Sitting in the darkened pilot house on our last overnight
passage aboard Oso Blanco, moving south along the coast of Australia. We left
the Great Barrier Reef a few days ago and have had perfect weather: winds at
5-10 knots, not a cloud in the sky, unbelievably calm seas. Dozens of humpbacks
whales have poked their heads up to say good-bye and entertain us during the
day. Newborns splashing and playing around lumbering moms and spunky males
throwing themselves out of the water and crashing back into the sea. It never
gets old. We even had a dolphin escort for a while; as they rode the bow wave, I
swear they made eye contact. Are they just as curious about us as we are about
them? Tonight the Milky Way is so vivid in the dark sky it looks as if the
stars are trailing smoke. The rising moon startled me as it suddenly appeared
over the horizon where a minute ago it was complete darkness. The orange glow
looked like a threatening fireball but quickly emerged into a beautiful, yellow,
almost full moon. Somehow you don’t feel quite as alone out here with it
watching over you. The hum of the engine combines with the gentle sound of the ebb
and flow of the water to offer a soothing atmosphere, making music all its own.
I know Bear and Eric are safe and sound,
asleep together in the big bed of our stateroom. Bear pulled me outside to see
the Southern Cross before bed and I hugged him as we were in awe of the night
sky. “Look Mom! A shooting star! Make a wish!”
My wish is that we never forget nights like this….
