Milky Way

November 13

This is it! The last of a very rare three 'Friday the 13ths this year. Just to be safe, recommend you remain in bed curled into a fetal ball until midnight. If reading this on 14th or later, just ignore. You may feel free to continue about your normal business unless that consists in strategy recommended for today. In that case you may (safely ignore entire paragraph.) feel free to continue (about your normal business.) continuing. Thought to give you an expressive choice... Oh right, decision making, not part of that program.

For my part, have thrown caution to the wind, thumbed nose at fate (plus a few other hackneyed expressions) and headed off into the great Caribbean Sea for Los Roques 100 NM distant (60 more to go). Weather wonk claims a perfect day for it. Surprisingly, this time, he spoke with straight tongue... mostly.

After catching a little Spanish mackerel for dinner, something took rattle jet lure and broke the line which promptly flew into whirling wind generator blades. Getting that sorted out required some imprudent stunts (reference first paragraph) which will not be admitted to (to which will not be admitted?).

Made good decision to furl staysail and put reef in main as wind picked up after sunset, 18 to 20. Four foot sea on the starboard quarter OK, but periodically a train of six footers rolls through. Any course that reduces resultant lurch is too far off rhumb, so enjoying the ride and grab something sturdy occasionally.

Between scans, while lying (this does not signify prevarication) against the leeward coaming, gazing upward (moon won't rise until wee hours, so the empyreum (although unlikely, this could, possibly, be a real word) is brilliant), watched a satellite, reflecting light from the set sun, glide toward Antarctica. No doubt a spy cam gathering data for our expected invasion of Venezuela. Can't tell if flashes on the southern horizon are lead story on CNN or lightning.

Jack