Monday, July 8
Dena’s 1200-1230 half watch
Looking at the monotonous pale dome of the sky, I remembered that, last night, it looked like the sky of a big town. Only the brightest stars made it through the curtain of dust hanging over us. Streaming, I’m sure, rather than hanging about in the atmosphere right here, but it’s too fine a dispersal to provide a show of traveling in the fast-moving upper air like clumps of wetter clouds do.
Dena’s 1400-1500 watch
I’m kicking myself right now. I rapid-grabbed a bottle of sunscreen at the Continente in Praia da Vitória, and it’s heavily scented. I mean, I may actually prefer sunburn to the way it’s making my throat feel. I’ve become unexpectedly sensitive to scent, simply by eschewing scented products for years. I leaned away from strong chemical smells naturally and friendship with some people with MCS hastened my switch to unscented products.
In better news, I’m enjoying my boat improvement planning kick. Today I measured for a prep-and-serving tray. The plan is to slot it into place on the counter next to the fridge tops. Anything we need from the fridge goes in there and then stays put while we make the meal. At this point, we are using the stove one burner at a time so we can put things on the other side where the gimballed action keeps the bottles and cans from leaping to the cabin sole (via unexpected and messy routes more often than not).
The -and-serving part is that we can get a second set of receivers for whatever tab-type thing will hold it to the bulkhead. Mounted inside the space behind the folding table, we’ll be able to put all our sauces and condiments and spices in it while it’s attached in the galley, pick it up full, and move it to the bulkhead next to the table. Again, no more chasing bottles of hot sauce that flew off the far edge of the table!
This is especially exciting for times when we’re underway, but it’ll get more use than just that. Often, at anchor during a storm, we want a nice soothing meal. Rough and rolly conditions don’t just occur on ocean passages.
Dena’s 1900-2100 watch
Time for a cockpit wash up! It’s more satisfying than the bowl bath, which really is just a wipe down.
Getting naked let me see all my bruises. Being day 5, some are well-faded. Plenty will be with me a while.
Aaaaand…another dusty sunset.
Tuesday, July 9
Dena’s 0600-0900 watch
I napped through a rather shocking amount of my last watch, plus I slept well on both off-watches. Right now, I’m not tired!
The stars are back to sparse but earlier tonight the sky was scintillating with all the different magnitudes of brightness. I forget that the complexity of the star field is part of what I love. It fascinates me how distance and size affect how they appear to a human on Earth and I pondering how little I can know from my single vantage.
It’s now 7:45 and the sun is supposed to have just come up. Nothing. I mean, there’s more light in general, but…I miss the beautiful monotony of the Bermuda to Azores passage’s sunsets and sunrises.
Noon position: N 20° 08.032’ W 019° 58.959’
Distance noon to noon: 97.6 NM
Average speed: 4.1 kn
Trip distance covered: 620.0 NM
Distance to destination: 376.8 NM
