Slowing Down
07 July 2021 | Day Eleven to Azores
Wednesday 7 July 2021
Last night's position report placed us south of Madrid. Can't sail that fast. Don't have large enough wheels. Would not have bypassed Portuguese islands. Sent correction.
Miserable day with overcast, rain and haze - a day to reflect on the meaning of life. Or read and nap. The read/nap concept seems more interesting and useful as the other thing, despite a desire by many for a universal purpose, makes no actual sense. Mine as an individual is, upon landfall in Azores, to put a dent in the local port supply and smile a lot.
Refuting latest GRIB (Generally Respected, but Incorrigible Bullsqueeze) forecast, current is holding us back and almost directly against wind. Not awful, but sea lumpy and speed slow. Despite best sailor tricks, sails occasionally flog on a gunwale dunking roll. May not arrive until Monday.
Most of above was a downer, so let's finish on a positive note. Everyone in the US except you, me and most who really need or could usefully use them is being showered with fiat dollars. It's great to have dough coming in to put off going back to work for awhile. Rent-seekers can afford that Bentley or Rolex they've been coveting. The best part is most people will re-elect politicians who they think are doing good. When improvements aren't evident the pols will explain they didn't spend enough or how much worse it would have been. Millennials will pay it back in taxes or inflation and a lower economy, but hey, nobody will make the connection and anyway their problem, not ours, right? You don't have children or grandchildren do you?
Jack & Jan