13 Nov Night Sweats
Night Sweats
Running out of cookies yesterday had me up at night sweating the stores, on board. The lockers that seemed stuffed to the gills suddenly seemed almost empty. If I can run out of cookies so early on, what else am I going to run out of?
It’s nonsense of course, but that still didn’t put my mind at ease. First thing in the morning and I was at the stowage plan checking those things that you just cannot run out of. You know, things like toilet paper.
Bob and Nancy Griffith cruised a 52-foot double-ended ferry-cement yacht Awahnee around the world. From Alaska to Antarctica, from the Med to the Caribbean. Their adventures are the stuff of dreams and I read and re-read their book describing their travels.
Bob was sometimes referred to as ‘3 squares a day’. We’re not talking meals here folks. We’re taking toilet paper. On board Awahnee, Bob doled out 3 squares of the precious stuff to Captain and crew alike. What you did with it during those 24 hours was up to you. But 3 would be all you would get. As an aside, Bob had nothing to do with the expression ‘3 sheets to the wind’. That’s something else entirely. Back to Bob.
For this trip, I actually sat down (no pun intended) and counted how many sheets of toilet paper I figured I would need. It was way more than 3 sheets a day. But now, cookie-less and panicking, my stores of the stuff seemed woefully inadequate. Could I have miscalculated? Perhaps forgot? Maybe left ashore?
The whole scheme seemed to hang in the balance as suddenly I imagined I was going to run out of everything way before I had figured. The only thing to do was to recount and make sure.
And sure enough, all was right with the world. At least as far as the important stuff was concerned. There they stood. Like little paper soldiers. Ready, willing, and able to serve as need be. Thank goodness for I cannot imagine what a ration of 3 squares a day would do to morale aboard Seaburban.
Follow my tracks in real-time:
https://bit.ly/svseaburban
BT
Posted at 10:41h, 02 JulyBert, you are amazing! Following you progress and posts with great admiration for you courage and wishing / willing you success. You are on the downhill run now. All the best from an Aussie follower BT ( 2 degrees of separation from your Uncle Joe).
Sandi Lyon
Posted at 03:20h, 06 JulyThat looks about right. When it’s hot out in the ocean, its foggy and wet on the Wet Coast. That means you’re on the right track, heading the right direction. Finally. Woohoo.
Anita Kuntz
Posted at 00:10h, 08 JulyFollowing you journey and am truly amazed.
Suzan Persons
Posted at 15:43h, 09 JulyWhat an amazing journey!!
Karin Hill
Posted at 15:27h, 13 JulyBeen following you for a couple of months now. What an amazing journey! Your blog is insightful and humorous. Almost home. Safe travels!
MountainJack
Posted at 19:52h, 14 JulyHas to be an amazing feeling to be so near home, Bert.
Have spent months at sea “steaming”, not sailing, gaining my sea legs with the constant motion just became second nature. Getting back to a stable platform at dockside or over on the beach left me wobbly for a day or two. Cannot imagine how you’ll feel after a year of hardly ever being stable. There is that other thing having been on your own for that long; the familiarity of constant aloneness , the feeling of approach avoidance, being forced back into humanity. Might feel as though you could just extend a little bit more and savor the experience just a little longer…naw, probably not.
Welcome back home, Bert. You’ve completed one heck of a feat.
Arthur Oliver
Posted at 04:33h, 15 JulyGetting oh so close. What’s the ETA?
estelle C whiddon
Posted at 02:58h, 16 JulyBert, your homecoming Saturday will be a joyous occasion! I have followed the voyage daily and hope your arrival home brings much joy.
Peter Jungschaffer
Posted at 07:19h, 18 JulyThis has been so great. Thank you!!!
BT
Posted at 09:50h, 18 JulyHi Bert, you are just a few hours away from home. We are cheering for your most successful journey. We are especially amazed at the sailing conditions below Australia and New Zealand, as we can have some very big polar blasts hit us at this time of the year. Cannot imagine what it was like to sail through that type of weather. Can only take of hats off to you I amazement. Hope that you make it to Oz for a visit. What a wonderful achievement you have accomplished. /bt
Antonio Corbelletta
Posted at 16:15h, 18 JulyCongratulations! What an adventure! Well done. I have enjoyed tracking your voyage everyday just wish I would have know about it earlier, from the beginning.
Suzan
Posted at 18:13h, 18 JulyYeahhhhhhhhh Bert!!! You have done it!!!
Happy Homecoming – And stay safe!!!
It isn’t the same world that you left!!
I’m going to miss reading your travels and your adventures!! But thrilled that you’re home (almost) safe and sound!!
Next trip around the world, hope that you’ll stop along the way and post your photos of the locals and the ports!!
Raegan Elford
Posted at 19:23h, 18 JulySoldier who has logged more sea time than this Navy sailor.
What an incredible accomplishment (the journey vice logging more sea time than I)
BZ
Marianne Scott
Posted at 18:25h, 19 JulyCongratulations on your accomplishment! I guess we will have to put up a plaque commemorating your voyage on the Victoria Harbour wall.
Hope to see you this week.
Marianne Scott
Tom Cory
Posted at 07:40h, 23 JulyCongradulations Bert from Annapolis MD. A Great Adventure.
Mark
Posted at 12:24h, 29 JulyI don’t think that anyone that attended Estevan Junior High could have imagined that this was in the future for one of it’s students. I checked in at different legs of the journey and was fascinated every time. Congrats!