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Thursday, 04 June 2009 |
Day 773 - June 4, 2009
Wind SE, 22 knots, Course N, Speed 3 knots, Position 1*28n by 11*49w
I've Been Moved
33,000 waves a day, you bet! I have been moved nonstop for 773 days. There is something nice about it, but try sleeping on wave machine waterbed. I get used to it, watching my feet move back and forth when I prop them up. I have a limited amount of space to move around in and I have my moves down pat, but each time is different.
There is a different variation and size of the waves, they move me in a different way and I react accordingly. I often think about that as I move from the galley to the pilothouse carrying my pasta, salad and tiny cup of wine. Sometimes I get thrown against the wall and sometimes against the bed. I balance for a second with my elbow hooked on a praying sculpture, then at the right moment I use my rear end to propel myself forward.
I get from place to place without holding on because I am carrying things but also to give my hands a rest. I am like a monkey constantly swinging from tree to tree and I have had to start holding on with the inside of my elbows, my knees, my head and even my shoulder blades. Sometimes it is as graceful as a dance and sometimes it is a controlled bump, bump, bump, but a careful one. I can't afford to get hurt and I don't even want to be bruised.
The schooner is built by me, for me with the worst storms in mind. It is not built and laid out for old or overweight people in calm weather. The layout and interior takes some agile moves, a few low ducks and sometimes I crawl. When I work in the cargo hold sail temple or in the pilothouse, I sit and try to make myself comfortable. Then I am like kelp in the surf, holding on with my roots, waving back and forth, always conserving my energy...
The tuna are still thick around the schooner and finally I decided I should catch one. The lure can be seen in the photo. It is a four inch plastic squid with an oval lead sinker, a short piece of stainless leader and a hook, all attached to a short length of heavy monofilament line. I always wear a light pair of rubber palmed gloves. One toss of the line and a swarm of them scrambled and I hooked one right next to the boat and heaved him over on to the deck. At 30 pounds, he will feed me for a month. |
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Sunday, 31 May 2009 |
Day 769 - May 31, 2009
Wind SE 10 knots, Course N, Speed 1.6 knots, Position 0*56s by 11*37w
MAC is Back
MAC (Mars Analog Creature) is back. Our space analog exists as a living being with needs, hopes, doubts and wishes and He/she speaks to me: MAC is an element of this expedition whose goal is to interpret and share the discoveries gained from living in this space-like environment.
Traveling, always in motion in a dangerous high performance place, I have been isolated from the rest of humanity for more than two years. MAC has a lot in common with the human factors of a voyage to Mars. Having made our mark in history, by our experience we can suggest any mission of man should bring "consciousness" to the forefront if it wants a better chance to succeed and have societies support and influence man in a good way.
Man's comprehension of science is absolutely incredible and successful, but man's greatest debate since science came about over the last few hundred years is, "What good does it really do for the soul and happiness of man?" Most debates end with our fear of complete annihilation. Adding a little reverence to our actions and scientific endeavors will go a long way to making a lot of individuals feel a lot better and the health of our society and the world depends on the health of its individuals.
Humanity and sincerity did manifest in our quest to reach out and communicate with extraterrestrial intelligence when NASA sent art, poetry and our history into space. Love, happiness and spiritual healing are words that should be added to our discussion of the Mars mission and for that matter all our endeavors so that they line up better with man's view of himself and evolution. Will future space travelers be able to heal themselves and man? If they also search for the soul of man, they will find it heals. Devout people the world over know this.
I am the wild adventurer, the American Son, flawed, but sincere; and I have fished up some life and death universal questions out of the waves that have rocked me for 769 days. |
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Day 767 Phosphorescent Predators |
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Friday, 29 May 2009 |
Day 767 - May 29, 2009
Wind SE, 10 knots, Course N, Speed 2 knots, Position 1*58s by 11*35w
Phosphorescent Predators
We just sailed for 16 days straight, beating with all sails in tight, living at an angle against the steady, brisk ESE tradewinds. Often the wind was well over 20 knots and I kept a good eye on the sails. I decided that we made it far enough to the east, that now we could turn north to the equator to the zone that we have twice before caught fresh water. I dropped the main and jib for rest and preventative maintenance.
Last night as the sun set I saw hundreds of 18-inch tuna, slightly slimmer than a football. They tightened up their ranks and swam close to the schooner, and I figured they were preparing to go to sleep and let the schooner guide them through the night. After dinner in complete darkness I went outside to check them out. Much to my surprise we had sailed into waters full of bright green phosphorescence.
There was a 50-foot luminescent tail behind the schooner that moved with the waves. I could see hundreds of tuna tightly packed, all darting and moving at the same pace. Suddenly I saw a big torpedo with a 20-foot tail speed to the schooner and scatter the tuna. Another one followed and light swirled in all directions. My heart started beating against the steel of the stern pulpit as I held on tightly peering into the chaotic abyss. I knew large predators like marlin, sailfish or sharks had found the bite size tuna and it was now the tunas turn to flee for their lives.
Tunas are very fast, but the speed of the predators was overwhelming for them. The tuna must have felt they had security in their numbers because they gathered up tight by the boat. More phosphorescent predators charged in together and the ocean became a hypnotic swirl of light and motion that gave me vertigo as I stood above them peering into the deep trying to decipher what was happening there. Each time the tuna re-gathered into a tightly uniform pack and I wondered why they didn't hightail it out of there. I too became mesmerized and watched fixated as nature dramatically lived out its story. Time stood still in my entranced state until I was suddenly tired and wind blown and had to go inside. |
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Day 765 Awesome Bounty of the Sea |
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Thursday, 28 May 2009 |
Day 765 - May 27, 2009
Wind SE 22 knots, Course NE, Speed 4 to 5 knots, Position 3*31s by 12*25w
Awesome Bounty of the Sea
For 12 days straight the sea has been full of small tuna, constantly from dawn 'till dusk, feeding on tiny flying fish. Often fish will follow the schooner, but these are in every direction as far as the eye can see and through the underwater window. There are flocks of birds in the distance eating the flying fish that the tuna chase up. Since the tuna are everywhere and not just with me, it leads me to believe that the sea for almost 1,000 miles is full of tuna and flying fish!
I have seen schools of fish pass, but never thick across the sea for weeks on end. This is a good sign and gives us hope for the life in the sea. I have also not seen one boat and I think this is also a good sign, reaffirming the vastness of the ocean. I have been eating flying fish twice a day and I just can't eat any more for awhile. Last night I told them again and again not to jump on the deck. I threw my fish scraps overboard and the chameleon fish darted out, nibbled what they could and hustled back before we left them behind. I am really surprised that they have managed to keep up with us.
I laid in bed in a half sleep meditation and a pain arose in my wrist. Out from my heart swam little white light fish that went to the pain, gobbled it up, then quickly swam back to my heart. I am sure that healing vision was influenced by watching the chameleon fish. Amazing how the mind works.
Falling asleep outside under the stars, I thought, I'll write about how amazing it is to see shooting stars every night. Then I thought, but I can't do that unless I really do see shooting stars every night. At that moment there was a flash of light and it looked as if someone had thrown a lit match across the dark sky. Yes! I do see shooting stars every night. A few days ago as the sun set, I saw the new moon. It was not yet a crescent, but just a twinkle of light under its round ghost.. I'm here to show that the ocean is a great place for love and devotion. |
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Day 763 Lonely Mars Creature |
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Monday, 25 May 2009 |
Day 763 - May 25, 2009
Wind ESE 10 to 15 knots, Course NE, Speed 3 to 4 knots, Position 4*49s by 15*04w
Lonely Mars Creature
Personally I am not lonely - I feel as if I am living many different lives and roles out here. The Love Boat family is happy and growing all the time, but the Mars Analog Creature is still looking for playmates and teachers. MAC (Mars Analog Creature) is no longer a proposal or a child.
In fact as far as Mars psychological tests go, he has grown up, gained a lot of insight and is really tough. Perhaps he is not speaking the same language as the space teams, scientists and training cosmonauts, but he is reaching out in space with them. I don't envy the cosmonauts doing the 105 day test in Moscow (except the money they are making is enticing), because we love real adventure in the wildest spaces, living life as exuberantly as possible.
A lot of other people live vicariously and dream with us too, but who wants to dream of going to Mars, eating space food for 1000 days while their muscles deteriorate so much that they will have to be carried off the spaceship if they make it back? We know by experience unforeseen hardships can be overcome. There are people we can inspire with the human mission to Mars dream. We love challenges and the best thing about it is this is a project all of humanity can work on together - it is for the future of humanity.
People will have to learn a lot more about the human mind. We do have psychotherapists, but their focus is generally more rationally scientific. How can psychotherapy be accomplished without the controversial, unscientific and taboo Love? Love is untouchable, immeasurable; the biggest mystery for man and it does not lend itself to scientific analysis.
Most of the space enthusiasts are embarrassed about the subject of love. I spoke at several space conferences and at the World Space Conference in Washington years ago and talked with many NASA people, especially at the evening parties. I remember the name of the top official who said, "We don't speak of love, we speak of tolerance". Big difference! He also told me people think I have good ideas, but they will never back me because they only work with people whose lives they can more closely monitor.
MAC will be back - we sail NE into the sunrise. |
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Day 761 "The Happy Seas Expedition" |
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Sunday, 24 May 2009 |
Day 761 - May 23, 2009
Wind ESE, 12 knots, Course NE, Speed 3 knots, Position 6*22s by 17*01w
The Happy Seas Expedition
I am always looking at this voyage with different eyes. Today, I am thinking we are definitely "The Happy Seas Expedition". I consider "The Happy Seas Expedition" to be a reflection of all humankind on its eternal quest to find happiness, and it is a vivid example of the ship of life we all sail in.
It takes work to gain such blessings and this work is our labor of love. I would not be able to survive so long out here if I was not happy with everything and for everyone. We can all be happy and realize we are on a voyage of happiness. It is our birthright as humans. Happiness is in the heart, the journey, not a race of speed, a destination or a thing, or made up of material things.
Those who have noble and lofty aspirations and want to share are happy: and we hope it enriches the lives of everyone to come into contact with this voyage. We sail on allowing others to live peacefully without disturbing them, thereby we contribute to making the world a better place. With good thoughts and compassion we all have a chance for adventure and joy.
Our "Happy Seas Expedition" is in awe of beauty and penetrates deeper into knowledge, gaining some positive programming over ourselves and our surroundings, reaching out lovingly for everything in life. We leave that which is perishable back on earth for the imperishable and eternal gift of happiness. May all our actions be an example and benefit humanity...
The expedition goes on: There are trials, tribulations, pains, sufferings, doubts and fears, but happiness gives us the strength to continue loving with kindness and tolerance. Gratitude feeds, nourishes and protect us. We have made it this far! No Joke, eventually we all must cross these unknown waters. The Happy Seas Expedition is open to all and passing close, calling earnestly, don't miss the boat!
The seas have been full of flying fish and Tuna for days and days, as far as my eyes can see. I am so happy to see so much life in the ocean. There is hope for abundance. |
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