Defy expectations. Standout like a Blue-footed Booby

E176: Galapagos adventures

We put our minds together as one and thank all the birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them the gift of beautiful songs. Each morning they greet the day and with their songs remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader and to watch over the world. To all the Birds, from the smallest to the largest, we send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.

— Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Abundance

Dear Tilter,

I’m finding my land legs again, playing catch-up in three different classes, and oohing and aahing over the many photos and underwater videos we have taken collectively as a family. Stepping into the polar vortex and -20C windchill was a shock after a week in humid, damp +23C days snorkelling in warm water!

But I am feeling beyond blessed.

First, thank you to Tilt tribe member Jen for recommending the Galapagos.
I +1000% recommend it to anyone interested in nature. While it had always been on our bucket list, I had considered it out of reach - financially and physically - for a family of five. This is not your ‘quick weekend beach getaway’. But the Galapagos is a destination worthy of a landmark occasion.

Second. Abundance.
“My cup overfloweth.” We created a bingo card on the way to the islands listing the species we hoped to see, and the number of each. I thought it would be like a safari or bear watch, where you are “hunting” for sightings of each fauna. But we were blown away starting day one when a land iguana stepped out to greet us under the GPS (Galapagos Port Seymour) airport sign! 200+ giant tortoises later we gave up counting and just sported a wide grin at the glory and gifts surrounding us.

The diversity of this volcanic archipelago is astounding. Climate has impacted these islands as it has everywhere else. We watched sea turtles mating in the warm waters in mid-January, a month ahead of schedule. Yet we see exactly why Darwin made these islands famous: the evolution and adaptability of species. And integration. These species support each other in a tightly balanced ecosystem. It offers me hope for what could be possible. #HeirloomSkills #Community #Adaptability #21stCenturySkills

Third. Present and Disconnected.
At first, I was disappointed. My phone kept running out of battery on the day trips. The wi-fi turned out to be soooo bad it was good! With poor wi-fi connectivity only available in the hotels, I was often forced to slow down, switch off and be more present during our family meals. I did not achieve ‘peak disconnect’ as my trusty phone was my constant camera (and my three adult children have not grown out of the ‘enuf now Mum’ looks they used to give me when they were kids). Our youngest took along a film spool camera. He has taken fewer photos - but they are amazingly rich in contrast and attention and detail.

You may not have known it, but so many members of Tribe Tilt traveled to the Galapagos alongside me (in my head)! Some of you have already received photos or emails as wi-fi permitted, triggered by a particular conversation we may have shared - a diving Galapagos penguin, a cluster of sea lions or a pelican, perhaps. Or a marine iguana signalling us to slow down. Each time I raised my camera to focus, I was grateful I’d taken

Steven Foster

‘s photography class. I’d straighten my shot against the horizon, search for contrast, and look for the light.

It will be impossible and overwhelming to share everything with each of you. If you are a member of Tribe Tilt, we probably share an appreciation of nature and travel. If you are interested or have questions, DM me, and I will dribble some photos out over the next few editions.

Time. Money. Energy.

These three rarely balance. When we are young we have lots of time and energy, but lack money. In our 30s-50s we seem constantly low on all three as we juggle work, extended family, and home. Then we get to 60, and the energy saps.

When I completed my 1000-day radar exercise in September 2024, it exposed a fortuitous “window of time”. I’m in decent health. I have intentionally crafted my career so I can operate from anywhere in the world. Our kids have all graduated.

So I’m intentionally and aggressively ratcheting forward the adventurous world travel on our list, journeys that are strenuous and more active. I could wait. But why?

With this new urgency, I revisited the Galapagos trip - something I had always considered out of reach financially and physically (I’m prone to travel sickness and hate being cold and wet!) - and asked: what could this look like if it was easy? It took some planning to align our three children’s vacation schedules, but their photos, presence and attention accentuated our experience. I researched, but traded away, some great scuba and sea cruise-based tours, and used AI to ensure we visited the islands with the “don’t miss this” species. And with that, I made my impossible possible: a family vacation on the Galapagos Islands.

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Over to you:
What is something on your list of secret projects that might become more possible if you ask yourself "What would this look like if it was easy?"

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The Blue-footed Booby

“Watch out for the boobies,” encouraged friends who have already visited. “What are those?” I wondered. Birds have not traditionally been high on my “things to see” list. Well, I was going to find out! About Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and a myriad other endemic [only found on the Galapagos] and indigenous [a native species also found elsewhere] birds that call the Galapagos “home”. (We had great guides on every tour who could not stop sharing their knowledge and love of all the beauty surrounding them on their islands. It is a very well managed and run eco-system.)

I was reminded of a quote in

Brooke Smith

’s wonderful essay “Dammit. I’m a birder.”¹

You probably fall into one of two categories: you know exactly which bird you saw and when. Or you have no freakin’ clue. (moi)

This elusive beauty is for

Brooke Smith

’s son - for inspiring his mother to write such an engaging essay that it kept popping into my head all week! This is a Blue-footed Booby². Tilting precariously out the edge of the little boat, I waited patiently for a thin ray of sunlight to find its way through the thickening cloud. Just enough light to capture the uniqueness of this bird - its bright blue feet standing stark against the deep black lava rock.

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We have new members of Tribe Tilt joining from Israel, Kenya, Finland, and Saudi Arabia. If you are new, please leave a comment below or DM me with your favourite read so far.

You have self-selected into a powerful, wonderful group. We, in Tribe Tilt, believe we can make a difference to the people and places that are precious to us, with fun, hope and agency in our lives. We believe the best ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time. Please add your voice and join our conversations.

Stay healthy. From there all else becomes possible.

Until next week …

Karena

1. NatGeo: https://web.archive.org/web/20100122071357/http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/blue-footed-booby
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-footed_booby

2. Yep, it's true, I’m a birder.