Day 121, Year 6 Atlantic Passage, Day 18-Countdown Begins
Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 (1730 UTC)
Weather: Most Sunny; ENE 15-20
Air Temperature: 80 degrees F
Latitude: 05 01.007 N
Longitude: 037 00.568 W
Miles Traveled: 2363
Miles to Go: 1542
Location: Passage from St. Helena to Caribbean (Grenada)
We continue to fly westward at over 6 knots making better than 150 miles every 24 hour period. The seas are getting a bit rowdy approaching 3 meters now, but the ride really isn’t too bad. At this rate we have about ten days to go which would give us an arrival date of March 4. So the countdown begins–10, 9, 8 . We are starting to see more ships, only two today, but that’s more than we’ve seen in one day since Cape Town. So we’ll have to keep a sharper look-out from here on in. And still, we have caught no fish.
I don’t think I’ve mentioned the recent hijacking of a US boat by Somali pirates. I was waiting to get confirmation on the identity of the boat, but it is indeed the sailing vessel Quest that we met in the South Pacific in 2006. We first met Jean and Scott Adam in American Samoa and then again in Tonga. They were missionaries of a sort, distributing bibles in remote places. It is very difficult to think of people you know being taken by pirates. When we made our decision to not go through the Red Sea it was for this very reason. Not many sailboats are taken, but if it is you, it only takes one. So we are thinking of Jean and Scott and hoping that there will be some positive resolution to their capture.
My attempts at spring cleaning continue and both Mark and I deep into our reading. Mark is reading John Adams by David McCullough and relearning how our country got its start. John Adams was our first Vice-President under George Washington and our second President. I am still reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals. It is about Abraham Lincoln’s political genius, but even more about how he conducted himself as an exemplar of how politicians or all people for that matter, should think and behave. From the news I hear out here, I sure wish more of our US politicians would try to use Lincoln as their example.
I have been wondering if you knew Jean and Scott Adam or of their sailboat Quest since their timeline seem to fit your travels in SE Asia. The news of their death made me realize just how dangerous sailing through the Arabian Sea and Red Sea can be — I’m frustrated that piracy isn’t combated more aggressively. It sure makes your back an forth decision to go around Africa last year very prudent. Be safe.
Dear Judy,
Can not apologize enough for not trying to locate you on the internet. Took Sarah to tell me how to do this. Hope you get this message. What you have done with your recent life is beyond remarkable. I admire you and your endurance in the amazing undertaking. Was so worried all day after the deaths of the Adams and friends.
Started trying to find you on the internet and hit upon your website. I feel so ashamed that I have not tried to communicate with you after all this time. We did have fun when working on the family history. Once that was done I stopped using the computer for a very long time. Even forgot how to email. We have found some real interesting things about the Biggs family some years ago that may very well take us back one more generation in America. That is for a later time.
So glad you and Mark sailed around the pirates and their hunting ground. So very sorry your friends were killed yesterday. It has been on the news all day.
so deeply sorry about losing Dickie. Had no where to send you a card. It’s like you just disappeared for six years. Heard from Aunt Ethel that you were coming home soon. Is it to stay forever? I hardly think that you could sit still after all you have seen and done. We are the same as ever.. Just getting over pneumonia that I developed between Christmas and New Year’s. Was a very long recovery, but the diabetes makes it difficult to shake anything. Have now been home for almost three years. Not much to go to Nitro for, except to see Bobbie Wintz. She has been taking care of her Dad for several years and has a live in friend that has Hep. B. He may live forever. She has her hands so full we couldn’t visit. Billie married her 30 year companion last xmas. Cheri married them in their living room. One more thing, a friend of mine on facebook ask about you. Carolyn Jividen Miller. I messaged her your website.
Stay safe and hope to hear from you. my email is sirkismet@comcast.net.
Love and Thoughts,
Sidney
You did mention having heard about the hijacking in your log on Day 119. That is how I knew that you knew these people, or at least the couple who owned the boat. I’m sure you have heard by now the terrible outcome of this event. My heart goes out to their families and friends. And once again, I am so glad you chose to go around the southern tip of Africa and not through the pirate filled waters of the Middle East.