Rollercoasters

I spoke to Lee last night. They had changed course by 30 degrees to start sailing in a north east direction and were busy beating into the wind and swell. This is something that they still have not got used to, especially at night. Kwela rides up and down the swells fairly well, but every now and again, the swell pattern changes or the distance between the swells decreases and instead of riding up the next swell, Kwela just slams into it and forces her way through. The result is bone jarring, and hopefully the ladies on board were not trying to walk somewhere or drink something. I would think that they have learnt from past experience and are not leaving empty pots on the stove.

Lee went on watch last night to a dark overcast sky with absolutely no stars or moon to help light up the night. She described to me how the plankton in the water was reactive to disturbance. What was happening is that the sea was dark and very little was visible. Every time that Kwela crashed into the next swell, the disturbance and spray caused by the boat and the water dueling with each other caused a reaction within the plankton which lit up with this beautiful white phosphorous light. A small piece of ocean would suddenly light up and come alive. As the spray subsided and Kwela moved on, the plankton would slowly fade and Lee would wait for the next crash as Kwela bravely struggles on towards Perth. A rather logical and calculated plan was for them to be reaching Perth by next Wednesday, 8th February.

Their position last night was 36S 104E.

Early this morning my phone, next to my bed for its ability to play a nice piece of classical music every morning to wake me up, decided to give me a very rude “BEEP BEEP” 90 minutes earlier than my brain and body was expecting anything. Chuck Norris style, I was up and ready to kick anybody back into Neverland when I saw the little red light blinking on my phone, indicating that I had a message. I couldn’t believe it could be anything good for messages to arrive at 4:15 so it was with dread that I opened my phone to see it was from Lee - a rather furious Lee. An executive decision, based on cost and budget, had been made early this morning and the outcome is that Kwela and the ladies are no longer going to Perth / FreeMantle as mooring costs are exorbitant and cannot be afforded. I am waiting to hear what the plan is, but if I had to make an educated guess; it would be that they are going back to their second destination of Adelaide.

So, for all of you who thought that you were shortly going to be able to get off your knees; the journey continues, the expected day of arrival is once again weeks into the future, and all of our nerves have to go through another period on this rollercoaster adventure that we are sharing with Lee.

Thanks for all your support and please remember Lee in your thoughts and prayers as she finds the strength to mentally shift gears again and go on for another few weeks.