Day 15 Pacific Crossing

Day 15 Date: Friday, April 27th, 2018 Time: 17:00 UTC Location: 00° 46.7’S 129° 00.5’W COG: 230° T SOG: 5 knots 24 hour distance traveled: 126 nm Distance to the Marquesas: 827 nm
Greetings! We all became shellbacks at 9:35pm local time (02:35 UTC) last night. We had a little celebration before I went to bed and it was super fun. Cameron surprised us all by dressing up like Poseidon and made us all into proper shellbacks.
I did bake my equator cake. It was hilarious. It was fraught with classic difficulties. The ingredients were buried, while whipping the eggs and oil, a nice wave came along and dumped it all over the counter/top to the fridge. I forgot to add an ingredient, so after it was IN the oven, I had to pull it out get another bowl and pan dirty and add in the ingredient. Once in the oven the second time, I forgot then to re-turn on the oven. Once I did recall to turn on the oven, we had a heavy pan on the back of the oven, causing the oven to over gimble. When I pulled the cake out to rotate it, it had partly poured out of the pan and was mainly occupying half the pan at an angle. At each disappointing stage I had a little girl at my heel telling me it was going to be okay, helping me clean up eagerly, hugging me (sometimes both of them at once) and displaying the best attitude of gratitude. It was so humbling. The girls affectionately dubbed it the wave cake and we had a great time decorating it and celebrating our equatorial crossing.
It was one of those moments when you realize that your difficulties are really just disguised blessings. As Cameron stated and, I agree; there is nowhere else I’d rather be than right here, in the middle of the Pacific with my little loving family.
We caught another Mahi Mahi with one of our homemade lures! Cameron made ceviche for lunch today. He has been rocking the galley duties lately, taking good care of us while I’ve been doing more schooling with the girls.
We have good winds at about 15 knots and the seas are building, keeping us all on our toes. Night shifts have been starry and beautiful with perfect temperatures. Every once in a while you get startled by a splash nearby when the dolphins come along the play in the bow wave.
That is all for today, this is SV Banyan, clear.

12 comments

  1. Sharon Suhr says:

    I love this post! I can’t wait to see a picture of the wave cake… or, at least I hope you took one to mark the memory. 🙂

  2. Mrs. Schaffer, 2nd grade teacher, Calistoga says:

    This post reminds me of the Mason Jennings song “Be Here Now”

    Be here now, no other place to be
    All the doubts that linger, just set them free
    And let good things happen
    And let the future come into each moment
    Like a rising sun

    Love reading your posts.

  3. Doug Vawter says:

    Great times. I can see the “team” approach to the cake baking. No mention of how edible and tasty the cake was after the adventure and decorating!! WOW! 15 knots is moving right along. You will be seeing land in the near future. I hope Adelaide is still writing stories like she was when in Zionsville even though she can not print them. Always look forward to the daily post and learning about your most recent adventure. Love to all!

  4. Debi says:

    Oh my, how wise is Cameron looking for the blessings. I can sure feel your frustration and see the girls loving on you as they assure you everything will be alright! Love the Wave cake, can’t wait to see pictures of the finished product. What memories you have created. Hugs to all and so much love for your family. May God continue to carry you safely in your journey.

  5. Barbara Vawter says:

    Love your daily emails, thank you so much! Yes the Wave, Equator cake will be a memory forever. Cool you’re catching fish on your homemade lures. Sounds like your having yummy food!

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