DAY 38 - 100 miles to go

We're crossing the North Pacific, our passage almost complete.
Jacob says we're 'savage'; we say, were merely freaks.

The accomplishment is huge, for both me and John,
4000 miles is epic, 6 weeks at sea is LONG.

Soon we'll be in Sitka, 100 miles to go,
Familiar shores await us, we just have to get through this low.

Now we scan the horizon, anxious that there will be
Gorgeous, snow-capped mountains, rising from this massive sea.

We're keen to stretch our legs, walk up and down the street,
Feast on a great meal, enjoy an undisturbed sleep.

Friends and family have sent emails, sustaining us through it all,
Now we're homeward bound, we'll see you in the fall!


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June 14 Noon Report
Position: 56-01N, 137-35W
98 miles to Sitka, Alaska
4226 miles travelled so far
24 hr DMG: 127 nautical miles
24 hr DOG: 129 nautical miles
24 hr speed SOG: 5.4 knots (motoring)
Heading: 050
Wind: South-west 5 knots
Seas: South-west 0.5 meters

Daily position reports:
http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/tracker.php?ident=V73TN

Passage to Marshall Islands - Day 3

The sky is no longer clear, beautiful and blue,
The clouds have arrived, a grey and black stew.

We see the squalls and anticipate,
The accelerating winds, the sudden wall of hate.

All hands scramble top side and quickly lower sail,
We wrestle with the sheets, steady her dive to the rail.

Ahhh, we missed you - our beloved ITCZ*
How quickly we recall how fickle your weather can be.

As quickly as she rose, the squall is soon long gone.
We are left without wind in a slow and tedious calm.
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* Remember, I'm Canadian...so that should be ITCZ: AYE.TEA.SEA.ZEE.

We lie in waiting....

Wearily waiting
Relentlessly raining
Continually collecting
Stealthily swatting
Languidly lying
Randomly reading
Hopelessly hoping
Creatively cooking
Ever eating
Patiently putting
Wishfully watching
Wearily waiting

These remora hung out below the boat constantly. An odd looking fish, apparently their dorsal fin has evolved to be a large sucking device...enabling them to latch onto large fish/sharks/etc and perform cleaning services!

La Paz to Isabela

Staying in La Paz, we were going squirrely,
So we left for Los Muertos, bright and early.

It was flat calm, so we motored all day,
Arrived mid-afternoon to this beautiful bay.

With the hook set, we jumped right in,
Paddled and floated, and went for a swim.

Pisces arrived very soon after,
We had dinner and drinks, shared stories and laughter.

The next day was mellow - we read our books,
But near to the shore, we were drawn to have a look,

Earl, in his dinghy, caught three big fish,
He dropped one on our boat, as if he knew our wish.

Happy hour was hosted by Earl and Louise,
Then dinner was served aboard Pisces.

We rose early to see gray whales breach in the bay,
Weighed anchor, pointed east and set the sails for the day.

The wind came and it left, we went with the flow,
We took turns at the helm and resting below.

We saw rays and turtles, on the surface they lie,
Boobies hitched a ride, by perching up high.

We were at sea for three days and two nights,
The moon was so full, behold, what a sight!

Isla Isabela welcomed us with a pod of whales,
We anchored at the south and pulled down our sails.

Looking forward to exploring the rest of the Isle,
But first we must rest - for just a little while.

Going Crazy

Many a sailor has gone loopy as a result of long passages, and the relentlessness of the open ocean*. Here is proof positive that I am no exception:

It was late in the month of August,
When we sailed into San Fran' Bay.
We searched for a marina to tie for the month,
And found Clipper would let us stay.

In Sausalito, lies Clipper Yacht Harbour,
With great staff and hundreds of slips.
We settled in for what is to become
A highlight thus far on the trip.

In the 60's and 70s Saus' was a hummin',
Artists and hippies galore.
Peace and love were the order of the day,
But the community had much more in store.

City dwellers discovered the quaint little town,
Commuters rushed in to buy land,
Sausalito is now quite gentrified,
Not quite what the hippies had planned.

Now walking through town along Bridgeway,
One finds boutiques, cafes and shops.
The streets are alive, the sidewalks crowded,
As tourists shop till they drop.

We settled into Basin Four,
And John returned to work back home.
I stayed behind to watch the boat,
We'd talk everyday by phone.

I met my dock neighbors, all were just great,
Including Carol, Conrad, Betsy and Joe,
And there were many others I came to befriend,
Even Bob and Jane from Nanaimo.

I wandered the city by bus, ferry and foot,
I strolled beaches and we watched a ball game,
I saw the city from above, I shopped and I dined,
And viewed work by artists of considerable fame.

Oh Marin County - what a fabulous place,
I'd return at the blink of an eye.
To all the people who welcomed me in,
Thank you, be well, and goodbye.

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*I realize that I'm not a solo sailor and haven't been at sea for months at a time...but I tell ya...one long night shift in the cold darkness can make you go a little loopy.