jillballau

Friday, April 3, 2026

Blogging from A to Z 2026 - C is for Churchill Island

As I travel the world I take many photos that pique my interest. During the year April 2025 to March 2026 our travels included visits to many islands large and small. My theme for 2026 Island Hopping will give precedence to Islands visited in the past year but for those difficult letters like X and Z I will dig into my photo archives for content.

"Churchill Island is a 50.7-hectare island in Western Port, Victoria, Australia. The island is named after John Churchill, Esquire of Dawlish. The island is linked to Phillip Island by a bridge, with Phillip Island itself connected to the mainland via another bridge." Wikipedia

We visited Churchill Island as part of a tour on neighbouring Phillip Island from the Regent Seven Seas Explorer. IMHO this visit should have been missed and the time added to our explorations on Phillip Island.

The main attractions on Churchill appear to be a farm, farmhouse and kiosk, a few cattle and some pleasant views across the sea.

A single lane bridge leads to the Island

Suitably warned we didn't go near the cattle

It must be a windy spot

Cattle grazing away from humans

Thankfully our next stop at a Wildlife Refuge on Phillip Island was more interesting and informative.

Other C islands we have visited include Cabo Verde, Canary Islands, Castaway Fiji, Cayman Islands, Cephalonia, Cockatoo, Coco, Crete and Curaçao

Bonus Posts Dutch Influence Wisdom from Curacao Fruit Break Cousin Catchup

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Blogging from A to Z 2026 - B is for Baltra and Bornholm

Our November trip to the Galapagos Islands started with a flight from Guyaquil in Ecuador to the Airport on Baltra Island.

Walk to the terminal on Baltra Island

"Baltra Island (Spanish: Isla Baltra) is a small island in the Galápagos Archipelago in Ecuador. It is a small flat island located near the center of the chain and includes Seymour Airport (GPS), originally established by the United States Air Force to help monitor and protect western access to the Panama Canal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltra_Island."

After a bumpy ride in a basic bus we were transferred by zodiac to our floating home, the National Geographic Gemini.

All aboard for the Gemini

We did not visit Baltra again until we we disembarked the ship for our ride to the airport and return to Guyaquil.

"Bornholm (Danish pronunciation: [pɒːnˈhʌlˀm]) is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, to the east of the rest of Denmark, south of Sweden, northeast of Germany and north of Poland.
Strategically located, Bornholm has been fought over for centuries. It has usually been ruled by Denmark, but also by Sweden and by Lübeck. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bornholm.

Our ship docked in an industrial port in the town of Ronne on Bornholm. While my husband took an organised tour focussing on World War Two I opted for a long walk through the town where I had hoped to get a hair cut. No luck there. I enjoyed wandering at my own pace through town centre and residential areas finishing my jaunt with a visit to a very pretty church.

Our home away from home

Spotted on a Doorstep - This Welcome brought on a bout of homesickness

I walked this very long street

There were several traditional buildings along the way

The next five images are from the Town Square

I was so pleased this Church was open

I took a seat and reflected on the peace and beauty of the building

The Lighthouse gave me a clue where to find the road where
I could find the shuttle bus back to the ship.

My husband enjoyed his WW2 trip which included visits to a Cemetery, Fortifications and a Museums

Other B islands we have visited include Ballestas Islands, Bartolome, Bermuda, Bora Bora, Bruny Island and Burano

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Blogging from A to Z 2026 - A is for Alexander Selkirk and Austvagoya

Our had promised a visit to Alexander Selkirk Island, but due to adverse conditions for landing that visit turned into a sail by, zodiac ride or kayak adventure. Selkirk is the chap on whom based his famous adventure story .

Locals coming over to check us out?

"Alejandro Selkirk Island (Spanish: Isla Alejandro Selkirk), previously known as Más Afuera (Farther Out (to Sea)), is the largest and most westerly island in the Juan Fernández Archipelago of the Valparaíso Region of Chile. The island was renamed after the marooned sailor Alexander Selkirk despite the fact that Selkirk was marooned on what is now Robinson Crusoe Island, situated 180 km (100 nmi; 110 mi) to the east." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alejandro_Selkirk_Island.

We were able to get great shots of the coastline and inhabited areas from the ship.

First sighting of Alexander Selkirk Island

Rugged landscape

Intrepid explorers boarding the tenders

Crew getting the kayaks ready

The settlement on the Island

My husband, who went out in the zodiacs saw rocky coastlines where Juan Fernández fur seals were cavorting in the water.

Unidentified Shipwreck

The Seals surrounded the Zodiacs.

Liquid refreshment was served to the Zodiac passengers

Up in the Northern Hemisphere we visited "Austvågøya which is the northeasternmost and largest of the larger islands in the Lofoten archipelago in Nordland county, Norway. It is located between the Vestfjorden and the Norwegian Sea." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austv%C3%A5g%C3%B8ya.

We had to use tenders to access the port of Solvaer. The town has good facilities for tourists as it is the starting point for many "Northern Lights" land and sea tours. As none of the ship's included tours appealed to us we opted for a walk that provided us with many opportunities to snap elements of the Island.