Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
April 28, 2011
Translation for Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker on Facebook
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each week in her column-logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad Laura Dekker will relate her journey around the world aboard her sailboat Guppy on her attempt to become the world's youngest circumnavigator.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A pancake with syrup for Neptune


Huh?! I just had a message on the VHF-radio from a neighbouring ship at the anchorage. It said that there were sharks swimming around Guppy...Very small ones but still it was nice to see! In any case it is a real zoo here anyway. There are seals lying everywhere or swimming or jumping around in the water, at the dock and ashore. I went for a walking tour of Santa Cruz Island which is where I am staying in the Galapagos. We went over to see the big turtles. Those animals are so lazy! It took one of them ten minutes just to stand up. There also was another one named Gordon that is at least one hundred years old. I met the people from the Sea Shepherd organization that have many nature projects here, one of which is to teach the children not to disturb the turtles and to be respectful of nature. The crossing from Panama was the nicest I experienced so far. I expected to have calm winds but things went much better than that. On my way here to the Galápagos, I crossed the Equator. Of course there is no sign in the middle of the ocean but you can point to it with the GPS system. It is a tradition with sailors to give something to Neptune at that point. So I had made a special pancake with 'To Neptune from Guppy' written on it with syrup. We, that is the people sailing in my neighboorhood through the crossing, cranked up the music and swinging all together we went over the magical line. And that was a nice way to complete another milestone to my journey.

Regards,
Laura