On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
arrieve
Two more submissions, mostly of some random photos that didn’t fit in any of the other categories.
Post Office Bay, on Floreana.
Whalers used to have a barrel here where they would leave letters to be picked up by ships on their way back to Europe or the United States. It’s still used, and the guides read off the list of destinations for the postcards other visitors have left. If you take one of the postcards you promise you will deliver it to the recipient.
They didn’t have any awaiting delivery to New York, so I didn’t take one, but I did drop one off, addressed to a friend of mine in Manhattan. And two years later, it was delivered.
A blue-footed booby and a sea lion. I took it from a zodiac, so it’s not as sharp as it could be but it’s still one of my favorites from the trip.
Yes, that’s a penguin. The Galapagos are probably the only place in the world where you can see penguins and flamingoes in the same day, and the Galapagos penguin is the only penguin species found in the Northern Hemisphere.
They’re much smaller than the penguins I saw in Antarctica, and sadly, are endangered, mostly because of global warming. Although the Galapagos straddle the Equator, the weather is quite mild, and the water quite cold, because of sea currents. Which of course aren’t as cold as they used to be.
Another penguin.
A sea lion and a Sally Lightfoot crab on Gardner Island. Sea lions are apparently comfortably lying down anywhere.
Unfortunately, not a great picture (another one taken while bouncing around in a zodiac) but it’s the only picture I got of a red-billed tropicbird. This was on Floreana, and yes, that is its tail.
From the boat, we could see those tails waving like flags out of crevices in the rocks.
A heron who was hanging out near the penguins.
Pinnacle Rock, on Bartolomeo Island. It’s the mostly eroded remains of a volcanic dike that once connected Bartolomeo and Santiago.
OzarkHillbilly
For good reason.
Rob
The booby and the sea lion look like they are waiting for a ship to arrive.
J R in WV
All fine pictures of one of the natural wonders of the world. WE still hope to travel to the Galapagos. someday. Once the plague allows air travel with a little less apprehension.
Mary G
I love the one with the long string tail and the thought of a bunch of them waving like flags is wonderful. These are all awesome, though.
Wag
The story is the Post Office barrel is fantastic. I love that it is still a tradition.
and great photos, as always. I especially like the first.
raven
Awesome!
raven
LOCATED ON FLOREANA ISLAND IN the Galapagos, Post Office Bay has been acting as a sort of passive post station since the 1700s, using nothing but a barrel and the camaraderie of sailers and travelers.
arrieve
@J R in WV: Plus, you will probably want to board a ship once you get there.
I love having the opportunity to relive this trip. If we ever have a post-pan world where travel is not just possible but desirable, I’m going back.
Betty
They are all great, bit I really like the heron shot.
WaterGirl
I’m not sure why, but the photo of the blue-footed booby and the sea lion made me cry this morning. Maybe because it’s just so perfect.
stinger
I love this so much!
Now I have the well-known song from Oklahoma!, “The Booby and the Sea Lion Should Be Friends”, going through my head.
Memorable photos, one and all.
Mike in Oly
IN the shot of the sea lion and the crab, it looks like there is a baby sea lion next to momma there. Blends with the stones very well. Lovely set of pics. That pinnacle rock is awesome.
WaterGirl
@Mike in Oly: I think you are right! Great catch.
JanieM
Thanks for great pics and interesting stories to go with them. I’m especially taken with the heron — such an unusual pose!
Denali
Great photo of the tropicbird! Mine are far away shots in the air. I did find some tropicbird earrings though!
My postcard from the Floreana mailbox never arrived.
We had a great trip though.