Pacific Odyssey - Leg 6

We are just over a day from our destination, Honolulu.  Feelings are
mixed; we are all very excited to see land and to move around on it, and of
course there are also all the favorite foods we look forward to tasting
again.   At the same time we are hesitant; it´s been a long time since some
of us have been in North American culture; and even for those joining us in
Osaka, there has been a lot of sea between then and now.  I think we may
feel somewhat out of our element initially; life will seem to be moving a
little too swiftly around us.  At lunch our watch discussed what was going
through each of our minds as we approach the end of the passage and a time
that for many will be irretrievable and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Most of us find it somewhat unbelievable that land is so close; as far as we
can see, it looks just as it has for the past 33 days, all water.  Most of
us are trying to live in the moment and enjoy the final days of this life,
usually aware though that arriving at our destination is going to feel
wonderful.   For many of the trainees, now that they are close to Hawaii,
the 33 days have gone quickly.  Gabriel remembers some really slow moving
times though, yet all in all, he agrees and he´s surprised only 10 days of
this leg remain.  It´s sad in many ways; we have experienced and grown, and
come through a lot together this past month.  When we tie to the dock, life
will be moving incredibly fast and efficient around us and those looking at
our ship and at us from the dock will have no idea what we´ve just
experienced, just how much wear this ship has taken, just how much movement
in so many ways we have lived with, and how much we´ve grown because of it .
. . it´s indescribable really . . . one needs to have been with us to fully
understand and appreciate it.  I don´t think any one of us would have wanted
to miss any of it.  Because it was what it was we have grown and been
offered an experience that we can only learn from and feel good about.  I´m
pretty sure that thoughts and impressions from this passage will continue to
come to our minds regularly over the next while; you may hear many of them
when your trainees get home or when they email and phone you.  Enjoy the
stories.   The crew is looking forward to some restorative time; a chance to
rest, have a change . . . a break that will ´feed´ them physically,
emotionally, and spiritually so that we can be wonderfully ´full´ and
prepared for our final leg; we want to offer our best to the leg 7 trainees
and make it another amazing experience.  We are looking forward also to
family and friends that are coming to visit crew and trainees on the ship.
Jordan´s parents and his sister are coming from Vancouver, Jose´s mom and
his brother are coming from Winnipeg, Arwen´s best friend Jocelyn and her
mom are coming from Victoria, Leighsa´s mom and dad are coming from
Edmonton, plus there are parents coming to meet some of the trainees.  The
10 days in Honolulu will be busy; there is alot to do to prepare the ship
for the last leg.  We continue to talk about Midway Atoll; it had a huge
impression on all of us and we believe we were very fortunate to have the
chance to stop there.  Skipper and I are reading a book about the albatross.
The book was given to the ship by J.R., a wonderful man we got to know on
the island.  The book is titled "Eye of the Albatross" by Carl Safina.  It´s
an excellent book and we have already learned so much more about these
amazing birds and have gained a deeper respect and an incredible sense of
awe for them.  The sun came out for a short time today and Skipper was able
to teach 8 trainees to take a sight.  Hopefully tomorrow they will be able
to take their second sight and learn how to plot the information to get
their position.  Kaitlin stitched a pouch for a deck of cards, in leather;
it turned out well and has motivated Jacob to make one next leg.  We caught
another Dorado today; Raven, Liam and Blake filleted it and Gillian will
turn it into ´fish nuggets´ tomorrow.  We enjoyed yesterday evening´s Dorado
baked today at lunch . . . delicious.  I have a few funny stories to relate:
Gillian woke up to cook one morning and found her food hammocks all undone
from their hooks.  It turns out that Liam dreamed he was caught up in the
lines and to free himself, pulled the hammock down.  Another night, Will
appeared on deck (it was not his watch) without his harness.  The watch
officer on watch approached him and asked him where his harness was, to
which he replied, "down below, where it´s supposed to be."   He was brought
back down below because he wasn´t quite awake and was somewhat confused; he
was sleep-walking and cannot completely recall what happened.   Leanne woke
up spluttering and angry one night when a cup of water slid down the table,
hit the rim and toppled onto her face, pillow and blankets.  She was not
impressed; in the morning she discovered that the cup was her own.  There
are hundreds of hilarious stories like these of our lives together; you will
hear of them shortly when trainees start returning home.  Leanne would like
to wish her dad a belated Happy Birthday for April 24th.  Yesterday was such
a busy day, going late into the night with the ´Talent Show.´  She came
running into the after cabin minutes after Skipper had sent the log.  Sorry.
Happy Birthday dad, I hope you had a great day, love Leanne.  It is very
dark outside; the clouds are hiding the moon and the stars.  The wind has
shifted and is now heading us, though we have been making great speeds of up
to 8.5kts all day.  We´ve slowed down somewhat but are still doing well.
The winds are light so we are motor-sailing.  It will be nice to turn off
the engine again.  We are well and looking forward to tomorrow; hopefully it
will be sunny and warm.  Until then, good-night, Bonice.