Skippers log#10
25 15N 52 30W @22:00 GMT There is a big well roling in from the SE. This sea was created by the storm called Lisa, which will be north of my area tomorrow. It is truely being one hand for the boat and one hand for myself. Still no great wind strength. Less than 10 knots now out of the NE. I have decided that Lisa is far away to the east that I can start making my way E again, and a bit south. I did a recorded radio interview with a South African network, wrote some e-mails to three of the No Barriers Schools and tended to the boat. Tommorow I will write to other NB Schools. I had an e-mail from the South Carolina State Ports forward to me, reminding me that I am in many peoples memories. It is great to hear from some of my sponsors. I wonder how business is going for Phillips Industrial Services. Their industrial coatings business is weather dependant, as my survival out here is. I wonder how the sales of our merchandize through Passport International is going, if our hats are still our biggest seller. I had a call from Mark Barnhart, president of News Printing Company and got a chance to talk to his children. When I was ashore, it was easy to keep in touch with my friends, sponsors and key supporters. Now I am into different time zones, weather dependant, boat demand dependant. This morning was Rotary. I was thinking of the friends I made in the St. Johns Rotary Club, Rob, who bought me my sunglasses that I cant live without, Annette who introduced me to the group, Ed who faithfully spent so many Saturdays at Walmart with us selling our merchandize, Alan who changed a lot of the way I thought about business. Then I think about GW. She made two passages with me on this boat. She sometimes was so seasick, I had to feed her mash patatoes. With out her at my side these last 7 years, I might not be sailing today. It is strange being away from one's sole mate for such a long time, after the intensity of being together 24 hours a day, for months at a time. We built so many things together, now each one of us has to impliment our choices. Soon I will be with my family and meet my brother in law and my nephew. I have been away from my African birth place so long, where there have been so many changes. GW will be getting back from her holiday with her mother on the west coast of Ireland. Her cousin who is my best friend is an adventure too. He is flying a microlite from Ireland to Cape Town. We will miss each other, but have promiced to spend some time together in New Zealand. My life is filled with memories. Out here, it is only memories to go by. Everyday could be the same, and yet it is not. I am alone, but it is the memories of the people whose lives have merged with mine and become family to each other that keeps me sailing fast, and not lonely. You never know how much you friends mean to you, especially when circumstances seperates us. I called one of my closest friends, Toby Smith last night. It ment so much to us just to have those few minutes together. It is important to build a global network of relationships, but true friends are hard to come by. Time might seperate some, like my friend of 13 years from California, Markley Gordon. But at special times, we will find each other on the planet and pick up where we left off. We used to hang out together when I spoke about doing this race. He was on board with me out to the start line. Some where in the Pacific Ocean is Dr. Lewis. Katrina and I met in Cape Town, and almost each of the last few years in different cities across the globe. She too is a wonderer, a ships doctor. Our phone calls have covered every continent. Each year the family grows, becomes closer, the friendships grow deaper. How can anyone be an island with such great people around? Cherish your friends. Never take it for granted, because tomorrow you might be alone, but not lonely.
Dear Mrs. Dyke and Midland Park Elementary Dolphins I am at sea 11 days, and 1,600 miles away from Charleston. I have been drinking 4 small cartons of my favorite fruit juice each day. How many cartons will I have drunk in total by the time I sail another 3,200 miles? I am following my plan of drinking the amount I specified. It is important to plan for a great journey like this, but just as important, once the journey begins, you must implement the plan. What journey will you make at school, what plans will you follow?
I am still going in a more easterly direction. Soon I will turn SE and head for the equator. What will I need to cross before I can get to the equator?
Mrs Dyke will forward your answers to me.
Regards,
Neal
