s/v Encanto
June 16, 2006

Captain's Log at 2300
Today was an uneventful day, just as they should be out here. We are still motoring along with fuel from the starboard tank. I thought it would have run out 12 hours ago. Needless to say I'm pleased. I have checked numerous times that the port tank level hasn't changed - making sure that I didn't switch tanks or didn't remember!

We have 102 miles to go, should be at Bahia Caraquez (Ecuador), sometime after midnight. We will anchor and wait for high tide at 0815 on Saturday and wait for the pilot to bring us over the bar. Ah, we'll be anchored in yet another calm estuary.

We will all be glad when this is over; we hate motoring! But I am very pleased that the motor is running so nicely. It's just that the motion of the boat is so "ucky" and the constant varoom is not a gentle lull or swish of the sea against our hull.

First Mate's Notes at 0100
Yes, we are still underway. Even we are surprises at how well we are all adjusting, ten days, out at sea. I've had my share of moments of discomfort (nausea); perhaps because of a slight ear infection or low grade virus, but between the unlimited number of naps that I take and the Dramamine, I'm managing well enough to keep the family feed, tend my midnight to dawn watches, and catch up on a novel, my O Magazines, and multiple games of scrabble. If you are reading these website entries, you know that you're reaping the benefits of my being able to share tales while underway. Enjoy :)

As for the kid crew, at the moment, they are fast asleep, but during the day, they are enjoying lots of leisure time to read, play games, watch an occasional movie, and everyday, tend their morning or afternoon watches at the beck and call of the Captain. Although, we have set school to a secondary position, they both find doing a little everyday has its benefits in the long run. Gaby has read three novels in these ten days. She is tackling Hillary Clinton's biography, My Life. While Sami is becoming a master Origami Folder, spending hours creating incredible paper wonders. But for Sami, a day is not a fully enjoyed, unless she partakes in the challenges of her Gameboy or other computer games aboard.  Both girls are keeping Mom in joy as we chat at the Scrabble and MahJoong tables, each trying to out wit the other, ultimately not caring about who wins and trading letters back and forth to make elaborate Scrabble phrases. Changing the rules to suit our whims.

What we have found is that this passage has allowed us plenty of time to relate, chat and be a family. Getting to know each other in new ways, every day. We also find that without distractions of the land, we each have had more time to pursue our independent thoughts and wanderings; from day dreaming about the perfect "mistress" (aka boat remodeling projects, a new boat, or the next boat!!!), life's ultimate purpose, what should I be when I grow up?, what's needed to build a utopia or memories of gratitude and love. Never a dull moment under the stars, the moon, and the sun as we cut through seas and waves, bouncing up and down, rolling back and forth in blue water.

We haven't seen much wildlife. The occasional dolphins visit; we always love hearing their songs of fancy. And several sea turtles have passed our hull. And the white booby birds like to circle us or land on the bow. Beyond that, we haven't seen much of any wildlife. And we haven't caught any fish, only a few nibbles. We've seen one fishing boat, heard an "accidental" distress signal on the VHF radio from a local tuna boat and that's about it. Not even a freighter has been sighted since we left the Gulf of Panama.  

The tour book say that there is a nearby island that annually host the mating season of whales from June to December. Always cool to see breaching whales!

Mother Nature did provide us with several spectacular sunsets, moon risings, and sunrises, a huge green flash display at sunset and one day, we sailed under a set of double rainbow arches. Alas, no pots of gold for Encanto.

Our life is good, even on this very uneventful day, underway. We have not been disappointed by the incredible wonders from our wanderings nor are we disappointed by the occasional day when all that needs to be done is nothing.

Position
N 00.19
W 081.27
0200

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