The dogs are adjusting well! They understand and are able to recognize the pattern in our early morning and early evening trips to shore. We let them run, swim and play for a minimum of one hour each time but usually more and they love it! Luna is getting plenty of exercise and stimulation. Luckily she has found an emergency ‘pee spot’ (which we were hoping would happen in case of unexpected longer days and to prevent any health problems) out on our trailing dingy, which happens to be the best possible place we could hope for as it is easy to flush out. She’s only resorted to using it twice so she definitely understands that it is not preferable! She amazes me everyday, I don’t know that I would have gone on this adventure without her. She is definitely living her best life! She plays with seaweed and shells on the beach, plays fetch in the ocean, and runs for miles. She occasionally riles up Brik enough to get him to really play with her but he typically knows he can’t keep up. I noticed she developed a red/rashy spot under her armpits today that doesn’t seem to be bothering her, I discovered it was from her wet harness combined with the sand so we are using a different harness. I also cleaned out the sand from the rash and applied an all natural ointment! Brik gets bothered by sand build up in his massive paws so I’ve started giving them a good rinse in a bucket with a little fresh water each time we get back from our walks- he appreciates it.
We stayed for three days and four nights in that spot and our anchor held tight! There is a tourist market just over a mile away that has twice provided us with cucumbers, bananas and drinks with the few dollars we have! We collected 2 dozen oysters off the shore of our beach on one rainy evening at low tide, Shaun shucked them and I sautéed them in garlic and laid them atop alfredo pasta!
At some point we gained the interest of a neighboring Osprey who enjoyed perching on our mast- we did our best to shoo him away but he was adamant about his new view.
On the fourth day (6.26) our anchor started to drag around mid-day. We took it as a sign it was time to move on and sailed around the horn into the mouth of the canal. We are essentially just on the other side of the street!
Amy came aboard that night to have some drinks and hangout, we all had a ton of fun and the dogs were happy to see her!
Shaun, Luna and I slept on the bow under the stars that night and let Amy and Brik crash in the cabin. It was a magical night as we watched dozens of meteors cozied up together. Our bonds grow stronger each day, it’s a beautiful thing.
Luna has now laid claim to the bow- where she has space and can keep watch around us. It makes me a bit nervous that she sleeps up there at night and I can’t keep tabs on her but she is sure footed and brave as hell- I’ll get used to it.
Cucumbers soaked in italian dressing are by far my favorite boat food. Banana sandwiches are a delicacy. We eat a lot of pasta, rice, beans, CHEESE PUFFS (thanks, Mom), pb&j, and canned veggies. We’ve tested our water rations and with over 35 gallons of water on board between large jugs, medium sized containers and at least 70 individual plastic water bottles that we refill and reuse- we can get through about 8-10 days very comfortably! If I had to guess I’d say Shaun and I are drinking at least a gallon and a half each per day.
I am becoming stronger and more limber everyday. My legs are in a constant state of looking like a weeks old banana.
Yesterday (6.27) we were blessed with a short hiatus trip home to shower, do a load of laundry, charge our batteries and fill up on our water rations. We ate the $h!t out of some leftovers my parents had from the night before. (I stepped on the scale and have lost 13lbs since we left ~8 days ago.) It was a great day!
I’ve never appreciated my shower so much. I’m able to wash my hair and the essentials every other day with a 5 gallon solar shower that I hang by the captains chair where we have good drains but it cuts into our drinking supply so giving my head a good scrub while I’m swimming seems to help as well. We have a 5-gallon bucket that we are able to use as a toilet, it’s been an easy adjustment as we simply empty it over board, rinse in the ocean and refill with a bit of saltwater.
We came back to the boat to organize the cabin and store away our supplies properly before having some pasta and watching a movie on my phone before bedtime.
Sleeping comfortably has been a bit of a challenge. It seems it’s either too hot and muggy or we just can’t find a good spot to pass out. I was able to make some small adjustments in the cabin that allow more space and easier access to our secondary bed- where Luna and I snuggle up when it’s time for real rest! My shoulders have been sore and bothering me for a few days now. Most likely from a combination of constant use and activity out on the water and the sleeping arrangements. Last night I decided to force-reset my body by taking some advil and melatonin before cozying into my new found space. I SLEPT LIKE A BABY. Today is going to be productive, I’ve been up since 5:30am hanging out on the bow with Luna while we wait for Shaun and Brik to stir so we can head to shore and start our day!
The universe and ourselves are finding a balance. We are learning everyday and applying each new skill as quickly as the opportunity presents itself. We spend a lot of time on our toes by just being cautious and aware of the tides/winds/weather and the fact that we are anchored off shore. Nothing comes as easy as it used to- cooking, showering, sleeping, peeing- it’s all work, but the reward is far more valuable than dollars. It is impossible to express the gratitude I already feel toward my experiences in this new chapter of my life, my beautiful and intelligent Luna, our dopey and lovable Brik, my captain and sweetheart who challenges and loves me more each day, and the undying support for our mission from friends, family and strangers! Life is so so good.
Today, we walk the dogs before I settle in to complete the repair of our jib sail and Shaun works out some kinks in our battery-supply. We will have pb/fluff/banana sandwiches and coffee for breakfast, clean up and organize the cabin (which is a daily task), hang a tarp for shade cover, lay out any clothes or blankets on the bow for drying etc. The perfect day. This evening we will walk into town for more cucumbers, and Amy may come celebrate her Friday night with us.
After checking weather and wind forecasts, we have planned to motor through the canal on Monday, and spend Tues/Wed sailing ourselves into the Plymouth Waterfront where we’ll find a good spot to anchor for Fourth of July celebrations in America’s Hometown! ❤️⛵️🇺🇸⚓️
I’ve added a google maps screenshot of our whereabouts for reference. The red dot represents our first anchor spot and green represents our current location. ☺️ Blue represents our crash-course with the rocks on 6.22. 🤦🏼♀️
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