Yea, we are leaving today - closer to noon. Our estimated arrival time in the Galapagos Islands (approx 60 miles south of the equator) and SUMMER, will be July 10.

In the meantime, if all this technology works as it should, I'll be updating this blog and lat./long. positions on a daily (almost) basis. I'll also be adding 1 pic with each blog...no picture galleries though, they are just too expensive.

What happens is that I fire up the Iridium satellite phone, and connect it to my computer. At this point I write my blog, add a photo, and write my emails. Then I click on the SEND button on my computer, and the sat. phone dials the Iridium server somewhere in Denver (I think), deposits my emails and blogs to be sent over the internet, then checks for my email ( ness@gmn-usa.com) and weather reports, then sends all this up to the satellite and then down to my sat. phone on ES somewhere in the Pacific, which in turn transfers my mail to my computer.....in theory this all happens in the blink of an eye, and seamlessly !?!?!?

This is also how we receive our weather reports too.

The only problem with Iridium is not so much the cost of the phone and related software and hardware - $2,300.00, - but also the per minute cost - $1.55/minute. But fortunately text documents - a blog, 3-5 emails and a weather report both sent and received move rather quickly - approx 1-1.5 minutes. But a single photo could take as long as 2-3 minutes.

Dale, hubby Alan, and I just got back to ES after a great dinner at Sven's, with his wife Gema, and brother Thomas. Sven works here at Alwoplast, and like most of the employees, have become more like family to us over the last month.

We will miss them all dearly.

Right now it's 2230, June 30, and I'm writing this on ES as a word doc to be sent tomorrow from the office of Aloplast (the builders of ES - see the link on the right). It's windy and raining heavily here at the dock, while 2 miles from here on the ocean a gale rages. However the weather reports have been consistent in reporting a much calmer day tomorrow....let's hope.

What follows is a typical weather report that we will get every day or 2 - 3 days from "Commanders Weather" at a cost of $65 a pop....pricey, but well worth it. We send them a daily email with our lat/long. (position) and our course and speed and when necessary will update the weather report.


"On 6/29/08, Commanders' Weather wrote:
To: Crew of "Espiritu Santi"
From: Commanders' Weather Corporation, tel: 603-882-6789
Route: Valdivia, Chile to Galapagos
Departure: 12utc Monday, June 30
Prepared: 1700utc Sunday, June 29, 2008

Summary: Confused pattern this week as you head north will mean light and uncertain winds along your route Tue thru Friday.
Then S-SE trade winds get established for you next weekend.
1) Complex frontal boundary and low pressure will be pushing thru the Valdivia area
next 18-24 hours.
2) Expect your winds will be quit strong out of the NW this afternoon and evening
perhaps peaking at 25-35 kts this evening.
3) Then will become SW and diminish by early Monday as the front lifts north of you.
4) This SW breeze is expected to back into the SSE tomorrow afternoon and perhaps
SE-E tomorrow night likely dropping down to