Across the North Atlantic...

The crossing is complete and we're now in Ireland!!

It has been the most amazing month of my life. We were 24 days at sea crossing the North Atlantic ocean. On our last day we all knew that land was just over the horizon, and we could smell it. It was the smell of earth wafting over the fo'c'sle head and into our noses which had spent the last three weeks smelling only the salt sea air, paint, tar, diesel, warm food in the galley, and gross sailor farts (which seem to have become increasingly abundant as the crew have become more comfortable around one another....perhaps a little too comfortable). As we drew closer, all hands were looking to a fog thick horizon, anticipation running between us like electricity, and suddenly, a dark shadow in the mist and Ireland grew around us.

Life at sea has been amazing. I am in love with the sea and the life of a sailor. With it's routine, waking at the same time every day and being lulled asleep by the rocking swells after a day of ship work. Living among the most eclectic group of people one could pull together, each of them offering new knowledge to one another, and all of us becoming family. We now share such a sense of pride about the ship, our voyage, what we have accomplished so far, what is yet to come, and about each other.

Our first stop in Ireland was a small town called Baltimore. We were welcomed in the warmest way by a town of beautiful people. One day my friend Corey and I rented bikes and rode from Loch Hine through the country side and back to Baltimore. It was unbelievably stunning, everything that I had imagined Ireland to be and more. We climbed to the top of a very steep hill and could see miles of country side and ocean in all directions. We could also see Baltimore and it's harbour, and our Barque in the middle of it bobbing gracefully at anchor. We became friends with many of the local people and two of them, musicians, one the former chieftain of the O'Driscoll clan, joined us aboard as we sailed from Baltimore and on to our next port, Cobh.

We've been in Cobh now for a couple of days and it too is a beautiful town. It's quite a lot bigger than Baltimore and is comprised of very brightly coloured rows of buildings settled on the side of a steep hill. There is a magnificent cathedral in the middle of it, and again, very friendly and warm people. This time we are along side, which means that rather than being out to anchor we are tied up to a dock, or in this case a heavy concrete pier. This allows the off watch people to come and go more easily, and it has allowed us to give deck tours to some of the local people and to tourists. That has been alot of fun and has given us a chance to chat with some very interesting people as well.

Yesterday I had the day off and went with a group of crew mates into Cork and to Blarney Castle. I kissed the Blarney Stone!!! Cork was really fun and I bought a bodhran; a celtic drum. One of our musician friends from Baltimore gave me a lesson on the bodhran the other day, and I can't wait to learn it. I'm sure that the other batcave dwellers are really excited as well......

In about an hour I'm heading back to the ship, will change into my work jeans, rig, and harness, and we will be off again. Our next destination is Falmouth, England. I think that we will only be at sea for a couple of days. I wish it were more.

I still haven't figured out how to put pictures on here, but I have taken plenty and one of these days I will drag my good friend John along with me who is very good at computers, and get him to help me out.

Take care, and I'll write again as soon as I can,
Nicki