Commodore
February 3, 2023

Friday 3 February – A great walk in the Metropolitan Natural Park

We had a good night out at anchor, but there is quite a swell and the ferries tend to bounce us around when they pass. We can hear all the commotion of the huge cargo boats leaving the canal. We decided we needed a good walk as we had done most of the boat jobs. The Generator service guy recommended that we go to this big wild park in the city, so that is what we did and it was great advice.

The park is 573 acres in the middle of town, listing 227 bird species and 45 mammals. Once again the park surrounds a pimple of a hill, so we did some good sweating up the steep parts. It was a lovely walk almost entirely in the shade of enormous big trees. We also had a great time spotting a few exotic birds, a Squirrel cuckoo (a favourite of Isobel and Chris’s trip) and a Black headed Trogan were highlights. We also came across a few creatures we have yet to identify. It was a very good walk, about 6.5 kms and plenty to see with some good views from the top. The leaf cutter ants had us intrigued with their long lines of marching ants carrying twice of three times their body size, going miles up hills, often using the smooth gutters for an easier path. A couple of times we found their line across the path had been broken, they all dump their leaves and wonder around in confusion. Apparently they follow each other by scent, so if the line is broken it sends them into disarray.

On the trail

Big ant nests everywhere

Huge tall trees

Views from the top

These creatures are too difficult to spell their name! Spot the leaf cutters going up the gutter

Looks almost like a passion fruit

The Trogon we saw

Huge palms laden with fruit

Almost like a tiny dear

He’s been in the wars!

Vicious thorns

Looking out for leaf cutter ants

Back to PolePole out at anchor, happy to see her safely secured in the hurly burly of boat activity around us. Jonny our friend from Norfolk arrived late afternoon, he is staying with us to Galapagos. He is following a trend of bringing out an entire suitcase for us. He had 50m of anchor rope or us, 3 kgs of coffee and loads of bits and pieces!We went out for super at the other marina called Flamenco to ‘Fish Lovers’ which came highly rated. It looked rather empty and basic when we arrived, but it soon filled up and we had very good ceviche with Leche de Tigre, which Luke had recommended to us. We were all pretty exhausted, no late partying for us like our Swedish Arc compatriots! I think there are 3 Swedish boats in the fleet and they were having a last blast in a town before our departure tomorrow.