San Cristobal - Galapagos- 17 April 2024

Angus was to fly home today and Corinne and Ruth are to arrive. Joyce and Charles were up at an early time as they had to be ready to leave about 7.30am for their day trip. Mark was due to go ashore with them but overslept!! Slacking !!

Joyce and Charles left and they had a boat trip to Isla Lobos, which is an island off San Cristobal and also to a beach nearby Wreck Bay and they are also going to Kicker rock again.

Angus said his goodbyes and Keith escorted him ashore ( it is not true that this was to ensure that he actually left!!).  Mark and I went ashore and did some provisioning and we also took a load of washing ashore for the laundry. We returned to Stormbird and Mark prepared some food and I checked the batteries which needed some more distilled water over the cells. I also cleaned and hoovered the boat and did some cleaning. I also changed the watermaker filters so when we next make water we have really clean water. There are three filters and I changed the 20 micron and 5 microns. Each freshwater tank has a filter as well and I changes these as well.

Mark left to meet Keith and they were going to the airport to meet Corinne and Ruth. I stayed behind to prepare the boat and watched the world go by which was quite pleasant as I sat still and chilled.

It was not long before Corinne, Ruth, Mark and Keith arrived with much merriment and welcoming. We had a light salad lunch and everyone sorted out their cabins etc.

We then went ashore and I got some more provisions and the others went around the shops. We were due to meet at our usual ice cream shop, but it was shut! We therefore found another and actually the ice cream was very good. We had an ice cream and then a beer at the Post Office (it is a bar called that) before we returned to Stormbird with the laundry.

Charles and Joyce had returned and they had a good day and found the Kicker Rock more interesting this time and he actually saw hammerhead sharks and luckily he had not been eaten.

We sat on the rear deck and Corinne and Ruth enjoyed the view and watched the sun gradually go down. They also watched the sea lions playing about and some little black birds which appeared to dance on the water whilst slapping their winds and they had a white patch on their tummies. Mark had bought some assorted fish this morning and he made a mixed fish risotto which was delicious. Charles had made a courgette cake which was good as well.  

We will go ashore tomorrow so Mark and Keith can show Corinne and Mark some of the sights here.

Opportunity for any Readers/Sailors.

In late May 2024 we shall be in the Marquesas in French Polynesia, and we will then move through to the Tuamotu’s before getting to Tahiti about the end of July 2024. There may be some space on Stormbird during this period should any sailor/reader be interested in joining for this period or part of it in what must be one of the most distant and beautiful places in the world.

In addition, in year two I will be going up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and probably across the Indian Ocean to Cape Town and I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we head off to the Galapagos and beyond.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com  I can only upload one picture a day and visit our website www.stormbirdgoesglobal.co.uk