The Ballad of Whack Jade
26 June 2011 | 10 14'N:154 01'W,
Jack
We celebrated our first full week at sea earlier today with a spirited passing around of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and cookies, so I thought I'd better share a few of my observations from our trip so far:
1. The word "trip" doesn't really do it justice. You take a "trip" to the grocery store or the dog park. What we're on is more of a journey, I'd say.
2. There is blue, there is really blue, there is pure blue, and then there is the blue out here on the ocean, as far as the eye can see in every direction. It's hypnotic.
3. I'm finally getting used to the sleeping patterns. My main two watches are 9-12pm at night and 6-9am in the morning, which leaves me the six hours between those two times for �"traditional' sleep. But squeeze in an hour or two during the day, and just get used to the sounds the boat makes below deck (hint: CREEEEEEAAAAAAK�^.all night) and you're good to go. Oh, and of my two watches, I much prefer the early morning one Ð I take over from Peter just as the sun is coming up, and it's just me and the ocean and the sky.
4. Cooking at sea is actually pretty awesome. First off, everything tastes good out here, so you can't go too far wrong. Second, we bought a lot of good, easy stuff to make: soups, pasta, rice, lentils, a little fresh produce. Third, and by far the most important, GOD BLESS PRESSURE COOKERS. My God, it's amazingly useful, easy, and fast. Want to make a potato, carrot, coconut milk curry with some ginger and turmeric? 15 minutes. How about a rice and lentil dish with avocado? 20 minutes. I'm definitely getting one as soon as I get home.
All right, that'll do for now. All is well out here. We're getting along great, the weather has cleared up nicely after a few early squalls, and we're cruising towards the equator. Hope you're all well, and I'll see you soon.
Love, Jack We celebrated our first full week at sea earlier today with a spirited passing around of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and cookies, so I thought I'd better share a few of my observations from our trip so far:
1. The word "trip" doesn't really do it justice. You take a "trip" to the grocery store or the dog park. What we're on is more of a journey, I'd say.
2. There is blue, there is really blue, there is pure blue, and then there is the blue out here on the ocean, as far as the eye can see in every direction. It's hypnotic.
3. I'm finally getting used to the sleeping patterns. My main two watches are 9-12pm at night and 6-9am in the morning, which leaves me the six hours between those two times for �"traditional' sleep. But squeeze in an hour or two during the day, and just get used to the sounds the boat makes below deck (hint: CREEEEEEAAAAAAK�^.all night) and you're good to go. Oh, and of my two watches, I much prefer the early morning one Ð I take over from Peter just as the sun is coming up, and it's just me and the ocean and the sky.
4. Cooking at sea is actually pretty awesome. First off, everything tastes good out here, so you can't go too far wrong. Second, we bought a lot of good, easy stuff to make: soups, pasta, rice, lentils, a little fresh produce. Third, and by far the most important, GOD BLESS PRESSURE COOKERS. My God, it's amazingly useful, easy, and fast. Want to make a potato, carrot, coconut milk curry with some ginger and turmeric? 15 minutes. How about a rice and lentil dish with avocado? 20 minutes. I'm definitely getting one as soon as I get home.
All right, that'll do for now. All is well out here. We're getting along great, the weather has cleared up nicely after a few early squalls, and we're cruising towards the equator. Hope you're all well, and I'll see you soon.
Love, Jack