Pacific Odyssey - Leg 6

We are tied up at Pier 11 under the Aloha Tower in Honolulu.  Everyone
was on deck as we sailed the last few hours into the harbor.  People were
quiet, expectant, excited, tired, a whole range of emotions and thoughts
going through each of us.  Even now I find it difficult expressing what I
feel.  Perhaps I need another day.  We are all happy . . . happy to be here,
but not necessarily happy that our passage together is over.  I know that we
all feel very fortunate to have experienced the crossing together as we did.
We also all feel incredibly blessed to have been able to stop at Midway and
we also all know that we are incredibly fortunate to have sailed on the
Pacific Grace.  What do we feel?  Yes, there is a sense of relief,
especially for the crew who are very tired from standing continual watch for
34 days.  There is hesitation; we want some of what ´land´ has to offer, but
we also want what we´ve had the past 34 days.  How can we meld the two; how
can we hold onto all that we learned?  These questions are just a few of the
many that travel across our minds and color how we feel about being here.
We are definitely enjoying the chance to walk, to cycle, to eat some
favorite foods, to just wander through the grocery store and marvel, to find
some quiet time alone, to connect with family and friends. . .  We´ve all
had a chance to walk into town and see some of Honolulu.  As it is Sunday,
we saw many local Hawaiians on the beach with their families, friends and
barbecues.  It had a very Polynesian feel when we stopped to swim at a beach
nearby, not frequented as much by tourists; for Skipper and I it was a
wonderful reminder of where we´ve been; it was a familiar sight, lovely
large Polynesian men and women with their children and babies just ´hanging
out´ with each other under a tarp with blankets, coolers, lots of food, and
playing in the water.  The water was wonderful, a perfect temperature.  My
boys played with Tristan; they just never get tired of it or of him.  The
air temperature is very hot, it will take a bit of getting used to but we´re
not complaining, we love it; it´s what we´ve been waiting for.  As soon as
we were tied up we pulled out the 3 tarps and set them up for shade.  It´s
been awhile since we´ve had to use them for the sun.  There is a nice breeze
that with a swim, makes being on the beach wonderful.  Our shipping agent,
Troy, came with a large amount of mail soon after we tied up; we were
thrilled.  Mail is like Christmas; we all hover around hoping there is
something for us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you so much to everyone who
sent mail, it means a lot.  Thank you to Diane and Wes, Susan´s parents, for
their incredibly generous gifts, and the wonderful and very personal mail
that made so many of us very happy.   Over and over I heard exclamations of
"how did they know . . . they knew that I . . . "   You have definitely been
keeping up with the log; thanks again.  And to everyone who connected via
letters, news clippings, gifts, photos, notes of appreciation and thanks . .
. you are a big support in this way.  It is appreciated.  Jocelyn and Kerry
Chalmers, Arwen´s friend and her mom, my friend, welcomed us on the dock; it
was great to see them.  I think it´s always nice to see someone you
recognize when you arrive in a new place i.e. airport, train station, ferry
terminal, port etc.  Arwen and I have a years catching up to do; it´s been
fun.  At supper Molly told me she had spent an incredible day with Raven,
Chris, James, and Steve.  The guys had taken her to their favorite shops
i.e. the bike shop, the surf shop etc. and all she asked was that they let
her try on a few dresses at ´Roxy´s."  So the 5 of them all piled into the
store and the 4 guys helped Molly find a summer dress.  She would model and
they would comment.  In the end they all agreed on a really sweet yellow
dress.  How many women know of 4 men they would take dress shopping and
actually find something they all agreed on?  I thought it was quite
something; that´s what spending 34 days such as we did, can do!  Barry from
Midway dropped by for a quick visit tonight.  He is here for a few days
preparing a cargo ship for Midway in May.  It was good to see him again.  It
is late and I am very tired.  It´s been a wonderful and very full day.
Until tomorrow, good-night, Bonice.