Travel Reference
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gic. I set up the bimini across the top of the cockpit again as I had removed it when I had
departed. My mind idles around and imagines what it would be like to marry an island girl
here and live in this simplicity. I think I would go crazy; it is just too laid-back. One has
to be born to it. I try calling Olivia again today, no word.
[I never heard from them again,
passing ships in the night? I trust they made it back to Canada.]
24
th
October: The wind has picked up somewhat to about five knots now! I am sitting here
in the cockpit in my birthday suit in a dream world sawing back and forth with the helm,
trying to find more wind. I spot patches of ruffled water on the flat, calm blue of the sea. I
waft over in that direction, and it suddenly disappears to another part of the ocean. So it
goes. I stare at the clouds and see castles, faces, trees in the puffy wool.
25
th
- 26
th
October: The wind switched from the northeast to the east, modulating in
strength. It is definitely worth keeping up all sails. My heading has improved now, and I
can point twenty to thirty degrees magnetic, rather than the three hundred and fifty mag-
netic I was forced to do.
The noon fix showed the southwest setting current at Malden Island. We are slightly north
of it and should be getting some easting from it. I finished reading James Michener's
The
Source
. Thought it OK but long-winded.
Decided to set my inner staysail, Déjà vu is now a cutter rig again. It certainly appears
to have given us a lift upwind, apart from looking so nautical; I could swear I heard the
classic music masterpiece, “Flight of the Valkyrie” through the breeze!
I had been craving fresh vegetables lately and decided to sprout some blue peas and mung
beans. I had a couple of little trays for this purpose into which I spread these seeds. I lay
them on top of a piece of muslin cloth and would spray a little freshwater every day, drain-
ing off any excess water. After a few days, these would sprout nicely, and I would add them
as a side dish to what ever my meal was.
One night I happened to turn on my cabin lamp and found several cockroaches munching
cheerfully away at my tender sprouts. I was furious and chased after them with a towel,
flicking viciously at their rapidly disappearing posteriors. So now I have cockroaches
again, I thought gloomily. “Bastards!” I yelled after them. In my mind's eye, I could see
one of their legs coming out a crack with the bird sign held up defiantly. I laughed at the
ridiculous vision. Yup, I had got back my sea legs.
I had been relatively free of them after leaving the boat uninhabited when I went to Cali-
fornia. I had some boric acid on-board and set a few lids of this white powder around the
interior of the cupboards. I also sprinkled some loose behind lockers and dark cockroachy
