Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador May 24, 2008

We arrived in Ecuador 2 days ago after almost exactly six days at sea. We crossed the equator (well actually we crossed it 3 times...see earlier page) and we're now Shellbacks...we used to be pollywogs...don't ask me how you get from a "beginner frog" to a turtle, but that's the terminology.

It was a long slog, but looking back, not all that bad. Isn't that always the way, looking back it seems not so bad at all! Kind of like childbirth...if you really remembered all the gory details, you'd only have one!!

Since we've arrived, we've been catching up on sleep, eating out, socializing, and drinking...not necessarily in that order. It's a nice place here, much cooler and cheaper than either Mexico or anywhere in Central America. We are back to a land of $1 beer, but a glass of Chilean wine is also $1 at happy hour, or $2 regular...and all rum drinks are $2/$1 as well. A hamburger/fries in the marina restaurant costs $3.50, but off the premises you can get a lunch for $1.50. It seems a nice, clean little town...but we haven't really been here long enough to have seen too much yet.

We are off to Manta, Monday, to complete our check-in process with customs and immigration. That is a 2 hour ride, so we'll get to see a bit of the countryside.

Tripp (the owner of the marina) has been very helpful and makes it easy to enter the country. These countries have a TON of paperwork...any help that makes that easier is greatly appreciated. We are on a mooring ball, and are waiting for them to add another rope as there is a strong tidal/river current here. We are VERY salty, after taking a few waves/sprays over the deck and dodger. We are in great need of a wash down, but there is no dock to tie to. We are having water delivered to the boat, at .50 per 20 litres, so that we can do it as best as we can, without a hose. Tap water is not potable, but fine for a washdown. We'll have drinking water delivered upon our return to Ecuador in October, as we want to leave the water tanks empty while we're gone. We have to come up with a work plan/sched so we can enjoy being here but get all the crap done too. We may take a land trip before leaving for YVR, or maybe just tour a bit enroute to Lima...yet to be decided.

Great to be here!!

We are moored just off this spot.

At a restaurant, a block from the marina, we were approached by this youngster. We don't often pay for unsolicited entertainment, but his instrument was so unusual, that we made an exception. Unfortunately, you can't see it very well, but he accompanied himself by rubbing two clam shells together.

There are panga ferries running back and forth across the bay. They hand out life jackets, but many people don't wear them. That could be because they have probably been sweated into by many, many people.