Location: Underway to Cocos Keeling
Good morning from 1054.7’S 10141.1’E!! After our failed attempt to step foot on Christmas Island, we are now halfway through our short passage to Cocos Keeling. We are all on our toes, looking forward to our arrival and getting to see (and dive!!) the most beautiful island in Australia. This morning’s wake-up came much too soon at 3:30 to Bodhi’s headlamp shining brightly in my eyes for wake up, and I began the hardest challenge of the day getting off my top fo’c’s’le buck in the pitch black, on a rocking boat, holding on for dear life so I don’t end up tumbling six feet to the ground. After a safe but scary journey down, I made my way up on deck, where I was greeted by the bird (later named Mark) that decided to make Argo’s stern a home for the night. While it was fun to have a visitor, Philip, Kiley, and I don’t appreciate the gifts he left us to scrub off the deck once the sun rose. But don’t worry, the snicker-doodles that Allie so kindly baked us last night made everything so much better, and the four-hour watch went by much quicker. While watch can be quite difficult at times, I’m slowly becoming more and more grateful for our time up on deck, the stars in the sky, taking in on the sheet in the blackness of the night, story time led by Gabe, a nightly bowl of ramen, and my left arm burning trying to pull the helm to starboard as the wind fights against me. Ava, Will, and Amanda M. were able to cook us two delicious meals despite the constant swaying cadence. The first served the best potato wedges I think I’ve ever had.
Following our breakfast for lunch, we tackled our first exam in Marine Biology, which many of us had spent the night studying for. Not long after, we got to sit down for leadership taught by Travis, who was sure to dress in his “most professor-looking” outfit. Tonight’s squeeze question was not much different than our daily appreciation but on a broader scale. What has this trip really made you thankful for? Answers from encouraging parents, the stars, and a kindhearted captain. If nothing else, this trip has taught each and every one of us to value the simplicity of life on board, living in our own little world in which there is nothing on this earth but Argo. We can be thankful for the small things every day, the great team we have, the wind that has kept our sails full, our health, and the ease of life with laundry machines back at home. We are all evolving while here, each out of our comfort zones, with no outside world that can distract us from this very moment. The moments that occurred tonight are some I’m so grateful not to be distracted from. One’s that makes you truly live in the moment. One’s we will tell our tell our grandkids when we tell them about the time we sailed across the Indian Ocean with 18 strangers. Here are the ones that just occurred post-dinner Ben found two squids that somehow made it on board.
Amanda M. made a very sorry attempt to marry the soap bottles. I was hunted down for my speaker so that the headmasters (Bodhi and Amanda D.) could make scrubbing toilets a little more enjoyable. From what I could see, they did enjoy it, along with Philip in the hallway that could barely fit the three of themwalking into the salon to find Juliette, Hannah, and Ava singing their hearts out to “lay all your love on me,” and what kind of Mamma Mia fan would I be if I didn’t join in? I think we will all sleep good tonight, dreaming about the unreal dives that lay ahead. Special thanks to G.H. and Carolyn, for your prayers and thoughts, it means the world to meso so much love to my Mom, Dad, and Ellie. I miss you more than you’ll ever know!! And don’t worry, Dad, I’ll send pictures.