Turtles and Satellites

It's our last day on an incredibly hot Ascension Island - we reckon temperatures have been up around 34 degrees in Georgetown, although it's cooler up on Green Mountain.   But, in spite of melting, everyone has really enjoyed their short time on this extraordinary island.

At first sight it seems uninviting but, as you get to know it, you find more and more fascinating features with surprises around every corner.  The night before last we went down with the Turtle Conservation Officer to Long Beach, just a few minutes' walk from town.   We had to wait quite a while for Jackie to find a female turtle which had already started laying her eggs and which we could therefore watch without causing disturbance.  But what a reward.   She creates a deep chamber into which about 100 ping-pong-ball size eggs are laid and then covers it up, disguising its whereabouts by moving forward as she throws back the sand with her flippers.   Then and only then can she return to the sea and start her long journey back to Brazil.   At this time of year the hatchlings, too, are racing to the sea under cover of darkness.

This morning we went down again as dawn broke.  We saw four females returning, and a couple of hatchlings braving attack from the circling Frigatebirds.   It was probably our presence which ensured the little ones made it for, once daylight comes, the birds have the upper hand and the little ones stand very little chance.

So much for turtles, but what of satellites?   Well, with one of our group particularly interested in such things, we arranged for a private visit to the Ariane Satellite Tracking Station, and fascinating it was too.  Quite honestly, I didn't understand much of it but there you are - it was still interesting.

This morning we're heading up to the defunct NASA station which one of my previous clients described as "something out of the Man from U.N.C.L.E." - and most folk over 50 will know what he meant!  The site also affords fantastic views over the Letterbox area where the cat and rat eradication programme has meant that seabirds have returned to nest on the main island of Ascension for the first time for many years.   

Tonight will find us on the RAF flight to Brize Norton where we arrive tomorrow morning.  I'll have been away nearly 4 weeks and in many ways it's gone in a flash.  We've seen and done super things, met some really interesting and fun people and missed out on gales and the like!   But, as always, it will be good to be home - there's nowhere quite like it!