Exploring the World

California grown Jonathan got to start exploring the world at very young age. "I was lucky enough to have parents that encouraged me to enjoy the outdoors and loved taking me to see our country's National Parks." Jonathan's love for exploration has taken him around the globe searching for adventure, from snowboarding the Southern Alps of New Zealand to studying Spanish in Madrid to climbing the granite walls of Yosemite. Currently Jonathan handles Austin-Lehman's website, social media and marketing efforts. 

I'll just come out and say, traveling to Europe isn't cheap. When you factor in airfare, hotels, activities, food, guides and transportation... it adds up to be a lot. That is why we've designed a 5 day/4 night Holland bike tour that shows you the highlights of Holland but without the major costs of a luxury adventure vacation. But don't think just because it isn't a luxury tour that you aren't going to get the same Austin-Lehman "WOW" from this trip. This tour includes a local guide, 4 nights accommodation, bikes, transportation, almost all your meals and a visit to the Keunkenhof. When you think of Holland I hope you think of frolicking through the tulips fields, (hopefully it's not just me) but regardless this tour takes you to all the great spots to see the tulips. The Keukenhof is the worlds largest bulb flower park. They have over 4.5 million tulips in 100 varieties, 7 million flowers bulbs are planted, more than 2,500 trees in 87 varieties and has 15km of footpaths to enjoy the flowers. I was lucky enough to visit the Keukenhof in 2011 and I was in disbelief at the variety of flowers. I put a few photos down below for your viewing pleasure.

Fear not, we don't spend all our time frolicking through the tulips on this tour. We also ride the fietspaden (bike paths) to explore the coastal region of the country and even ride through the dunes outside Zandvoort. Not to mention seeing the famous windmills and canals of this gorgeous country.

I think what makes Holland the perfect place for a European bike tour is how flat it is! You get to see so much more of the country when you don't have to worry about struggling up steeps hills and also the diversity of the landscape is quite stunning and unexpected. At least I was blown away by Holland!

Till next time, start thinking Holland Budget for 2013!

Your friendly Holland biker,

Jonathan

For me when I think of biking tours, I think of Tuscany bike tours. Maybe it's the scenic routes, the history, the architecture, cuisine, maybe it's even the wine... but regardless of why Tuscany comes to mind; it is a remarkable place to bike though. I got the opportunity to go on our Tuscany tour last year and I was a bit blown away. I had been to Italy before but had only gotten to go to Milan for a couple of days. No disrespect on Milan, but Tuscany was best explained by one of our guest on the trip "This is like a fairy tale... this is the Italy I've always dreamed off." That quote was while biking from Siena to San Gimignano on one of my favorite routes I've ever ridden.

The nostalgia of the Tuscany region is what really makes biking there special, what makes it a treat is after a long day of biking enjoying a glass of vino from a local vineyard that you rode by earlier that day.  

Farewell dinner at Hotel Paggeria Medicea in Artimino

I personally think that seeing a country by bike is the best way to see a country, you get an intimate experience with the routes, the towns, the people and it gives you the ability to see things at your pace. You just can't get that same experience by a bus tour or even renting a car and driving through a country.

Want to see a little bit more of our Tuscany bike tours? Check out our photo gallery on Tuscany

You friendly biker,

Jonathan

P.S. Leave a comment and tell me why you would love do a bike tour in Tuscany, we're always excited to hear why people want to travel.

Alright first let me explain what an E-Bike is for the folks that are wondering, an "E-Bike" is a hip way of saying electric bike.  Now for those wondering why I think E-Bikes are totally radical, first off they make riding a lot easier. I know what you're thinking "Isn't that cheating?" well it depends on who you ask. Last year I got to be a part of Austin-Lehman's first trip with E-Bikes and we tested them out on our Tuscany bike tour. Our guests demoing the bikes were all in their sixties and about average bikers. Cycling tours in Tuscany is probably the last place you'd think to see someone in their sixties, because there are some serious climbs in the region. But these E-Bikes level the playing field and make conquering a bike tour in Tuscany possible for almost everyone. Our guest were able to keep up with me on the hills and I use to race bikes, just goes to show you how much help these bikes can provide.

The photo above is two our guest giving each other some love after cruising up a good size hill in Tuscany. I don't think you'd see too many smiles after a hill climb like that, maybe some huffing and puffing... But with these E-Bikes you have the control of giving yourself a little extra boast when you need it. Trust me, these bikes don't do all the work for you. Our Diamant electric bikes with Trek Ride+™ technology gives you an assist level of I to IV, so when you need a little help you have it. 

These E-Bikes are perfect for multigenerational families traveling together or just for someone who wants to do a bike tour in a place like Tuscany but doesn't want to kill themselves trying to keep up with the group. Our E-Bikes are available for $25 per day on our European bike tours and are a real electric ride.

That's it for now, till next time get outside and ride!

Your friendly biker,

Jonathan

Delicate Arch is probably what most people picture when they think of Arches National Park and for good reason! This 65-foot freestanding natural arch is formed of Entrada Sandstone and has been worn away by weathering and erosion. Hiking to this landmark is a pretty decent hike, but is only about 1.5mi from the trailhead. From the trail head you can see the remains of the John Welsey Wolfe Ranch, which was built in 1888 and abandoned in 1910. Along the way you'll pass by an excellant Ute petroglyph that depics horses and a bighorn sheep hunt, as well as Frame Arch; Frame Arch is a great spot to photograph Delciate Arch. Once you get to the arch the La Sal Mountains are framed to the southeast. Arches National Park is just five miles north of Moab and is one of our hikes on our Utah Adventure Vacations. 

Now get out there and see it in "real life"

Your friendly adventurer,

Jonathan

Want to see some more photos of our Moab adventures? Check out our flickr gallery Canyonlands Photos

Today I wanted to talk about and share one of my favorite towns in the world, Jackson, Wyoming. With a population just under 10,000 and located just outside Grand Teton National it is prime time for adventurers. I was lucky enough to guide our Wyoming Family- Yellowstone/Teton adventure this past week, which starts and ends in the beautiful town of Jackson.

Some History on Jackson:
As part of the Hayden Expedition of 1871 and 1872, William Henry Jackson took the first photos of the Tetons and Yellowstone Park.  His photos, along with paintings by Tom Moran, convinced Congress to protect Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park became the first National Park in 1872.  Grand Teton National Park was created in 1920 and greatly expanded in 1950 by the generous efforts of John D. Rockefeller, who purchased and then donated over 30,000 acres. The Town of Jackson was named in 1894,  some of the early buildings remain and can be found throughout the area of the Town Square.  

What to do in Jackson:
1) Bike Antelope Flats, it is a great and easy ride! Enjoy the scenery with the Tetons in view the whole bike ride and make sure you stop by the T. A. Moulton Barn. Often referred to as the most photographed barn in America, I think the backdrop of the Tetons soaring up might have something to do with that.

2) Cable car ride, take the tram to the top of Jackson Hole Resort for some amazing views!

3) Look Up! If you head to Jackson and don't take the time to look at the stars over the Tetons, then you are missing out.

4) Yee Haw! Head on down to the Jackson Rodeo, experience a real wild west rodeo!

5) Jenny Lake, just outside Jackson sits this beautiful lake. The Jenny Lake Loop Road is about 5 miles long and can be easily accessed from the Teton Loop Road. There is also a 6.5 mile hike around the lake, which is a pretty flat and easy trail.

One more thing, I'm sure you'll be hungry after all these activities... I recommend the Trio for dinner, they are an American Bistro with delicious cuisine. Save some room for dessert, the s'more pie is amazing! 

That's it, 5 fun things to do in Jackson! Now all you need to do is go experience it for yourself! Austin-Lehman offers family and adult trips that show you the best of Grand Teton and Yellostone National Park. Check out our Wyoming Vacations.

Your friendly adventurer,

Jonathan

Jonathan here checking in from Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park! Today we had an amazing start to our Yellowstone/Teton Family Adventure. We started our morning bright and early in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, then we drove up to Antelope Flats and had a gorgeous bike ride in front of the Grand Tetons. (photo below) We also stopped at the T.A Moulton Barn "the most photographed barn in America" and of course I took a photo of it. (photo below) Then we headed up to have a picnic lunch at Jackson Lake and then we headed into Yellowstone Park and hiked around Old Faithful. Tonight we are staying at the beautiful Old Faithful Inn, the worlds largest log cabin hotel. Right outside the inn is Old Faithful!

Tomorrow we have a big day of hiking and biking in Yellowstone National Park! Our Yellowstone tour is going hiking at Fountain Paint Pots, biking to Grand Prismatic, hiking the Wapiti Trail and finishing at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. I'm going to keep this blog short, because we have a big day tomorrow! But below you'll see some photos from today, keep checking back for more stories from my trip!

Your friendly adventure guide,

Jonathan

Some new friends enjoying a picinic at Jackson Lake

ALA Guide Eric serving up some starberry shortcake on a pinic and a wildflower at Jackson Lake

This week I will be guiding our Yellowstone/Teton Family Adventure and I couldn't be more excited about it. First of all I will be guiding with two other amazing guides, Eric and Nikki Keely; two of the funnest people I know. Second I'm ecstatic about guiding a family trip in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, because I remember when I was young and got to visit these amazing National Parks. I would say that visiting Yellowstone Park was one of the defining moments that got me hooked on the outdoors and nature. There is nothing quite like Yellowstone, from geology to the wildlife, it's an epicenter for the outdoor enthusiast. I think this is going to be an amazing week and I can't wait to meet all our guests tomorrow morning. Tomorrow we will be biking Antelope Flats right in the shadow of the Tetons, checking out Moulton Barn,  having lunch at Jackson Lake and watching Old Faithful go off. Then calling it a night at Old Faithful Inn, the largest log hotel in the world; possibly even the largest log building in the world! 

This week I will trying my best to blog and post photos from the trip, so you can get a first-hand experience of an Austin-Lehman adventure! So keep checking pack for some updates!

Till then enjoy the photo above from Grand Teton Nation Park and the photo below of Lewis Lake in Yellowstone National Park.

Your friendly adventure guide,

Jonathan

Traveling is meant to be one of the greatest experiences you can have in life, but sometimes it can get a little stressful. So here a 5 simple things you can to do relax while traveling.

1. Yoga- The definition of yoga is a generic term for a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline. Sometimes traveling you forget about those three factors and it gets you stressed out. I suggest giving yoga a try while traveling, it won't just help you relax... it will make your whole body function better. You also don't have to worry about going to a yoga studio and practicing for an hour, there are a lot of simple and easy poses you can do in your hotel that will have you feeling relaxed after just a couple of poses.

2. Take a walk- Not only is walking around a great way to see the location your in, but it's also a great way to get some fresh air and clear your head. Maybe you'll even meet some cool people along the way.

3. Get some sleep- Trust me I am as guilty as anyone for not sleeping while traveling, but it is so important for your mind and body to sleep. I know you want to get every minute out of traveling, but you have to think about the future of your trip. If you don't get any sleep your body and mind will hate you the next day. 

4.Be Prepared- I would say hands down the #1 reason why people get stressed out while traveling was because they weren't prepared. So take the extra time and plan before your trip and during your trip. I find that I am able to sleep and relax a lot better on a trip if I have my next day planned out. 

5. Relax- Yep, believe it or not it can be that simple sometimes! If you are having a bad day or just stressed out, take a step back and breathe. I think the scientific term is "take a chill pill", you didn't come this far to be stressed out your entire trip. Sometimes you just need to make lemons into lemonade!

That's it, 5 simple things you can do to relax while traveling. I really hope these tips helped and you can stay relaxed during your next trip.

Did I miss something? Leave a comment and let me know how you like to relax on a trip.

Your friendly and relaxed traveler,

Jonathan

 This past weekend some friends and I had a little scare while on a backpacking trip in Montana. So why am I about to tell you about a friend getting hurt? Because, it was a quick reminder of why it is so important to always be prepared! No one but me had a first-aid kit on my trip and even one friend said:

 "I usually always bring a first-aid kit, but I just thought all was going to be good this weekend."

Unfortunately that wasn't the case when our friend sunk through a patch of snow and cut his ankle open, this was an accident that could have happened to anyone. Luckily I was prepared and I have first-aid training and was able to fix up my friend while in the backcountry. The whole hike back all everyone kept saying was "Wow, this was a real eye open to ALWAYS bring a first-aid kit." Even if it is just for a short hike, you never know when it will come in handy or even maybe save a life!

Another reason why I bring this up is the importance of a guide. Even though I was "off the clock" this past weekend, my guide and first-aid training came in a lot of good. The number one rule for being a guide is being prepared at all times. I know that our guides are always prepared and thats something to look forward to on an Austin-Lehman adventure, the fact that you know your guide is always there to help you, even if it is an emergency. 

Just a friendly reminder to stay safe and alway be prepared!

Your friendly and prepared hiker,

Jonathan

I felt with how much I enjoy spending time in the outdoors and in our National and State Parks that I would write something to help make them better. But something I've found with participating in local clean-ups is that you have to make it simple for people to help. So here are 3 simple things you can to do help protect, save and make mother nature a lot happier.

#1 LEAVE NO TRACE- This should be common sense, but I need to reconfirm that this is the most important rule whether you are at your local park or a National Park. It's simple, don't leave any sign you were there and it doesn't just mean leaving trash. It means not taking anything from the parks and also not disturbing the natural habitats, which includes disturbing the wildlife.

#2 Stay on the Trails- I know some people are thinking, "what does going off the trail do?" well I'm glad you asked. Many trails have a lot of people on them everyday, so what ends up happening is more and more people start going off the path and when you do that you are damaging the soil, plant life and most likely disturbing the wildlife. There's a time and a place for bushwhacking, but if you can stay on the trail the better it is for everyone and everything.

#3 Pick up a Piece of Trash- You want me to do what??? Yes, I want you and everyone who enjoys the outdoors to pick up just one piece of trash every time they go out. This is a practice I started about 5-6 years ago and it is something I'm very passionate about. I know we can't clean up everywhere we go and every piece of trash we see, but we can do our part to make things a little better each and every time we head out to enjoy the wilderness. 

2 more things... One,I hope these simple tips helped and two I challenge you to go out and do your part. If everyone tries to make things just a little better than we can all make a huge difference!

Thank You!

Your Friendly Nature Lover,

Jonathan

When most people think of beating the heat of summer they think of heading to the beach, but for me beating the heat is heading up to the mountains. Crowded hot beaches aren't the way to escape the heat, if you really want to escape the heat you go on a glacier trek or summit an alpine peak. So here you go, 5 of my favorite places to beat the heat of summer.

Alberta- Home to glaciers, soaring peaks and electric blue/green alpine lakes. There really isn't a better place to cool off then with a trip to Alberta. Glacier trekking, biking at 7,000 feet and riding through forest, hiking to alpine lakes and hanging glaciers. But my favorite way to cool of in Alberta is with a Canadian Kiss... A Canadian Kiss is a big splash of cold water to your face while your rafting down a river, it packs a lot bigger punch than a French kiss.

Glacier National Park- Just saying Glacier National Park should cool you off a little. Glacier is home to absolutely breathtaking views, gorgeous lakes and rich alpine valleys. The glaciers that carved out these magnificent rocky peaks are still at work, but not for too much longer. Cool off in Glacier while there are still glaciers to marvel at. 

Yellowstone National Park-  Yellowstone park is a world renown destination for adventure, but what better place to cool off then somewhere where theres snow in July! Yellowstone's Plateau sits at 8,000 feet, being this high in elevation tends to leave the park at a pretty nice temperature in the summer. But if you do get hot try taking a dip in Yellowstone Lake, the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 feet. 

Yosemite National Park- Growing up in Los Angeles, Yosemite was my getaway from the hot crowed beaches of Southern California. For me walking amongst giant 300ft tall giant Sequoia trees is a lot better than walking through crowds of people on the beach. Also the beach is lacking 3,000ft granite walls, huge waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife. 

Austria- I can't not include a country famous for its mountain peaks. Imagine cooling of in the same mountain meadows where they filmed "The Sound of Music" or cycling along the Salzach River. If that's not enough to cool you off, you can always go paragliding over the Austrian Alps. Just a thought...

Well that's it, 5 places that will help you beat the heat of summer! Also for your viewing pleasure I made a flickr galley: 50 Photos to beat the heat

How do you like to beat the heat? Leave a comment and let me know!

Your friendly mountain man,

Jonathan

P.S. I have been to all of these destinations, so if you have any question just shoot me an email: jon@austinlehman dot com

Over the years my Dad has taken me on a lot of trips and I always dreamed about taking him on one. Recently I was finally able to return the favor, so where do two adventure loving, tree hugging, wildlife enthusiast, nature freaks go on vacation? Simple... The Galapagos Islands! Next up to decide was where to stay, my Dad and I are not the type of travelers that look to stay in fancy hotels. We are the type of travelers that want a unique place to stay that gives us a real sense of being in the destinations, luckily for us we got to stay at the Galapagos Safari Camp. (Photos above)

The Galapagos Safari Camp was the ultimate place to stay for us, you get to sleep in these massive safari tents far away from the city. This allows for a quiet, private and stunning location in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. This is camping in style! All the tents have showers, hardwood floors and comfy beds, with my Dad being in his sixties it was a nice alternative to the camping we use to do. 

Not to mention the amazing staff they have at the camp, we got to meet the owners Michael and Stephanie who have built this wonderful property from the ground up. It is inspiring to see their passion and love for this place. Then there's all the other smiling faces at the camp, everyone there was just too good to us and made us feel right at home. Another nice touch was every night before dinner the chef would come out grinning ear to ear and tell us about our meal. 

For activities the Galapagos was the perfect fit for my Dad and I. We got to explore volcano craters, lava tubes, snorkel and swim with seal lions, see giant tortoises and I got to surf! We both got everything we were looking for out of this trip and now we're planning our next adventure together! 

Your friendly Galapagos lover,

Jonathan

P.S. You can check out my Dad's account of our adventure here: 

Part 1: My Adventures in Ecuador

Part 2: My Adventures in Ecuador

Video: Jonathan and Jerry swimming with seal lions

Today after being in the office all day I am really wishing I was on a cycling tour in the Southwest right about now. Specically on our Utah-Arches to Moab adventure, biking in Utah is such a neat experience. There is just something about the landscape and the bright red arches that blows your mind! It is a different world in itself, look at those characters in the photo below... thats what a great time looks like and Utah adventure vacations are the way to get that feeling where you just want to jump up and wave your hands in the air. It's hard to pick a favorite part of this trip, but for me it is biking in Canyonlands National Park and then hiking up to Mesa Arch (photo below) 

I just can't wait till I get back to Utah and get some biking done!!! Well that's it for me today, just wanted to share where I wish I was right now!

Where would you rather be? Leave a comment and let me know!

Your friendly biker,

Jonathan

Today I was dreaming about Tuscany, not sure if it was because I was hungry or because I was dreaming about being out on the open road with my bike. None the less I wanted to share some memories I had from one of my cycling tours I have done in Italy, specifically my bike ride from Florence to Sienna...

First things first, I am positive that a biking is the best way to spend your European vacation. Biking just gives you the freedom to explore what you want, at the pace you want. You experience so much more by biking, then you would walking or taking a tour bus. We left Florence early in the morning and drove south an hour to Castellina in Chianti, where we started the day of cycling. The weather was perfect that day, sunny and warm. Right before we started our ride from Castellina, our wonderful guide George surprised us with a silver platter of dried fruit, a great boost of energy before a long ride. Then we set out on our biking tour to Siena, with four of our guest trying out the new E-bikes (electric bikes).

Right off the bat you see the beauty of the Tuscany region, vineyards and classic Italian homes spread out through the countryside as far as the eye can see. We had an early lunch in Radda and then set out to continue our real Italian cycling tour. Sometimes in order to get the best views of an area you have to work for it and Italy makes you work for some of those views with its hills, but with hard work comes reward and after each hill there was an incredible view and a nice long downhill to follow.

Once we biked into Siena you are greeted by medieval buildings and bright red brick buildings. The nostalgia that Siena packs is quite impressive and the city fits my perfect image Italy. 

Well that's it for now, got to get back to real life and stop dreaming...

Your friendly biker,

Jonathan

First off I need to be honest, I'm not much of a foodie and quite the picky eater. But even for a picky eater like me Tuscany spoiled my taste buds. A European vacation is probably the best time to step out and enjoy the the taste of a country, especially when your on a bike tour in Tuscany! There is nothing like stopping at a local gelateria in the middle of a long bike ride and enjoying the silky smooth taste of Italian gelato. I don't want to go as far as to say it's heaven... But it's pretty close! Then you have diner, which is prime time to refuel after a long day of biking. I just couldn't get enough of the local bread and olive oil... stuffing myself at every meal on it. But I always saved some room for the main course and of course I ate a lot of pasta's and pizza while I was there. Maybe it wasn't so much of stepping out of my comfort zone for food, but trust me when I say I enjoyed it! Last but not least there is the wine... This one is new to me, being fairly young and not much of a drinker I wasn't too keen on wine before I went to Italy. But leave it to a wine tasting tour in Tuscany to develop my palette for wine. My favorite and one you need to try (especially if you're not into red wine) is prosecco, which is a white wine made from the Glera (Prosecco)  grape. Now I need to go make some pasta and have a glass of prosecco!

Your friendly Tuscany lover,

Jonathan

We just wrapped up guide training at the ALA Farm and one of my favorite parts of training is seeing all the guides. Working in the office we don't get to see too much of them during the season, so I enjoy spending some time with them while they are here. But today I want to highlight James Bradbury, this guy makes me proud to sell our trips. His passion for guiding and sharing his love for the outdoors is contagious... James just knows how to make everyone feel relaxed and comfortable, its kind of a gift he has! This season James will be guiding our Yellowstone Tours and Montana Vacations and I couldn't be more excited for our guest to meet James. I'm pretty sure he feels the same way about meeting our guest, he just loves showing everyone a good time.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on a truly amazing guide! To learn more about James check out his guide profile.

Sincerely, 

Jonathan

Ecuador's slogan is "love life" and I feel like couldn't love life anymore than I do after visiting Ecuador! Our guide told us a joke about how all the other countries asked GOD why he was so overly kind to Ecuador when he created it. Because Ecuador has it all, my first day I'm ziplining through a tropical rainforest, next I'm horseback riding at 15,000ft and then mountain biking at the footsteps of Cotopaxi the worlds highest active volcano, followed by some surfing with sea iguanas and seal lions in the Galapagos. Not to mention our amazing accommodations at Tierra Del Volcan where we slept in authentic haciendas and the awesome safari tents we stayed in at the Galapagos Safari Camp. The diversity of activities and experiences that are possible in Ecuador are endless! From the flora and fauna to the beaches and volcanoes, there is such an extreme variety of microclimates, biodiversity and fun to be had. You pretty much get everything in Ecuador and it was such an amazing experience to see. Keep checking back for more photos and video from my trip to Ecuador!

I can't wait to go back to this amazing country!

Your friendly Ecuador lover,

Jonathan

Today I was dreaming of Canada... Why you ask? Because last summer I was lucky enough to go on one of Austin-Lehman's hiking vacations in Alberta on their Banff to Jasper trip. It was one of the most amazing trips I've ever been on. There are a lot of beautiful landscapes in the world, but for me mountains are where its at. So this trip to the Canadian Rockies was a dream come true for me. Massive peaks composed of sedimentry rock such as limestone and shale create these rocky peaks almost every where you look. I've always had a passion for hiking in the mountains, its just something about them that calls to me. But my favorite hike on this trip had to be hiking Sentinel Pass in Banff National Park. The hike starts at Moraine Lake, a beautiful glacially-fed lake with stunning blue colors. From there you head up the trail and into the Valley of the Ten Peaks (photo below), having these huge peaks all lined up alongside you is astonishing. There are also some hanging glaciers that are in view while on the trail. From there you keep going up until you get to Pinnacle Peak and Mount Temple (photos above), there you will find a high notch between the two peaks and a decently steep climb to the summit. But once you get to the summit the views will take your breathe away, soaring jagged peaks and crystal blue lakes as far as the eye can see. That's it for dreaming today, thanks for letting me share my Banff to Jasper trip and my dreams with you!

Your friendly hiker,

Jonathan 

Galapagos Day 3- We took a boat ride on the Narel II to the Island Plazas. We were greater by some seals and land iguanas. We also saw a variety of birds including blue footed and Nazca boobies. We also saw a red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, Darwin's finches, lava lizards, sea iguanas, Sally-lightfoot crabs and green turtles. Then off to the La Plazas for some snorkeling, it was quite amazing... We got to swim with four friendly sea lion pups!!! I felt like I was in an episode of planet earth. It was just on of those extraordinary moments where humans we're interacting with animals in a natural environment.

Another thing about my trip, all of out staff and help have been fantastic and have really made our trip. Galapagos Safari Camp really has something special, the whole atmosphere of the place is so inviting. We had sundowners on this amazing observatory deck and watch the sunset set as everyone recapped the wonderful times we've had in the Galapagos. 

I think I could spend a lot more time here, unfortunately I leave tomorrow....

Your friendly traveler,

Jonathan

Day 2 Galapagos- First stop was at java lava a sustainable coffee farm, they are doing great work to provide an ecological friendly coffee farm and the coffee is amazing. Next we headed to the Cerro Mesa to see the view of the islands and a collapsed volcano.

But the highlight of the today had to be surfing Tortuga Bay, it was probably the coolest thing I've done! Walking past sea iguanas on the beach with a surf board and then catching waves with sea lions! Just being in the Galapagos is amazing but there isn't a word to describe how awesome it was to go surfing in the Galapagos! Then to cap that off I got to wake surf behind the dingy boat to get back to the boat. 

Then to get back to the boat and have a cerveza and some great new friends waiting... what a way to end a good day at the beach!

Once we got back to the Galapagos Safari Camp we had another delicious diner by the wonderful and creative chef here at the camp. It's a rare thing these days to have a chef come out before each meal with a huge grin of excitement on his face as he explains the meal and how it was prepared.

Tonight I am going to bed with a big grin on my face tonight! Tomorrow is another full day of activities!

Your friendly surfer,

Jonathan