That is probably what the good Lord was saying when Time Warp emerged from the Ala Wai yacht harbor at Waikiki to be greeted to a 25k northeasterly. That 25k quickly grew to 35k as we cleared the lee of the island and Jim and I were immersed in what would become a wet ride to hell and back. Everything -- and I mean everything -- was wet with a salt layer. The bedding gets a bit of salt in it and feels like it is wet, even if it isn't. The salon turned into a garage sale as everything not secured down was thrown to the floor as we tacked back and forth to clear the island the first day. It wasn't for the feint of heart.

Once we cleared the island, we settled onto starboard tack for the long beat northwards. The general route these days is to head due north till you get out of the trades and into a dead zone. Then you motor through the dead zone (northwards) till you can hook into some easterlies and ride those easterlies northeastward to the great Pacific Northwest.

But those first 3 days were not fun. We were given brief reprieves in the morning to dry out, only to get drenched in the afternoon and evening with more squalls. Our appetite was gone and we took to instant food. Us, with a 3-year supply of food and we are eating instant! But the only thing you could do down below the first few days was get horizontal for some sleep. Up on deck I would try to lay out on a cockpit seat for more rest. Reading was not even in the equation. It was question of endurance.

But finally it seems we have made it out of that maelstrom. Today we have sunny skies and a nice 10k. It would appear that we are at the northern edge of the trades, preparing to entering the dead zone we must motor through. Our appetite has returned, and we even read a book some today!! Imagine that! Now it will be up to my 'router-at-large', Will, to steer us through the next 1,900 nm the quickest and most efficient way.

The fun is actually starting to return!!