Today, was a fantastic day. With the help of our Amigos Españoles, we chartered a catamaran for the day. Unfortunately, Catalina was still sick and couldn’t join us.

Our destination was La Isla de Lobos – the Island of Wolves. The island was actually named for the seals that lived on the island back in the Fifteenth Century, when the Spanish discovered the island. Apparently, the seals were called “sea wolves.” Sadly, the seals were hunted extensively and are now just rare visitors to the island. We travelled to the island in much the same fashion as those early Spanish sailors. As you can see, it was rough going.

As we travelled, we listened to, err, traditional Spanish sailing music. And Lydie and Cassie learned, um, traditional Spanish sailing dances.

Once we neared the island, we tied up to a mooring bouy and hopped in the water for some snorkeling.

After we spent some quality time with the local fish, our captain and first made brought out some paddle boards and a kayak. The waves were a little choppy, making it a little hard to stand on the paddle boards, but that was part of the fun in a way.

The older and wiser members of the crew took a more cautious approach.

On the way over from Corralejo, I had been eyeing Lobos. When I discovered that we had a kayak, I decided that I wanted to make landfall and to claim the island as my own. Unfortunately, our captain had made clear to us that we were not allowed to visit the island. Apparently, there were some safety concerns, as landlubbers had hurt themselves trying to make it to shore. But the island was right there. I wanted to set foot on it. Friendly negotiations commenced. In the end, we cut a deal, where I could paddle to the island, hop out, and hop right back in the water. I set off before anyone could change the plan.

I reached shore and staked my meaningless claim. Mission accomplished, I headed back to the boat.

The small mountain on Lobos is actually yet another caldera, part of the same region of volcanic activity that created the caldera I ran up the previous day. When I reached the boat, I went underneath between the twin hulls of the catamaran. For reasons. Once through, I spun around to take it all in.

In my absence, Lydie and Cassie had been relaxing.

Once I got back on the boat, we started jumping off the side. Team Hubbard is always up for jumping off things into water. This wasn’t as high as the stone piers in Tenerife, but it was still great fun.

Soon, it was time to head home. The return trip was very choppy, which the kids loved.

The kids enjoyed bouncing on the waves. Not the adults. We’re above being entertained by a few ripples.

Once back to Corralejo, we shared a drink with our captain and his first mate before heading home to get cleaned up. For dinner that night we decided to grill on our patio, and Diego once again was our master chef.

Catalina still wasn’t feeling healthy enough to join us, and we missed her. But dinner was wonderful, and the setting was perfect on our patio, with the ocean and Lobos in the background.

The evening had one more surprise in store for us. With the door to the patio open as we finished cleaning up from dinner, an uninvited guest wandered into our apartment.

I’m pretty sure that he considered us the interlopers and was a bit offended when we politely shooed him out. Not surprisingly, Julie gave him some food. Somehow it seemed fitting that our day on a catamaran ended with a cat.

– Will