Galapagos

Our inspection was complete by noon or perhaps a little before. We had a quick lunch and headed fo shore. After a quick briefing by rally control we were off for the Interpretation Cente.  We spent about two hours reading the information, history and statistics of the island. It was very informative.  One of the biggest industries is tourism.  The Galápagos Islands are volcanic with the oldest on the east and the active volcanic islands on the west side.  The islands are at the edge of 2 tectonic plates and as the plates move new islands were formed.  As many of you know Darwin was in the Galápagos Islands in 1835 and while here did a lot of research which later lead him to come up the the theory of evolution while in England years later.

Darwin Statue on San Cristobal

We later walked the paths behind the interpretation centre and saw the statue of Darwin and climbed Frigate Hill and saw the frigate birds soaring in the breeze enjoying the updrafts. 

The next day we spent arranging tours for the next 2 days and spent some time on the local beaches watching the sea lions and their young play in the water and on the beach

Watch this video on utube:

http://youtu.be/22LgKpVvxbE

Arrival in Galapagos

After crossing the equator we sailed for a while with the spinnaker up but the winds and the swell did not cooperate so we soon took the spinnaker down and proceeded to motor toward Galapagos.  At 5:30 in the morning I could make out the misty shapes of what looked like mountains or hills.  As the light improved the island of San Cristobal came into view with its mountains in all their glory.  We were welcomed by sea lions, sea turtles, a huge ray leaped out of the water.  There were 100's of birds in the water and flying about.  We passed Kicker Rock

                                         Galapagos Islands as we approached in the morning

                                                        Kicker Rock near San Cristobal Island

Finally Wreck Bay came into view.  Soon after I jumped on a mooring ball to tie us up a water taxi dropped 2 divers off who checked our bottom.  We had stopped just after crossing the equator  to clean our bottom.  We passed with flying colours with a comment from the 2 divers that it "Looks good".  A boarding party of 7 people arrived shortly thereafter and we all had 2 forms to complete as well as the many forms the captain had to complete.  Our fruit and vegetables were checked and after about an hour we were cleared. As Galapagos is one of the strictest entry points we will incur we all breathed  a sigh of relief.

Crossing the equator

Carol wanted to cross the equator during daylight hours so we motored at an angle that would get us there during the day.  We crossed the equator at 4:30 PM with great pomp and ceremony.

                                                        Chart plotter near equator

King Neptune(Rob) and his first nymph(Carol)with the scotch-

a wee dram was tossed into the sea

 Bob and the nymphs(Barb & Carol)

We then all had to have a drink to celebrate our crossing.

Doldrums & Dolphins

We had great winds for the first two days of our sail to the Galápagos Islands.  Each day about 4:30 or 5:00 PM we had visits from Dolphins. What a wonderful sight to see them playing.  You can see them jumping out of the water and flipping over on their side and splashing into the water. They also would come and play on the bow off the boat zipping past the bow and then surfacing for a breath of air while they weave back and forth. 

Then we hit an area of no winds and the motor was started. The winds returned once again that evening so we were able to rest without the roar of the motor.  Instead we were able to be serenaded by the lapping of the water as is rushed by the side of the boat. Part way through the next night the wind died again and we were forced to motor once more.  

My first poem from the Pacific

The Pacific Beckons

Pacifico Oceano as the Spanish in Panama call it
Beckons you in all its blue as you sail upon it
The dolphins await to welcome you
And turtles swim out far from land too

Captain Rob at the helm with a steady hand
Guides us along with a spinnaker, a parasail brand
We glide through the water with nary a sound
It's 6000 feet down to the ground

Admiral Carol is hard at work as always
Writing her blog as she tries to do most days
Through sailmail we'll send it on to be posted
As we cross the Equator, Neptune will be toasted

Crew member Barb has returned to the heat 
For a turn at the helm and has come with a treat
With cookies, snacks and parts in tow
She was warmly welcomed and we were ready to go

Crew member Bob is enjoying the view
Of Oceano Pacifico, the great ocean blue
The waves have calmed as we approach the ITCZ
Soon it will be time for the crew to be fed

The boat has be provisioned for 7 weeks or more
Out in the Pacific there isn't a store
The cabin is tidy and the crew have been told 
Galapagos is the next stop and it won't be cold

                                                               Barb at the Helm

                                                                         Bob watching Bow Line in Canal

TCTZ awaits

As we approach the ICTZ the winds have died on us.  We were zipping along in 15 to 22 knots winds through the night and suddenly the winds started to disappear.  We were making fairly good headway with the genoa and the main with 4 to 8 knots of wind. Eventually the winds got down to 5 or less consistently and we got the spinnaker up so that we could make the most of the wind we had.  We have been doing fairy well with 3 to 7 knots of wind.  The Blue Planet Odyssey parasail spinnaker has been carrying us along at 4 to 5 knots.
We saw dolphins playing on our bow this morning and also saw a turtle way out in the middle of the Pacific.  Very strange.  The Galapagos beckons and we are well on our way

More on the Panama Canal and Panama City

A few things I neglected to tell you about our trip through the Panama Canal.  There is a fault line where earthquakes have occurred that Oscar pointed out to us.  We saw it just before Centennial Bridge.  We also saw the jail that Noriaga is currently in along the canal.  We also saw them dredging the canal.  They are making the canal wider in the Gatun Lake area and in the Gailliard cut.  This is because they will have larger ships going through once the new locks are open.
While anchored La Playita we were entertained by 100's of brown pelicans. It was amazing to watch them diving for fish.  A pelican would hit the water ever second.  It was amazing.  After catching its fish it keeps its beak under water while it eats the fish then straitens it's neck, beak strait up in the air and you see the fish go down it's throat.  The sea gulls are right beside the pelican waiting for any scraps and sometimes land right on the pelicans head.
In the evening on Tuesday we saw fireworks over Panama City celebrating the final day of Carnivale.