Graptolite - Arrived Galapagos
Graptolite's Sailing Log
Martyn Pickup & Heike Richter
Fri 29 Feb 2008 16:01
Grapto arrived at 06:22 local time with just a tiny bit of diesel left in
the tank. Over 870 sea miles were logged which was several hundred miles
more than expected due to the adverse El Nino disturbed current against us.
On the approach, about five miles out, we got our first smell of land in
five days. It was mostly vegetation with perhaps also a hint of tortoise
poo.
The sun came up as we neared the finish line and there was a really good
pink sunrise on display. Four or five boats, like us all waiting for
daylight, arrived at the same time. Some sealions came to say hello as we
anchored in the bay.
Charles Darwin has long been something of a hero of mine. Not particularly
for coming up with the concept of natural selection, which is all a bit
obvious at this remove, but for his personal struggle to challenge some
deeply entrenched ideas about Life, the Universe and Everything and get away
with it. Here we are in a place that provided some of his evidence and as
such it is of big historical importance even if many of the animals here a
bit ugly.
M