As you can see from our position as I write this at 0600 local time we are quite close to the equator, and our destination of San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. Details include 72 NM to the equator and a total of 150 NM to the harbor where we expect to anchor. We have been sailing overnight at around 6 knots which if we continue means an arrival tomorrow morning. There is only one hitch. In checking over the documentation we need, various entry requirements etc. I re-read the last footnote on the contract with the agent (required) who is handling all the entry details and logistics. The footnote said "for vessels arriving or departing on a weekend or National Holiday the charge is double" Not exactly specific as there are a list of charges, about 20 in all, that total a bit over $2,400. I am not sure I want to double that so have emailed the agent seeking alternative ideas to hanging out in the ocean from Saturday morning to Monday morning. On the bright side yesterday we got a taste of the wildlife in this part of the world. First, as mentioned before are the birds. There is a family of about 15 or so Red Footed Boobies (with blue beaks)(Charlene knows about such things) that have been leading us for the past 2 days. Other than the mess they leave all over the boat it is an amazing performance to watch. Some are always flying and one or two are always perched on the bow pulpit. Then there was this enormous turtle that waddled by yesterday. At first I thought it was a large tree, but turns out it was (I think) a large Leatherback turtle. Later in the day we were joined by more birds, including big black Frigate birds. No sooner had our naturalist (Charlene) said they were usually accompanying whales and or dolphins then the dolphins showed up in very large numbers. Hard to say but there may have been 20 or more. Breathtaking as that sight was it sort of paled in comparison to the pods of whales we were soon sailing through. The consensus aboard was they were Minke whales, based on their size and location of dorsal fin. They appeared to be resting as they were just swimming around lazily and there were probably 20 or so of those. All this provided a good couple of hours of "wow, you see that?" At least they all seem friendly. More later.................