08:18.034N  78:54.183W

 
Wednesday 3rd March

 
After one more night at Isla Chapera we had a cracking sail down to Isla Canas which is just off the east cost of Isla del Rey, the largest island in Las Perlas. We anchored in a really picturesque bay, a Robinson Crusoe type bay and it wasn't long before we were joined by Lucy Alice and Camomile. We invited both boats over for something to eat and ended up having a bit of a boozy night. Ian made the mistake of falling asleep and almost woke up without a beard. We got as far as the shaving foam but then decided it was slightly mean!
 
On Monday we moved down to the anchorage at the Rio Cacique, a scenic river which we had heard great things about. So yesterday evening we took the dinghy up it at rising tide. Once you're into the river you turn your engine off and the water pushes you along at 3 knots. You glide through tall, partially submerged mangroves and rainforest in total silence! Paul, Amy and Jack were in one dinghy and they disappeared deep into the rainforest finding little passages and ducking under trees. I was with Mark and Chris from Blue Magic and we had more fun having water fights with the other dinghy's from Miss Tippy, Natibou, Enchantress and Fai Tira. There were even tree crabs all over the huge tree roots, very unusual!
 
Jack had been fishing off the side off the boat yesterday and had had no luck, so when we heard splashes whilst we were up on deck last night at about 10.30 we joked that he should get the rod out as it would appear that there were lots of fish about. However, after speaking to Hans from Natibou this morning it soon became clear that the splashes were actually whales breaching. They were right in the bay in amongst all the boats. Amazing! I think we were all a little preoccupied as late evening we'd purchased about 10 fish off the boat boys for $8. We cooked the fish, ate the fish, then when Jack went inside later on with the boat in darkness she noticed that the leftover fish were glowing in the dark - not just the skin but the flesh too! We have no idea what it was but we all appear to be ok today so we won't panic too much!
 
A few boats have already left for the Galapagos but most seem to be leaving today. There isn't much wind but we're planning on setting sail around 5-6 pm when the tides change. We've got about 900 miles to go so we're hoping to make the crossing in about 6 days, fingers crossed! It looks as though a lot of it is going to be spent motoring though as we really are in the doldrums down here. Nevermind, we're all very excited to make it to the Galapagos!