"Moist as a snack cake!", as our pal Dan likes to say. Today brought shifting winds and lots of rain. We had no wind, wind from the south, no wind, then wind from the west. Now we're motoring in very light west winds. Hopefully they will fill in and give us a lift home. I can safely say the crew morale has shifted with the winds. Even a (moist!) chocolate fudge cake and fresh loaf of Irish soda bread may not be able to lift the skies or the spirits. But at least the saloon is toasty warm and my foulies are drying out! I remain firmly optimistic.

I had my own cetacean experience yesterday. There were two dolphins doing backflips alongside me during my afternoon watch. As I was shouting and encouraging them, I look up to see a huge whale about 50 yards off the starboard bow. I hollered for David and Ted, but the whale gave me one more glance then dove out of sight. So we've each had a personal whale encounter, not counting the spouting in the distance that we've all seen together. They are really gi-normous, and it makes me glad they are not overly interested in us, unlike the dolphins, who delight in chasing the boat.

I've heard from Lilly Kinsale (Seamus and Niamh both !), and I am actually looking forward to getting back to work next week! Orla has been keeping a keen eye on Ard na Mara, Debbie's always watching the stuff on the Indy front, and Kathy and Jerry are getting Sheila ready to travel. I feel really lucky. You all have some serious credits in the IOU1 bank.

It looks like Friday or Saturday for our arrival, as best we can determine right now. Lots of daydreaming about our homecoming, for sure. Murphy's anyone?

Fair winds!