March 11, 2010

We anchored at Isla San Cristobol, Galapagos Islands, right next to our friends on a Lagoon 44 catamaran, Leu Cat, who arrived here yesterday from Bahia. The water temperature is 79-80 degrees, a bit cool for swimming, and very clear. David, Mary Margaret and their daughter Heather swam over to visit after we were anchored. They told us that the sea lions like to climb onto swim steps of catamarans and even dinghies in the water. For that reason, we are not using our dinghy because when left at the dock the sea lions will jump in it, get it dirty and even pop the inflated pontoons with their great weight. There is a water taxi service which will pick us up for 50 cents per person, $1 per person at night.

Leu Cat told us that a sea lion had climbed right into their cockpit from the swim steps so we rigged up a wall of blue tarp at the top of each swim step. We have to high step over the wall but it is worth it to not have a sea lion muck up our cockpit with hair, grime or poop. In the evening we took the water taxi to shore where there is a very nice dock and waterfront promenade area lined with tourist shops, restaurants and sea lions. We used the internet to pick up messages and then enjoyed ice cold beers on the waterfront. With darkness came dive bombing mosquitoes who bit through our pants! We ate at an open air restaurant overlooking the bay. It seems that prices are about 2-3 times more than what we paid in Bahia. A large beer is $2.50 here, $1 at Bahia. It is understandable since everything has to be either flown in or brought in by boat.

In the middle of the night we heard a bucket fall in the cockpit. Steve got up to find a large sea lion, about 200# in our cockpit! When Steve scared him, he climbed out of the cockpit, straight into our dinghy which is hanging on davits on our stern and into the water. He left a bunch of short hairs scattered on the cushions and floor. We can not determine how he got past the walls. Yuk!