Pacific Ocean – Southern Hemisphere 14 April 2010 07.4360S 135.5931W
Yet another very fast day, but the sailing is pretty easy, we hardly touch the lines. Silver Lining and Otto (pilot) do the lion’s share of the work (well not the dishes). All and all, I’m finding the long passage much like life with big highs and lows (in comparing notes with Cameron, it’s much like life with toddlers). Some of the highs: long periods of contemplative solitude, drawing house plans in the cockpit with the boys, scratching away at the string instruments with Logan(without having to worry about anyone overhearing), incredible night skies, discussing Scurvy the Rat’s adventures onboard, That Blue, writing you. Some of the lows: trying to unpeel eyelids glued together with sleep at midnight, trying to bake bread or wash dishes in the ever moving cabin drenched in sweat, having to go to bed when the party is getting started in the evening.
The first few days of the passage, the whole idea seemed whacked, the notion of keeping everyone happy and occupied for 20-40 days was overwhelming, and there was a feeling of urgency like we just needed to get there and fast. Then once you slip into the rhythm, everything starts to just feel right as it is – like time is going at just the right speed, and everyone seems to be balanced and happy with the state of affairs on board, and the boat seems to be behaving exactly as she should. Now as the boat has sped up, and we can see the TTG at 1-2 days I’m a mix of emotions; impatience is visiting me again, and I’m suddenly eager to get there, but there’s also that sense of not wanting to lose this. Gart’s metaphor of passage being like a good book that you can’t put down, but don’t want to end, is very apt.
xoxomo