“Sailboat Mode”
Today was for rest and I think we really needed it. We slept until 9am! I tried to tune into the local cruisers show on the ship radio but we are still too far away to hear anything. Captain and I took Kona to shore for an extended shore leave before Cory woke up. We were happy to see the trail we re-cleared last year was still clear meaning folks have been using it. The other side of the island has neat rock formations that overlook the beginning of the Whalesback Channel. This spot is special to us. I think it reminds us both of the start of our adventures and looking ahead to what is coming. Kona had a blast swimming here (well, anywhere really). I always love watching her navigating getting out of the water on slippery rocks. It means I don’t have to trim her nails all summer!
It was noon (!) before we got back to Ciara. Cory was just waking up (Cory and Captain had stayed up super late last night). We made some bacon and some Bloody Mary’s.
Cory wanted to go to shore and packed a day bag worth of activities. We sent them off with the ship radio so we could communicate with each other. I settled into my book and quickly decided I needed a nap as the day heat had gotten to me with the Vodka. Opps. But just an hour. Captain did a few fixes around the boat and he too, took a nap. We both spent the afternoon reading our books under our shade. I braided Captain’s beard and pretty happy how this one turned out, although my braids still could be more consistent.
By the time 6pm rolled around both Captain and I were feeling strange. We have both turned our phones to airplane mode. I am calling it “sailboat mode.” We are so darn connected to the internet and it’s not what we want to be doing while here so this forces us to only “get a fix” in the morning and evening as we have allowed ourselves. The feelings of withdrawal. Not only the withdrawal but the lack of information coming in replaced by silence and having to force ourselves into more productive activities is easier said than done. I sat with my feelings for a bit and just enjoyed what was right in front of me. Beautiful nature.
Cory called the radio around 6pm. I was shocked they spent all day on shore! The dinghy battery was dead (our bad, we used up a lot of it in Whiskey Bay and hadn’t properly babysat the solar) and they were going to row back soon. Thankfully we watched as another family here who was on shore with them gave them a tow. They have two small girls so I handed them some Freeze-Dried ice cream and stickers to say thanks and just because!
Cory had spent the day sleeping in the hammock ashore, reading, felting and wood carving. The nice gentleman who gave him a tow was a wood carver and was excited to help Cory use their carving kit. Cory said it was cooler on shore all day then here on the boat. I think they were very smart and had a wonderful day.
We made Japanese curry for dinner and Last Post immediately at 9pm. I got a ship horn in response tonight which means it was apricated and I also appreciate the blow. Captain and I took Kona to shore for some late-night shore time until the last bit of sun disappeared and headed back. I still needed to do dishes.
Back on Ciara I went to pump some water and found our we were out of water! 35 gallons exactly one week. No big worry, we have an additional 14 gallons in blue jugs. We got them out, filled the tank and then quickly re-wrote our plans. 14 gallons will be enough water to get us a little over two days. Captain has medication that make him drink a lot which is why we went over our 1 gallon per person per day rule. Looks like we are going through about 5/day for 3 people. I was going to move us just a little closer to Little Current tomorrow and then head there on Tuesday, Wednesday morning at the latest, but one peek off “sailboat mode” showed big blows coming after tomorrow. We made the call that we will take the longer sail tomorrow all the way to Little Current. Get fuel, pump out and a full tank of water. If we can get a slip we will stay on the docks for the blow. It is nice for Kona. It is nice for us and little treat.
I hope to have more days like today and hope we have a good sail and none-eventful docking in Little Current, where the current is always so little….
