Pacific Odyssey - Leg 7

Jacob slipped into my cabin this morning when I was just in the
transition between sleep and waking and whispered, "Mom, the sea is glassy
calm, it´s beautiful, you should see it."  What a nice way to wake up . . .
and yes, it is beautiful, incredibly peaceful and so different from what we
woke up to a few days ago.  We desperately want to sail and we ask Skipper
regularly about possible weather predictions bringing wind.  At the moment
there is a storm brewing north of Vancouver Island that we may get the end
of as we get closer.  The foresail is the only sail left up and it flaps
sadly, it will probably come down soon.  We don´t even need it for stability
as the motion consists only of a gentle roll over the swells, nice for
sleeping.  The chart shows us about 5 or 6 days from the entrance to Juan de
Fuca Strait; it´s quite strange to see Vancouver Island so close on a chart
after so long.  We´ve had another very fun day.  A funny thing I heard
yesterday and forgot to mention was when Lisa was ´shot´ by Skipper during
our game of ´Assassin.´  When he came up to her in the galley and whispered
"bang, you´re dead," Lisa exclaimed, "Oh Skipper, I never thought you would
kill me!"  Tag has turned into a major event.  Yesterday Chris P. played tag
with Simon, running after him all over the ship.  I thought Simon had
thought of a nickname for him when I heard, "Crispy, Crispy, come and get
me," when in fact he was just using his last initial to distinguish him from
Chris E.  This morning Adrienne, Chris P, and the 3 boys chased each other
furiously, and this evening, what started as the ritual evening tag between
Tristan, Steve, Mark and my 3 boys, turned into a massive game with 14
people playing, all guys except for Arwen.   Jordan C, Raven, Blake, Adam,
Mark, James, Steve, Tristan, Noah, Simon, Jacob, Chris P, Jordan T, and
Arwen were hot and tired after an hour of running hard and trying to stay
away from each other.  The game ended just before the sun set and harnesses
were needed; Jacob made a gallon of ´stiff´ orange tang for the thirsty
players and they sat, drank and shared like any team in a locker room after
the game.  It was great.  Chris E. and Steve spent about an hour playing
Lego with Simon, Noah, and Jacob in the very small, boys´ cabin.  Jordan
taught a seniors chart work lesson this afternoon, while Rona led an art
session in the foc´sle.  Skipper pulled out pastels, water colors, charcoal,
and various pencils for crew and trainees to use.  Caley and Maddie, along
with some other trainees have been working hard on pinning down ´ports of
call´ for the Offshore Committee; they will be meeting soon.  In the Writer´s
Guild, Rona shared one of her poems for the first time, a big step.  She did
an incredible drawing of a ship and light on the water in pastels on black
paper.  It´s posted in the foc´sle.  Adam, Raven, and Chris P. took bucket
showers today!  I couldn´t believe it; the water is freezing, as is the air.
What do the rest of us do when we feel we need a shower?  Usually we mix
some warm water, rubbing alcohol and cold tap water in the sink in the head,
and just scrub down with a wash rag.  To rinse we fill a water jug with some
more warm water mixed with cold and pour it over our body onto the floor.
Once we´re done, we scoop up the water with a bailer or sponge it up.  It
takes a bit of getting used to but it works until we get to something
better.  Interrogations and life stories continue at lunch; I think we´ve
heard from nearly everyone now.  Skipper was invited as a special guest by
fore watch.  He gave his life story and let us interrogate him; he shared
interesting insights and experiences as well as some very funny stories.
The evening was beautiful; many crew and trainees brought out cameras and
were taking pictures, some experimental.  Sarah B. is doing a study on
hands; in one day she has filmed about 10 activities involving hands close
up.  Once the sun was down, about 2000hrs, many trainees went below.  There
was a game of ´Catan´ and a card game of ´Dutch Blitz´ happening around the
hold table.  Others were grouped on bunks chatting, discussing music and
other various topics, reading, sleeping, knitting, writing, making tea or
hot chocolate etc.  I think we will miss these evenings where we are all
together, dependent on each other´s company.  It´s nice to have a time with
fewer options of places to go and to be forced to amuse ourselves without
transportation, movies, TV, face book etc.  All these activities will always
be with us; it´s good to be without for a bit and realize what we miss
because of them, no matter how good and fun they can be.  Until tomorrow,
good-night, Bonice.