Location: Santa Cruz, Galapagos
Started the day with some amazing overnight oats for what feels like the hundredth time this trip. I think that everyone has eaten enough for a lifetime. Still always a great breakfast. Had a quick marine bio class before heading into shore for much anticipated cold drinks and lunch. Ben had also organized laundry for everyone which is always great to have clean clothes that werent done on the boat. The short walk provided lots of entertainment for everyone involved since we were all carrying our laundry bags through the streets. Quickly after dropping laundry off, everyone split into groups to find whatever food they had been missing while on Vela. The PSCT students, Morgan, Maisy, Liam, and I had a quick lunch and coffees with our books close by, testing each other between bites of quesadillas and ceviche since we were having our test later in the day. The four of us and Jay, who was finishing schoolwork of his own, headed back to the boat for a last review with Mac before the test. During that time, people started getting back to the boat with bags of things that they had found in stores while on shore. Mac handed out the test and we all began, engine room earmuffs on everyone to help concentrate. After 45 minutes of remembering rules, lights, buoys, and sound signals, we were all done. Hopefully, we all passed! A quick dinner was next, with a short interruption when a sea lion visited the boat, and everyone looked over their shoulder at the massive dark clouds that were slowly working their way towards us. Made it through dinner but cleanup was moved below decks after the buckets of rain started falling. Always fun to have a change in the normal routine that we are so used to by now.