Thursday, 12 December 2024

200 miles to go!

Thoughts (by James):
00.00: 141 miles yesterday, not bad!
00.30: Will make some tea, helps pass the time until bed.
01.00: Lightning ahead as well as to the side now. That was a big one. I wonder how far away it is, probably a long way. I'm so sleepy. I wonder if walking around the cockpit will help? Maybe a biscuit too.
01.30: Bed is nice, but so hot in the cabin.
03.00ish: Sounds windy, I hope I'm not needed
04.00ish: Should I be concerned that Dad has no idea what will happen if we are hit by lightning? (Snippets of night watch conversation heard through cabin window)
07.30: So sleepy. Nice sunrise, not as good as yesterday, that was the best one so far.
08.00: I should put the fishing line out. Hopefully will catch something I can actually reel in today. 
08.30: Hungry, time for porridge. It gets so warm so early now, bimini up to give a little shade.
09.00: Maybe if I make bread now I'll be able to cook it and nap before lunch.
09.30: Probably not too hot for the bread to rise in the engine room while the engine is running, right?
10.00: Pancakes are excellent, great use of excess butter supply. Thank you mum.
10.30: "We've had second breakfast, yes, but what about third breakfast?" - engine on has it's perks, toaster is out and making excellent use of yesterdays bread.
11.00: One loaf eaten, another takes its place. It's like the circle of life but for loafs of bread, I wonder if they see it that way.
11.30: Nap seeming unlikely, but feeling okay for now, despite dismal Garmin Sleep Score®
12.00: Kindles are great, can now make a fully informed decision that forensic anthropology is very interesting but not the career choice for me.
12.30: That is a huge grey cloud over there.
12.45: I guess taking reefs in and out of the main is good exercise even if not particularly useful this time. Kinda wish it would bucket rain down on us, it's so hot so close to such heavy rain.
13.00: Lunch time! Excellent spread for 17 days in. Close to a PB for my bread I think. Mum's hummus is an excellent addition.
13.30: Quite full after less lunch than usual, 3 breakfasts may be responsible.
14.00: 2 (massive) apples per day split between us. Now 4 apples left, should work out right all being well.
14.30: A breeze! We might be able to sail for a while
15.00: Engine on again. Squalls reliably doing the opposite of what we are prepared for. (Which is now, since a few nights ago, lots of wind, resulting in the squall giving very little)
15.30: Chess Vs Sophia
16.00: I'm making a mess of this
16.30: Finally, that took much longer than it should have 
17.00: Tea time! Brownies or cake? 
17.05: Both
17.30: Looks dark back home. Looking forward to seeing everyone when we are back. Starlink is crazy.
18.00: Some of the clouds around us look huge. That book I read said if they are taller than they are wide that means stormy. Some of these are like skyscrapers. I guess explains the squalls and lightning.
18.30: Cold beer on the foredeck has got to be a highlight of the trip.
19.00: Dinner! Pleased with the suggestion of cold chicken pittas, hummus etc. even though I was no help creating it (thanks again to Mum)
19.30: Full again! Lovely dinner
20.00: Bed asap. Tidy dinner, teeth, bed.
20.30: So hot in the cabins.
21.30: So sweaty
22.30: Watch time already!? Breeze is lovely and cooling though. Sail furled away and engine on
23.00: What would my third desert island album be? (After Bach Cello Suites and Graceland), thinking possibly Les Mis
23.30: Maybe this is enough wind to sail?
00.00: It was not