Are we there yet? No we're not!!

So nearly another two weeks go by in “paradise” while we wait for the engine parts to arrive, this time from New York via Miami and Quito. The people who have helped to fix these latest problems have been wonderful as usual so no complaints there. We are now seriously behind the most of the Bluewater fleet however and have some major catching up to do; quite something when you have to make up over 3 thousand miles to start off with! At least the weather is supposed to be much better for the crossing in April rather than March……

Meanwhile, spending a lot of time sitting here at anchor on the boat because the tours to the other islands are either too expensive or fully booked at this time of year, I have had a lot of fun watching the wildlife (birds, fishes and sealions) at work and play. The water around here is teeming with life; millions of little fishes swim in huge shoals seeking protection beneath the boats but they are easy prey for everything else both above the water and below. Fast swimming fish charge at them from below actually breaking the surface and creating splashes and general confusion all around. This attracts the pelicans which swoop down and plunge their bills, expanded to full capacity, into the water to “net” some small fry that have escaped. The pelicans then slowly sieve out the water and gulp down the fish left inside. At the same time, the delightful brown noddies are hovering all around hoping to pick up a tiny fish too but the funniest sight is when they sit on the pelican’s heads ready to pick up the odd escapee. The pelicans don’t seem to mind in the least either! I wish I could have captured this on camera. Sorry. The sealions are funny too as they swim lazily around the huge shoals and gulp down the tiny fish as sort of titbit. They often turn over onto their backs and just float by without a care in the world. What a nice life!

Other things about these islands are not quite so entertaining….. we were warned about the water here and they were right. Many of the boat crews went down with amoebic dysentery, this vessel included. Nice! Still, the antibiotics are readily available from “Pharmacy Row”..this is the main street in Santa Cruz where quite literally every other shop sells drugs (and toiletries) without prescription. I’ve no idea why so many pharmacies and these drugs aren’t cheap either. I think the source of the illness may be the bar adopted by the Rally where we spent many a “Happy Hour” drinking one particular cocktail…possibly the ice…who knows? Anyway, I shall not be drinking said cocktail again. Sticking strictly to bottled stuff from now on!

This should positively be my last blog entry before we leave…..let’s hope so!!