Pacific Ocean 29 March 2010 20.0775N 112.1605W

Yesterday, I intended to describe the blues, but was distracted. You’d think focus would be easier here where there are so few distractions, but it’s focus of a different kind. Focusing on the blue water sliding by the shady side of the hull yesterday, I was trying to find an exact match for you to relate to. The closest I could come was Lapis Lazuli blue. The sparkling white foam from our wake add to that effect like the silver and quartz veins in Lapis. The color is most intense when you stare straight down on the shady side, the rest of the sea takes on the mood of the sky at a given moment, but straight down is where the pure blue lies. For anyone who has ever used Derwent Studios colored pencils, mixing oriental blue with ultramarine comes very close. Toady there is not a cloud in the sky. Sky is a tougher blue for me to pin down, but it’s very similar to the blue sky so prevalent in SoCal, so for those of you there, just go outside and look up. Then see if you can remember what you were writing before you went outside.

Last night (early this morning) was a “Thidwick the Kind Hearted Moose” night. First one Booby bird landed on one mast, then another on the second, then a third on the wire between the masts. It was fairly windy but they did not seem to mind being pitched around up there. At one point I counted five birds on the wire, when two Frigates came to vie for a place. Lots of missed attempts, lots of squawking, lots of guano on deck and off, and some amazing acrobatics as they hovered waiting for wire or mast to swing close before attempting a landing. They kept at it for my entire watch and Frank says they didn’t leave till dawn, when one dove from the mast to intercept a flying fish. Then they all cleared out for breakfast. We’ve been seeing the masked boobies all day. I expect they’ll be back at it tonight. We’re not planning to shed these antlers like Thidwick, but we are trying to get to the other side of the lake where there’s more moose moss to munch.

Frank saw a tropic bird this morning – now there’s an adaptation that baffles the mind, with one big long streamer feather trailing behind. If you’re the only bird up that high, I guess you need something to catch your lady’s eye, how else would she find you with all that sky. Sorry, must be the Dr. Zeuss reference above; I’m sure he saw one of these birds in his lifetime and was inspired. I have not seen one in 13 years and I’m really looking forward to it.

We sailed all night and all day, running the engine only to get some refrigeration going. Logan is practicing his Ukulele. We found some lessons online in LaPaz; he now knows 3 cords, and the first notes for picking “Wipe Out.” His plan is to get “Wipe Out” perfect before he arrives in Tahiti, so from the beach he can serenade his cousin Mauna surfing. Kennan is working on plans for a 2-brother submarine pop-pop boat (he’s working on his oral presentation now). Frank is with them in the cockpit, eyes closed, brow furrowed – I think he’s wishing we hadn’t taught Kennan to talk, and wishing that Logan could learn just one more chord. I did get some sleep, never as much as I’d like, I think I’ll go try for some more – the engine makes a nice white noise to drown out the cockpit cacophony, should put me right to sleep (please, please, please).

xoxomo