June 14 2007
Day 23-Sun is out
Crew Gaby:
Happy is the word of the day. Mom made Tibetan dumplings which were fantastic; a little doughy but all the same great. We ate them when we played Mah Joong. The wind is light and we are rocking a bit more than usual but the sun is out and not a rain cloud in sight; an improvement. Dad thinks that we should reach Fatu Hiva sometime over the weekend. I am already making plans to meet up with my radio friends.
Crew Anya:
I am feeling really good today (buckets and all included). I seem a little more at ease. I do wished though that I could be in two places at once because I miss my boyfriend and my kitty cat back home and I would sure like to be able to be there for Wim & Richard's party (July) and my grandmother's 90th birthday (August). The only way to be in two places at the same time however is through reading, which is the number one pastime on our boat. I have finished yet another book: The Poisonwood Bible.
Very good. It took me a while to get into it but it really grew on me and a couple of chapters before the end it hit me: they (I--!!) should make a movie out of this. Too bad I don't know anybody in Hollywood… Oh well, I will just try to think who should be who for now and have fun doing that!
Crew Sami:
We have 205 miles left to go. We are going so slow, a sea slug could pass us. Phooey. Otherwise, the day has been ok. Mom made dumplings, which were doughy, but still delicious. We might be there in about 2 to 3 days. That's the fun part.
Captain:
It's time. Believe it or not, we have to start thinking about arrival. We need to position ourselves such that we can take advantage of the easterlies that are predicted in the next 48 hours. Currently, we have north easterlies which are putting us on a course a bit lower than I would like. Also, there's the timing of our arrival. We don't want to get there at dark. If all holds we will get there at sunset - cutting it a bit thin. If we get more wind in the next 30 hours, great. If not, we will most likely have to slow down, not something I like to do as the motion of the boat becomes horrible. If we need to slow down, we'll be spending another night at sea. Not a big deal, but when landfall is in sight….Sami reminds me, "We'll get there when we get there."
First Mate:
With less than 200 miles to go, my emotions have just turned the corner and I'm ready to be there. I'm looking at the tour books, doing the research, and raising the bar of expectations. Reading the 'Discovery of Heaven', has certainly had me wondering, WHERE is HEAVEN on earth? We've all had Hellish days and times in life that felt so hot that it had to be "Hell", but where, oh where is Heaven? And will we hear the Fat Lady who sell fruit on Fatu Hiva belt out "Bali Hi"? Will the coconut trees sway and the warm breeze fill my nostrils with the scent of Frangipani flowers?
**FOOTNOTE: (Email is great. Thanks to Steve Albert who sent us a quick reply to my query on the pink lipped dolphins.)..."may be Rough-toothed Dolphins and indeed their pink lips confirmed this. They swam down the side of the vessel giving superb views as they raised their heads to breathe. Gently sloping foreheads led to the longish snout and pinkish lower jaw line. Some of them looked as if it was the first time they had put lipstick on, smearing it clumsily in the process. One animal seemed very pale, almost leucistic. These dolphins look somehow prehistoric, almost reptilian. The dorsal fins seem somewhat shark-like, with ragged trailing edges. Normally seen only once a year, we were very lucky."