The adventurers of Krabat

Oh wow, can’t believe we’re in the Galapagos!
We arrived yesterday 26th March after a six day sail and amazingly, as we were supposedly going through the doldrums, only motored for 45 hours out of the 142. We are now in the Southern Hemisphere and celebrated the crossing of the equator with some bubbly (although I will confess that it was some white wine fizzed up in the Sodastream - not a very good idea as when I released the bottle it exploded and we spent ages mopping up. What was left was great, just like a Prosecco).
The Galapagos authorities are extremely bureaucratic especially about biosecurity. Our agent representative Karina was waiting in a water taxi just as we were anchoring in Wreck Bay on the island of San Cristobal. Karina advised us that she would be back later with the officials. Sure enough a couple of hours later Karina returned with 8 officials! There was a National Park Reserve officer, Naval officer, Doctor, Immigration, Biosecurity and dear knows who the other two were. It was bedlam, our cupboards were looked through, fridge checked, first aid box and all our medications checked . The diver was sick so we didn’t get our hull checked (if following our blog you’ll already know the expense and lengths of keeping our bottom clean!). All sorts of pieces of paper were put under our noses to sign but eventually all was satisfactory and off they all went. They weren’t on the boat very long and the checks weren’t actually that thorough but hay ho, we all played the game.
At last we took the water taxi ashore and were greeted by the sea lions basking on the pontoon. We found a very nice spot for some lunch and familiarised ourself with the town, and sussed out what tours we wanted to do over the next few days.
We can’t wait to get snorkelling with the sharks, sea-lions, rays and turtles. Hiking to see the giant tortoises, rare birds and iguanas. If you love wildlife this is your paradise.

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Vessel Name:	Krabat
Vessel Make/Model:	Malö 39
Hailing Port:	Poole UK
Crew:	Bill Tee & Moira Shaw
About:	Mad people!
Extra:	The story of "Krabat" When we purchased the boat, she was already named "Krabat". Our research revelled that Krabat is a children's fantasy novel written by Otfried Preußler, a German-speaking author born in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). The book was first published in 1971. The [...] English translation first was published as The Satanic Mill from 1972 to 1991, then republished in 2000 as The Curse of the Darkling Mill, in 2011 as Krabat and in 2014 as Krabat and the Sorcerer's Mill. The book deals primarily with black magic and the lure of evil. Other themes include friendship, love, and death. It won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (Prize for Literature for Young People) in 1972. Set in the early 17th century, the story follows the life of Krabat, a 14-year old beggar boy. For three consecutive nights, he is called through a dream to a watermill in a nearby village. Upon heeding the call and arriving at the mill, he begins his apprenticeship as a miller’s man. He soon joins the secret brotherhood, composed of journeymen, and discovers that the skill he is meant to learn through this apprenticeship is Black Magic. Other peculiarities of this watermill include the lack of any outside visitors, including farmers who would have brought corn. The only visitor to the mill is one Goodman, who may be the devil. Tonda, Krabat’s best friend and older brother figure, dies ostensibly of an accident on New Year’s Eve in Krabat’s first year at the mill. Krabat’s suspicions of foul play are further reinforced when another journeyman and friend, Michal, dies the following New Year’s Eve. He soon realizes that the master is bound in a pact to the Goodman: the master must sacrifice one journeyman every year on New Year’s Eve in exchange for his powers. Wishing to take revenge for his friends’ death, Krabat secretly trains to increase his magical strength so he can fight the master. His quest is aided by a girl from the nearby village, whose name is never mentioned. Her task is to distinguish Krabat from the rest of the journeymen, all dressed identically and standing motionless in a lineup. Ultimately, she rescues Krabat from death, and they and the journeymen escape the mill. The master is left to die in the burning mill on New Year’s Eve. Krabat - the protector of travelers....... More

Krabat's Photos - Main

Tongariro Alpine Walk

18 Photos

Created 10 January 2020

The adventurers of Krabat

Galapagos

Krabat anchored Herm, Channel Islands