and we’re feeling fine! It was quite rainy for the first couple of days at sea, but it was okay, since we can perform most of the necessary operations at the chart table. Only Molly and I ventured out into the cockpit, to throw up. It is somehow more natural and refreshing to throw up overboard, as if we are communicating directly to the ocean; telling her we don’t appreciate the way she is slapping us around like a rubber ball, and that she should respect us like we respect her. I said to Jessie the other morning, “What is Molly doing?” She looked at me blandly and said, “The technicolor yawn…” Kids are so cute at this age. After the requisite 3 days of feeling like shoe goo, Molly and I are back to our old selves.
What I like about this trip is that the seas have been so flat. There hasn’t been any chop or huge swells, and it has made all the difference. We are cruising along at about 8 knots, smooth as a parade float. Too bad there’s no one to wave to. The wind has been mostly on the beam and behind us. We had the jib poled out, going wing on wing all through last night. It was a great ride. The stars were gorgeous, and there was a sliver of a very yellow moon behind us.
The biggest problem I have had, on every crossing so far, is when to brush my teeth. I am basically “on duty” every three hours, and try to sleep in between. It seems natural to brush your teeth before going to sleep, and upon rising, but I have been brushing about 8 times a day. At this feverish pace, I will have teeth the thickness of magazine pages by the time we reach land. I have the brushing down to about four times a day now, which still seems excessive, but more manageable.
Poor Jessie is starving. I haven’t been cooking much; actually, not at all. The chili I made ahead of time didn’t go over so well; I guess beans and acidic tomatoes weren’t the best idea. The lasagna went over pretty well. Our bread all turned green, so I will try to make some today. There is a lot of snack food around, but Jessie needs her protein.
The boat is moving well, and all systems are working. We have only seen one ship the whole time we’ve been out here, and that was about a mile away. I have been reading a book called Down Under, by Bill Bryson, which is all about the history of Australia and what makes it such a strange and wonderful place. It is so huge, almost 70 percent of it has never even been surveyed. I can’t wait to get there and see just a small part of it.
We would like to say a special hello to JoAnne Gray’s parents (whom we’ve never met), and Hester and Sam Kool (who we know well). Thank you for your support of and interest in our adventure, through the wonders of cyber space. We would love to get together with you all when we get home! ~ Jeanna