (surprise, surprise). We were up at 4:30 this morning to catch the morning ferry from Isabela to here. The sunrise was simply and utterly ambrosial. We have one more ferry ride this afternoon and although the sea is choppier in the afternoon, I have a feeling it's going to be okay ;). After all, I've survived many John Ryan boat days on Lake George. I feel as though those experiences were preparing me for this moment - thanks Mr. Ryan!

For now, I'm listening to Beyoncé and trying to sit up straigther. It really is one moment at a time.

Physical

~9 mile hike to Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island. This volcano is on the same tectonic plate as Hawaii and has erupted several times in the last 50 years. An eruption in 2005 sparked touristic interest and the island has been developing since. It's a “younger” island in terms of geologic age, clean water access, susceptibility to power outages, and facilities in general. We liked the laid back atmosphere and enjoyed cooking our own meals and drinking from coconuts on the beach. On the hike, we met a British couple who has lived on their boat for 7 years and counting. They sail into ports of various countries and stay for awhile with no deadline. I overheard the man commenting on the “loud, obnoxious Americans” ahead of us. When I told them where we were from, his wife began profusely apologizing. I winked at her and told him, “I'm from New York, you're going to have to do better then that to insult me.” He burst out laughing and often remarked, “Hey New York, check this out!” while pointing out various things. The guy knew a lot about birds and sulphur.

Bike ride to Wall of Tears. This is a historical site that is the only lasting evidence of prison camps on Isabela Island in the 1940s-1950s. It's a wall made of rock that's about 50 meters long. We appreciated not only the masonry but the heat in which they constructed it - I really can't imagine how it was humanly possible, and it sounds like that was probably the point.

Mental

This one. I do feel the most progression and up close examination of my habits, comforts, fears, hopes, etc. I guess the biggest theme here is doing the scary, hard thing. No matter what it is. I want to incorporate more joy in these moments. Like riding a roller coaster, screaming my face off but laughing in between dips. I feel like I accomplished this on our first ferry ride when they couldn't get the motor started. One of the workers reached in a drawer and grabbed a few rusty screwdrivers and a can of oil. They wrenched on that thing and got her started shortly after. Laughing between the dips.

Spiritual

Experiencing awe in the following forms… Small beaches we stumbled upon that we had to ourselves. Hammerhead sharks swimming up to us at Tortuga Bay. Stingrays flapping in the break. Countless iguanas feverishly making the trek to lay their eggs. Tortoises gnawing on cactus spikes. And counting…