Pacific Odyssey - Leg 5

We were hoping to leave for Shanghai mid-day today but when skipper checked the weather he saw that a low pressure system lasting about 18 hrs was moving through our sailing area.  The wind picked up in the afternoon and the rain hasn´t stopped all day. We´ve decided to wait until tomorrow morning to depart, after another final weather check.  Many of us spent most of the day on the ship ´hanging out´ together.  It felt like a rainy weekend day in Victoria: a good day for cups of tea, scrabble, playing cards, cribbage, reading, chatting, writing, sleeping etc.  Arwen and Tiana baked brownies and iced them: we enjoyed them for dessert.  Amanda and Katie made banana pancakes with bacon to celebrate shrove Tuesday, the day before ash Wednesday, the beginning of lent.  Our shipping agent Isshi, sent along an engineer friend of his to help us with some odd jobs and items.  His name is Haruji and he´s been an incredible help, finding things we need and bringing them to the ship.  He´s been an engineer for a long time and is very knowledgeable.  He´s also very friendly and fell in love our 6 kids saying to skipper, ´you are a very rich man.´  This evening he visited with us for the final time: gifts were exchanged as well as best wishes and good ideas for the next time we come to Okinawa.  Amanda would like to wish her little brother John Michael a wonderful birthday on February 5th.  Happy birthday and I love you, from Amanda.  Sarah l. would also like to wish her cousins Shama, Kade, Chace, and Chantelle very happy birthdays.  This is it for tonight, until tomorrow, good night, Bonice.