Monday 4 July 2022

Happy Birthday America. Eat hotdogs, drink beer and blow up stuff to show your patriotism. Then hop out of your sclerotic assumptions bubbles for a sec and give real objective thought to why we became such a successful country. Try some enlightenment. You could be surprised.

So how are we spending Independence Day, three Yanks and two Canuks (only four crew, Marie counts as both)? Autonomously dodging Japanese freighters in the middle of the North Pacific chilling our chalupas. Altered course for avoidance last night and this morning as there seems to be quite a bit of traffic between N. America and Asia. As our latitude climbs, temperature inexorably descends and daylight lengthens... huh? Fun fact: Although summer solstice was almost two weeks ago after which days in the northern hemisphere at stationary locations get shorter, we're moving north faster than the sun moves south.

Despite explicit instructions that this was to be a tranquil saunter from tropical to arctical (not a real word), a front has formed, risking entire crew's severe opprobrium (yes, it's true - obloquy and opprobrium), that may bring near gale force winds Thursday night and again early morning before landfall. At least wind and sea will be off our quarter rather than on the bow - a frisky downhill sleigh-ride, not an uphill bash. If able to maintain speed could make Sitka Sunday in daylight. Helps that nights are only six hours with sunset around 2200.

Jack & Jan