Shaving

I use leftover water in the thermos, still hot, for shave and face-wash in the bowl you found me.

He's getting closer - less than 700 miles to go. Picture of Coby shaving on the Columbia River on our way to Astoria

Ship

The only wind Coby could find out of the shipping lanes is slightly SE. It is not enough for the windvane, so he was at the tiller 10 hours straight.  Exhausting. He felt safe, ready to go to bed, and took one more look at the horizon --- and for the first time in two and a half weeks, there was a ship! Startling with its immensity and bright lights. But it was well within the shipping lane, where it belonged, on a parallel course.

Picture of his tiller

I still don't have my ticket to meet him in Hawaii -- we're waiting to see when the wind brings him closer before I buy a ticket. We are also debating which island, which moorage. Thank you to Dave, Roger, and John for your advice. 

Racing & Pink Umbrellas

Thursday July 2

morning call:

No wind – barely enough to keep going if stay on the tiller. Can draft north or south at half a knot.

                                                                                                                                           Hot & sunny. "Don't want to put up canvas, in case I need to put up sails. So I'm using a fuchsia travel umbrella while sipping tea." (Snookums indeed! I cracked up for at least a full minute- Katja)

"Clouds on the horizon with rain. May be coming here soon – might mean wind. Right now I'm in a neck and neck race with a piece of styrofoam, but I'm slooooooooowly pulling ahead." (repeated mirth)

Photos: the canvas he is not putting up, the barometer, the wind-vane & anemometer.

Evening text: maybe 10 min left so will text. (we're about to get more minutes)  winds 2 lite 4 Aries so on tiller all day. ( I think Aries is the name for the wind vane) tired. lat26 13.7N lon145 34.5. 

Frustration & Wonder

Wednesday, July 1 @ 22:52

Picture is of Coby on our trip down the Columbia from Portland to Astoria, June 7, 2009 

Wind is from the south. Trying to make way. Traveled just 15 miles, but made only 2 miles headway. One of the banes of having a GPS – could see this wavy line going back and forth over the same place, like an etch-a-sketch.

Hard to concentrate. A result of the solitude?

There is a fish hanging out for protection next to the really big fish that is Snookums. Amber translucent body,  dark stripe outlining  the fish shape in reflective blue.

He saw for the first time a wonderful sight: the Milky Way reflected in the ocean.

7/1 @ 17:41

"moving along pretty nicely now. lat26 28.2N lon145 30.5W had a shower and some tea." 

Genoa up.

7/1/09 @ 12:46 text via sattelite

Up till 4. have big genoa hdsl up, moving slowly. 

Flying Fish & motoring

Satellite Call Tuesday night.

The flying fish are eight inches long or more, with silver bellies and blue above. The water where they are coming from will ripple. They swim rapidly just under the surface and then emerge at speed. They zoom like dragonflies over the surface. They are not just jumping, but gliding and flying -- they will flap a time or two, and can change directions in the air. Sometimes they touch the surface of the water just for an instant, reminiscent of skipping stones. 

Previous day he only traveled 30 miles - slower than a walk, when one figures it was 24 hours. It is making it hard for me (Katja) to figure when to meet him in Hawaii. 

To travel to where there is wind -- south -- he motored all day long. Hot. Had to mind the tiller the whole time. Last night he was in the middle of the LA/Honolulu shipping lane, so he needed to keep going -- though he hasn't seen any ships since his 2nd day out. He has the radio at hand, and sends out frequent notices  "SECURITE" to let any big ships know his location and heading. The trade winds await.

Thanks Jeff, and all you other helpful sailors. What a community.