Exposing Truth

Off to a Photo Gallery tonight, put on by Jordan. It is the final culmination of a photo essay he did on the time he spent in Kenya with myself and Elske and SHERP.You can check out some of the photos here

Lets Go Fly A Kite

Last week was characterized by a failed attempt to fly a kite. All the kids were down below in lessons and Skipper John and I were on deck headed toward Sansum Narrows where the wind was funneling in giving us what we thought was definately enough wind to fly a kite!
So off Skipper went to get all the supplies we needed for our "storm kite" wooden dowel, heavy duty canvas, and marline of course (what could we really do without the marline?) In any case, we decide to go with the classic top heavy diamond shape and soon have a frame constructed, the canvas tied on and a swallow-tailed double tail. It was beautiful, and even though the wind was dying slightly we still through her up to let her fly. We were however, thoroughly dissapointed when she dived right down to the water... No matter, a few quick tweaks and some bridal adjustments and she would fly, we just knew it!
However, about 45 minutes later, and with little to no success we packed it in. Soon some trainees found the kite and decided to give it a try. But I guess it really did think it belonged in the water, because on their first toss it unleashed itself and dived into the water as we slowly watched it float away.
Lesson learned: Kites must be made of light weight materials, and have optimum flying winds to reach the desired altitude.

Presenting...

The Bilgey Bottom Boys!




Week two was the first five day trip of the season. Five day trips are always maxed out as we try and squish in: sailing, games and fun, eating, sleeping, 5 lessons and a written test and 6 oral tests, plus room for all the spontaneous visitors who might decide to show up! This week I would like to introduce the Bilgey Bottom Boys, who graced us with their presence during mug-up on the last night.

This past week we had a group on from Calgary, who we proceeded to get very muddy and very wet, but enjoyed every minute of their oceanic adventures. It was not only the kids though, I should add, that got muddy and wet, I too collided with some of the earth and ocean. We had launched the dories and were preparing to row ashore, and I, as a "seasoned sailor" had donned my foulies and rubber boots to avoid the cold water that I knew would freeze my toes as soon as the dory ran aground and it was time to jump out and pull it up the beach, and I was right. I jumped out in a few inches of water and proceeded to pull the dory up with dry feets thanks to the infamous pink boots. The mud came next as we ran around a more than slightly soggy field hurling frisbees at eachother as we played a game commonly referred to as "bean-the-guy-softly". I thought however, that despite my muddy knees, that through my intelligence I had escaped the fridgid water, but alas it came time to push the dories out again. This time, I didn't have the advantage of momentum to push the dories further than they would naturally float, considering the 10 people already weighing them down. So in I tread and with one step too far, my boot is filled! But the dory is still on the ground so I must go further before I jump in myself. Finally my little boat begins to float and I jump up and slide in, however doing so I must go head first and then right myselfonce aboard, and in doing so all the water that had collected in my boots found its way not back into the ocean, but up the leg of my foulies! This was quite amusing back onboard when once I had stripped of the rain gear, my pants were "mysteriously" wet up to my pockets!

Sometimes I love these trips the most because, despite the wet and cold of early March, it is when we get the trainees that find every shell, crab (dead or alive), bit of seaweed, starfish, anenome, porpoise, and sail absolutely fascinating! It reopens my eyes to the beauty in the creation around me and makes me realize how lucky I am to be doing what I do.

SALTS Pacific Odyssey on Global TV

interview that made the news last week!

Never Again...

Will you see my shoes this white.

After taking me through a few years of walking to school, and an few seasons on the boat including an offshore, my not-so-vey-white-anymore crew shoes finally bit the dust at the end of last season, and after a proper memorial service they were ceremoniously tossed in the dumpster.

What this means is that this year I bought new crew shoes! and while they are blinding right now, (the pristine condition perfect for last weeks AGM...), they soon will be christianed to boat life (first trip tomorrow!) and will start their not-so-very-white life.

Most people wouldn't find this worthy of a picture and much less a posting, but I feel it is a service to the shoes to remember them in all their brilliance.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.