Not quite live Explorer Mazlatan to Vancouver.

[drron29]

So I start the second cruise with a brief overview of our time in San Diego.We just had a stroll,did some shopping and had a nice lunch.So a picture summing up transport here.A free bike and light rail.

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Back to the transport theme with the Railway Station.

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[drron29]

Lunch was at the Fish Market restaurant.We like this place.I started with the fish and scallop cerviche and had mussels in a garlicky and slightly spicy broth.Loved both.

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Rojaan had the lobster.

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It is next to the Midway.

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[drron29]

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We now went back to the ship.The US authorities were creating havoc.First in the morning the ship wasn't cleared for disembarkation until just after 10am.Several had 11am flights.

Then they went through the ship with a fine tooth comb.Searched every cabin-attendants told they were looking for stowaways.Dogs brought on for that task but obviously drug dogs as well.

Then there was the health inspection.The restaurant was closed until 2.30pm.New passengers couldn't board before then and those who stayed on board couldn't have lunch until then.

An even bigger problem that soon showed up was they insisted that all fruit and vegetables loaded in Mexico had to be thrown out.

But a few more shots when back on board.

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[jpalbny]

Sorry for the rude welcome, Ron and Ann. Hope the next ports are friendlier!

 

Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app

[drron29]

It really didn't effect us JP as we had made the decision to have lunch before reboarding.It was only as we arrived on the ship,coincidentally at the same time as Tim Amm who many will know,that we found out about the problems.Our room attendant,Sharon,was shaken by the experience though.She and our butler Aditya were both great so we chatted to both the hotel director and the head of the butler service to make sure they continued with us on the second leg.

Now for sailaway.We were accompanied by a Coastguard vessel on each side.

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They were ready for action warning off any vessel that got close.

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In 1983 with our son we visited friends on Coranado and I think it was one of these places.

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The fellow was an IT contractor for the Navy and an admiral lived next door.He was then on the John F Kennedy.He made an 8 year old boy very happy.

But back on message.

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[drron29]

We were followed out by the navy.

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And passed the Naval air station.

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[drron29]

And now we pass the submarine base.

 

 

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[drron29]

One thing I like about the USA is the respect shown to your service men and women.The ordinary soldier,sailor or airman has little say in the big decisions and do literally put their lives on the line.

I also appreciate how polite and helpful your service men and women are when interacting with the public even with a couple of nuisances from Australia.

It is good to see that the fallen are given a prime spot for their final resting place.

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Sailaway continues.

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[Stumblefoot]

One thing I like about the USA is the respect shown to your service men and women..

Appreciate your comments regarding those who serve(d) in our military or made the ultimate sacrifice. Also, the pic above is quite a hotel.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[drron29]

Which one of these would you like to spend time in?I know my answer.

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The navy is keeping an eye on us.

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As we head off into the sunset.

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On this second voyage it is great to have Captain Maggie back in charge.Our favourite Silverseas Captain.

[drron29]

A couple of dishes from that night's meal.a lack of variety in veggies and at breakfast-no berries!But this time not really Silverseas fault.

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Sunrise and our first view of the Channel Islands.

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Then our destination Santa Cruz island.

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[drron29]

We had to use the zodiacs to transfer to a local operator's vessel as his is the only craft allowed to land passengers here.He does the transfers from the mainland.There was benefit as it meant only the first service had brought passengers to the island and the second service from the mainland was the vessel that would take us back to the zodiac boarding position so the place wasn't crowded.

One of the old ranches with an olive grove that still survives.

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We pass a buffet for birds.

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[drron29]

The coast is quite rugged.

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[drron29]

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Now we arrive at the landing place.

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Wild flowers are returning.

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The island was divided into 6 ranches.Many farming activities but the main one was sheep.There were also pigs which escaped and wreaked havoc on the flora.On top of that the sheep ranchers didn't like the bald eagle so basically got rid of them allowing the golden eagles to take over.they lived on the endemic foxes which were at the brink of extinction.The bald eagles were introduced so the golden eagles have gone and the fox has made a remarkable comeback.

[drron29]

The landing place is where the National Park headquarters are.Now a collection of old machinery.

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Now it pays to always carefully observe even if it only means you win your bet with the birder that you will find the endemic lizard before he finds the island's endemic blue jay.

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[RachelG]

Appreciate your comments regarding our military. I spent quite a lot of time in San Diego, a great city, as my son graduated from MCRD, then was at Camp Pendleton in his service as a Marine.

[drron29]

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A raven was not the least bit intimidated by the crowds nor were the foxes.

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[drron29]

A small plot of land is still owned by the original ranch family here.

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We now set out on a walk with our birder.He now is under pressure to find us the island Blue Jay.

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The foxes are indeed common.

[drron29]

I went up to Chris and asked what is the little brown bird with yellow legs.he was confused.

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He put the binoculars on to it-a sparrow that has been banded.What good eyesight you have!

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And then I could have been back home-

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Gum trees!

[drron29]

More of the flora.

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The birds here are numerous and much easier to photograph.

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[drron29]

A native cherry.

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[drron29]

It is really interesting reading of the ecology of the Channel islands.Originally they were all joined and not separaed from the mainland by a great distance.The peak animal was the pygmy mammoth-they evolved to be smaller because of the limited territory.They disappeared about the time of man's arrival 12000 years ago.Another unigue animal was a flightless sea duck which disappeared about 2000 years ago.They were literally sitting ducks.

The sheep,cattle and pigs then dramatically changed the environment.DDT saw the elimination of the bald eagle allowing the golden eagle to establish and live off piglets and foxes.Santa Cruz island was donated to the Nature Conservancy in the 1980s and they set about ridding the island of feral sheep and pigs despite the protests of the Animal rights groups.The last pigs were difficult to trap so they brought in New Zealand helicopter marksmen to finally rid the island of pigs.

 

 

But then I found that there hasn't been a great research into the island's insects-at least no according to the NP Rangers when I showed them my pictures-2 black beetles,a red and black beetle and a green fly.

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They knew the red and black beetle was an invader,the green fly almost certainly not endemic but new nothing of the black beetles.

But some more scenery.

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[drron29]

Rojaan turned around early and walked back to the ranger station.However this young fox walked up to her showing no fear or aggression.

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She then found a blue jay.

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[drron29]

I meanwhile kept having birds pose for me.

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But fortunately did not come across any mice.

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[drron29]

Time to head back to the landing site.The coastguard is keeping an eye on us.

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They are building a new wharf.

The type of boat we will head back to the zodiacs in.

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