Sailing! Finally. Honestly, it's all we've been talking about and planning for since the hospital closed a few weeks ago. Finally it's here! We had one last fire drill in the morning yesterday to make sure everyone that is on board is supposed to be on board, and then we lifted the gangway and pushed off, with everyone waving goodbye to Sierra Leone.
The crew is about 250 right now, and everyone was on deck 7 or 8 watching our departure.
The pilot who guided us out of the port leaving to our escort tug. Not even a lifejacket. Crazy.
Bye bye Sierra Leone!
A few partners and friends came to the dock to see us off.
The gangway being lifted.
The crew is about 250 right now, and everyone was on deck 7 or 8 watching our departure.
The pilot who guided us out of the port leaving to our escort tug. Not even a lifejacket. Crazy.
Bye bye Sierra Leone!
A few partners and friends came to the dock to see us off.
The gangway being lifted.
So far it's been incredibly smooth sailing. Everyone's a bit dazed and tired, most of the crew is on an anti-sea sickness drug that makes you a bit tired, I think. Last night they opened up the bow and we watched the sun set and then the full moon rise, it was stunning. There were a few guys with guitars singing, it was just a magical moment. Seas got a bit rough during the night, I woke up a few times nearly tumbling out of my bed, but nothing terrible. They're smooth again today, and I spent some of the morning up on the bow - and saw a huge pod of dolphins! It was incredible, there were like thirty of them swimming along with us and jumping, it was stunning. There are also flying fish which I really did think were birds, it's crazy. 360 degrees all you see is water and the horizon. It makes you feel very small in the world. When we headed out of Freetown we were going directly west, into the setting sun. Sometime after sunset we turned towards the south and east, towards Tema, Ghana, where we will dock in about a week.
I'm feeling fine, tired, the ear hurts, but nothing major. I don't work today which is nice, but the 5:15 wakeup call tomorrow morning might be a bit rough. We'll find out!
I did see on Fox news (the only channel we seem to be able to get on the sattellite right now) saying last night it was 6 degrees in Minneapolis, where I am headed in just over a week. It's hovering around 88-91 here right now.
Peace. K
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