Big seas are dominating our world at the moment. We are being rolled around by a big swell coming from the south, we know not why. The winds have been steady at 15-20 knots from the E/SE, and our daily mileage is still excellent (175nm today). Consequently, it's difficult to get a good sleep in the stern cabin as it suffers most from the turbulence of the swell. The 3/3/2/2 hour watch is still working for us, with catch-up time during the day when it suits.
The big news today is crossing the half way point. We captured the 1525 mile on camera at 1.35pm today, that's 9 days and 1.5 hours since leaving Galapagos. An average of 7.01 knots!! If ....... if we can maintain that average, we are due to arrive lunchtime on the 23rd, St George's Day! Those who have arrived in the Marquesas recently talk of light winds as they approached, so if the average slows we still have a good chance of being there by Tuesday 26th April, that's the 3 week point. That will be absolutely fantastic.
I haven't described how our provisioning has been panning out. The huge (I mean humungous) bunch of bananas have ripened far quicker than we could eat them. They suffered on the first night hanging in the gantry and bouncing around. That took care of a 1/4 of them. We have steadily eaten through another 1/4. We have discarded those going rotten (another 1/4), and we are desperately trying to do justice to the remaining 25! Red and green cabbage seem to be surviving the elements, as are the potatoes. Meat in the freezer has been just delicious, great cuts from fairly primitive butchers counters in the Santa Cruz market. We are 1/3 through our drinking water supply, and tonic and ginger supplies are holding up fine!
Washing day today, and sun plenteous enough to hang clothes out to dry. Cake baking, yes lime drizzle cake though without the icing (no icing sugar for love nor money in Galapagos). Tea at 3 just couldn't get any better. For supper, beef stew and mashed potatoes cooked, for the first time, in the new pressure cooker. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth.
If the seas could moderate just a tiny bit, we could live here.
We are so enthralled by your posts and await each one eagerly. We've decided it is selfish of to enjoy them so much and keep quietly to ourselves, stalking you both across the Pacific. By comaprison, our world is so small, so safe and rather dull and it seems ridiculous to bore you with Vic's trips to London for a BCO meeting (today) and various other European cities for same old... etc etc!! Not to mention Warren's two dodgy hips and the upcoming surgery to sort them out so that we, too, can sail again! The Armstrong houselhold is following your every step and loving it ... and you both. Very proud of your endeavours - 'nuff said. Much (much) love xxx
ReplyDelete