SUNDAY, 13 November 2016

Up and at 'em - I got up at 5:10, Jenny at 5:30, finished packing and luggage set outside the door for the crew to take to the airport on Baltra Island. Ate a light breakfast, although there was the normal full course buffet - still recovering from a little stomach too full episode last night.  We departed the boat at 7:00 in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island. We then got on a bus and drove across the island, stopping on the way at a tortoise (tortuga) farm near Chato where the huge tortoises are.  For the most part, they roam free on these large farms (I think our guide said there we six of them).   The farms are owned by individuals but the tortoises do not belong to them; they belong to the government conservation department. Those farmers have agreed to "keep" the tortoises and meet government standards of care by allowing them free roam; they do not feed them, nor can they use any kinds of pesticides that could harm the animals. The farmers do this to protect the species and, in the case of the farm we visited, open the farm to tourists and charge fees.

After spending about 45 minutes there, we boarded the bus to the North side of the island where we left the bus and boarded a ferry for the short trip across the bay to Baltra Island and the airport.  We left late but made up a little time to Guayaquil airport, met our driver, then off to Cuenca.  The Cajas mountains were covered with clouds and we even had rain.

We made it back just in time for Church! Some people we saw for the last time because some don't go on Wednesday nights, which will be our last service.  Pastor Ken announced during the service that he is curtailing the Sunday night services for the future because he and Lisa are so busy with the Dayspring Home.  He also wants to begin a new church so will, once started, have them meet on Sunday nights.  They need much prayer!