Today National Geographic Venture woke up off stunning Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park. We took Zodiacs ashore to start our day of adventure. Some guests opted for the long (7+ miles) Torrey Pines hike to the endemic tree groves of the island; others explored the rugged beauty of Cherry Canyon; still others embarked on Zodiac cruises to explore the sea. Some of our hikers were lucky enough to see a breaching humpback whale while high up on a vista viewpoint, while others saw the adorable and elusive island fox. Regardless of what our guests chose to do today, they were rewarded with an incredible time full of rare nature opportunities. This afternoon was spent hiding from the wind on the leeside of Santa Cruz Island; we had some presentations from our on board experts, and enjoyed the “drink of the day” with fun appetizers during cocktail hour.
4/30/2024
Read
National Geographic Quest
Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands
High swells prevented landing on Anacapa Island this morning, so we anchored off the protected side and enjoyed extended Zodiac cruising through intermittent misty fog. We saw (and heard) many sea lions on the beaches and watched the young ones perform ‘investigative circling’ around the Zodiacs. A pair of harbor seals swam in the kelp canopy and the skies were filled with soaring pelicans and western gulls. We also learned about the giant kelp, and many sampled a piece, generally conceding that it was ‘salty bland’. During brunch, we traveled across gently rolling seas to Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island, passing through a large pod of long-beaked dolphins. Some peeled off to ride our bow wave, gracefully rolling and looking up at us while we looked down on them. Afternoon activities consisted of three varieties of hikes, each offering sightings of the endemic island scrub jay and the lovable island fox. Heavy rains during the previous winter created a ’50 Shades of Green’ scene, punctuated with colors of many different flowers. Cloudless skies added to the overall magic. After a final dinner and introduction of the hotel staff, we watched the traditional guest slideshow, reliving precious memories.
