Friday 19th December

dawnysmiff
4 days ago
2 min read

(Covering the last 24 hours)

The last 24 hours have been very cloudy, with intermittent rain drifting through. Grey skies, damp air, and that slightly muted feeling the ocean gets when the sun refuses to show itself.

Yesterday afternoon at around 4pm, we entertained ourselves with a game of “Would You Rather” — one of those conversations that only ever happens mid-ocean.

For the record, Paul would rather eat a smelly man’s hair than lick his armpit.

I feel that needed to be documented properly.

🌊 Settling In

We still haven’t had any wildlife visits yet, although the waves sometimes try to trick you into thinking something is there. A shape, a movement — then just water doing water things.

Physically, things are settling nicely. My body seems to remember exactly what it’s supposed to do, and for how long. The early aches and niggles are easing off, the rhythm is coming back, and although my hands are definitely showing signs of work, they’re in good shape and holding up well.

🌑 A Pitch-Black Night

Last night was extremely dark. No stargazing at all — the cloud cover was complete. The kind of dark where you can’t even make out the horizon.

At times it genuinely feels like you’re floating in space — blackness above, below, and all around — until a wave cracks over the boat and reminds you very clearly that you’re floating on the ocean, not orbiting the Earth.

🚣‍♀️ A Familiar Voice in the Night

At about 9:50pm, I spotted a vessel off our starboard quarter. I picked them up on AIS and called them:

“ALLES PALETTI, this is PENNY B, over.”

The reply came back:

“Hello Dawn, it’s us — Offshoar.”

It was the amazing team of four ladies from Germany — the very crew that Kay, Sophie and I sold our Pacific boat to. Their boat is WEE HOURS (they since changed her name), and she must be missing me because they’re still only a couple of miles away from us now!

It was such a lovely, unexpected moment — memories from a past adventure popping up in the darkness of this one.

🍍 Pineapple Fridays Are Back!

If you followed Row Aurora on the Pacific, you’ll remember Pineapple Fridays.

I am delighted to announce… they are back.

It’s Friday, and I packed pineapple.

Morale = boosted.

Paul and I are doing really well. We’re in good spirits and feeling strong. We’d love a bit more sun — especially at night — both to lift morale and to help charge the boat batteries.

But all in all?

We really are living the dream.