Day 6, Dragon Hill, Floreana

Slowly and surely we are taking over the boat. Our kids have successfully infiltrated the crew - Derry is now manning reception, and announcing the imminent departures over the tannoy, Siena has captured the bar by distracting Carlos with noughts and crosses, hand slapping and thumb wrestling, and Finn is handling the restaurant by hi-fiving all the crew, especially Hugo (Boss!) our main waiter. They also led the birthday cake celebration last night at dinner time. They are all wearing ship t-shirts, Derry in red (originally white but she sought differentiation), Finn in mean black and Siena in maintenance orange!The plan is now to take the bridge which we've been promised at lunchtime. Problem is, we have no forward plan so there may be some revolution team squabbling about our chosen destination and ransom request. Derry will almost certainly ask for an omelette cooked by her favourite chef, Finn will insist on anywhere he can have a small wave pool and Siena will just want a job at a bar - sitting in front of it ideally !

Meanwhile Suzanne has taken the morning hike to Dragon Hill with the rest of the Albatrosses (we were renamed, regrettably) and has scheduled a 2 hour meeting with the Gardners to determine and agree a strategy for boat tipping. They may be some time. Clearly she can't lose the meeting culture that easily!

Dragon Hill is one of the volcano humps that punctuate the islands landscape. We had a dry landing by the beach which had impressive breaking waves but then proceeded to be caught by the waves as they broke over the rocks. After being attacked by wasps and experiencing yet another of Margoth's convoluted explanations, this time about the weather and the seas, we moved off to try and spot some of the 600 land iguanas that inhabit Dragon Hill. But it was hot and sunny and I don't think our hearts were in it. All the newbies were crowding around the 2 or 3 iguanas that were out and about as we marched past with barely a glance. Ellen and Ben had set the pace and were out in front. When we reached a promontory for the obligatory vista photo Margoth expressed how we all had to keep together - so on the return we did - matching Ben and Ellen's pace and leaving Margoth to keep up - I think we'd all had enough of the heat and the wasps - and being told what to do!

I think this is when we sailed for 3 hours during the day and saw 40-50 dolphins swimming alongside. fantastic

Floreana became a 3 line whip for the Linton's - so there were several dissatisfied visitors to the island this afternoon.We landed on the 'green' sand (it could be argued that it had an olive tinge to it - but it certainly sparkled in the sunshine). Then it was a walk over the island, pausing to see about 12 flamingoes in a brackish lagoon before arriving at Stingray beach - the most inviting white fine sand and blue waters - but the stingrays soon became evident in the shallows as did a baby white tipped shark. We then mosied back hearing tales of 'the Baroness, her 3 lovers and her mysterious disappearance (a friend of the Gardner's had visited the Galapagos in 1933 and met the Baroness!) and then it was snorkelling back on the green sand beach. Siena made it into the water with snorkel and attached to Dad - venturing out quite far and close to the rocks and was rewarded with a sighting of a Manta Ray as wellas lots of smaller tropical fish. Last off the beach as usual but the water was so nice and there was no rush to be back on the ship.

Barbeque again this evening, definitely the best meal on the cruise (apart from Derry's multiple pepper and ham omelette, of course!)