At Sea
We are now on our way to Ascension Island after a lovely day yesterday at St. Helena. We are sailing right in the southeasterly trades, with the wind on our starboard quarter and we have a very comfortable ride, which makes us want to spend as much time as possible on deck. As we do so, we become increasingly aware of the physical world around us and our small place within this great framework. Last night with a clear sky overhead we had a star party, learning to navigate and to identify important stars and constellations. Today, after a fine lunch on deck, and a refreshing dip in the pool, some of us tried our hand at “fancywork,” decorative rope work, which evolved over time as sailors, whiled away the hours on long sea voyages. This evening we gathered for our daily “green flash” party as the sun set. In many ways days at sea teach us the ancient lessons which all seafarers learn, the unconscious sense of sea and ship. In our steady but unhurried progress as we cross great expanses of ocean, days and nights blend into one continuous stretch of time which passes evenly and comfortably as our daily schedule unfolds. The water in this part of the ocean is the deep blue of the open sea and flying fish rise from our bow wave as the ship passes, gliding long distances across the waves, but today only the occasional seabird followed in our wake. Tomorrow, as we close on Ascension, we expect to begin to see many more, another chapter in the unfolding story of the variations we see as we experience the great changes in latitude of this ocean voyage.
We are now on our way to Ascension Island after a lovely day yesterday at St. Helena. We are sailing right in the southeasterly trades, with the wind on our starboard quarter and we have a very comfortable ride, which makes us want to spend as much time as possible on deck. As we do so, we become increasingly aware of the physical world around us and our small place within this great framework. Last night with a clear sky overhead we had a star party, learning to navigate and to identify important stars and constellations. Today, after a fine lunch on deck, and a refreshing dip in the pool, some of us tried our hand at “fancywork,” decorative rope work, which evolved over time as sailors, whiled away the hours on long sea voyages. This evening we gathered for our daily “green flash” party as the sun set. In many ways days at sea teach us the ancient lessons which all seafarers learn, the unconscious sense of sea and ship. In our steady but unhurried progress as we cross great expanses of ocean, days and nights blend into one continuous stretch of time which passes evenly and comfortably as our daily schedule unfolds. The water in this part of the ocean is the deep blue of the open sea and flying fish rise from our bow wave as the ship passes, gliding long distances across the waves, but today only the occasional seabird followed in our wake. Tomorrow, as we close on Ascension, we expect to begin to see many more, another chapter in the unfolding story of the variations we see as we experience the great changes in latitude of this ocean voyage.
