Wednesday, May 23, 2007

May 23, 2007 - Enroute to Galapagos


Last night we crossed the equator. It was my first time. Sten has been a shellback for years; he first crossed the equator during the second half of his sea year at Kings Point. He crossed again while shipping out on a drill ship right after college. Because he couldn't prove that he had been across before, he was subjected to the same treatment as the rest of the initiates: dunking in a bath of mud pulled up from the ocean floor.

Traditionally new initiates are made to take a swim at the equator. But Sten had seen a shark earlier in the day, and it was dark out, so we scuttled that plan and opened a bottle of champagne instead.

Just now we're sailing along in a stiff breeze over flat water. The air is dry and cool. The sun is out. For the first time in 12 days there is not a cloud in the sky. It is the kind of crisp day where everything sparkles. San Cristobol, the eastern most island of the Galapagos, is just off our port bow. We are closing in on Santa Cruz. We hope to have the anchor down by sunset.

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