As we got closer to the Galapagos we began to see more birds (Petrels, Frigate, Tropicbirds) and some actually took up residence on the boat – hitching a ride back to the islands.  We had 3 or 4 Brown Boobies on the pulpit, pooping everywhere but they looked so comfortable.  In fact we couldn’t move them even though we tried (a little), they just looked at us when we suggested they might move. We played plenty of Canasta – Patrick and Susannah vs Clem and Sam.  Lunch was cheese and cold meat – we are trying hard to empty the fridge of anything fresh which the Galapagos authorities might confiscate on the grounds of protecting biodiversity.  Everyone is enjoying their books – I started ‘The Porpoise’ by Mark Haddon, and am listening to ‘The Wager’ by David Grann on Audible – hideous tale of brutal misfortunes off the coast of South America in the 18^th c.  Scorsese’s next movie apparently.