Passage Update
Updates from Blue Plains Drifter and her crew en route to Brisbane, Australia:
Day 5
Jim called on the satellite phone. He said the wind was right on the nose and really pushing them off course. It was also giving them a bumpy ride. He was glad to have three on board because it took two of them just to manage boiling water to be able to make soup!
Day 6
We had a good night last night. The winds are coming around to the beam and the swell is getting better. We are not slamming into the waves anymore. It is looking good for a Friday afternoon arrival again. We’ll see.
Day 7
The sailing has been great today and it is supposed to stay this way for at least the next 3 days. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. We will have to maintain a 6kt average to get in on Friday evening. That could be tough. The wind is supposed to be staying around 12kts.
Base Camp Hawaii update:
Since when did Taco Bell start putting rice in the Taco Salad? No one told me about this. How did this happen? I stopped at another 7-11 in search of the elusive Coke Slurpee and again, DENIED. What is the deal? They have it in the machine but in both cases the coke variety was not frozen. On top of that, they don’t have my back-up flavor either - cherry. This is sheer madness!
Once again, like when I made landfall in New Zealand, the girl in me is in overdrive. I did a make-up consultation at Macy’s (I have not worn make-up since my prom) and I got a facial. Then there was this darling red leather purse on sale that I just had to have. In the last 3 years the only purse I’ve had has been a cloth like back pack with whales on it. I put a large ziploc inside to act as a liner since we often got rain quite abruptly and I wanted to keep the contents dry. So, I didn’t think it was crazy to buy a slightly, higher-end purse now that there is an end in sight to our cruising.
The plan remains - finalize our move to New Zealand, hopefully by year end.
September 14th, 2009 at 4:00 am
Glad to hear all is well for Jim and the crew. Welcome back to the world of round door knobs (that’s the US, Tiffany). Sorry about the disappointing Taco-Bell experiences…and the slurpee surprises. So much has changed! Buy the purse, get a massage to match up with the facial…and yes, buy the makeup! It’s kind of fun to be the girl again…just takes time and $$$$!
Keep the updates coming.
Elise
September 14th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Come to CA Tiffany…The coke slurpee works at our 7-11..It is what Michael and Mason get everday after surfing. Glad to hear that the girly girl is coming out in you..HAVE FUN….Glad to hear the crew is doing well..
nancy, brad and boys
September 14th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Both the cola and the cheery flavors are nice and frozen at our 7-11 down the street, you can mix and match here. You know if Hawaii they really only care about the Spam and the Fruit Punch, right? Glad to hear that you’re trying to be a girl again and that the boat is having an easier go of it.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Hi Guys,
I have been following your emails for the past three years. It looks like your having a great time. Kathy had a good time visiting and filled me in on a lot. I think about you guys all the time. Jim, I still have you badge in my cube looking at me. Maybe you can come back an claim it???? It is fun looking at the photos and seeing all the different things you guys are doing. I think it is great you are both living some of your dreams. Hang in there and my best. A little about me. I now have two sons (Ryan and Mason). Mason is 2 and a little shit. He never stops and never sleeps. Ryan is now in 1st grade (he loves sports). Rikki is still working at Avnet and of course I am still here at IDT. After you left they asked me to be Staffing Manager about 20 times and I declined everytime. There isn’t enought time for Rikki and I to both be management. IDT is very different from 3 years ago. I think they just might pull off becoming an Analog company. Anyway work is work. Have a great time and keep the photos coming.
Mike Hanna