Location: Underway to the Azores
It’s day 3? or 4? of passage, and man, has it been an adjustment! I don’t think anything can truly prepare you for what it’s like to cross an ocean. People can tell horror stories, or they can make it seem fun, but ultimately, it’s a journey best experienced and understood by the individual. During our very first watch, Cate and I were in the throws of being constantly queasy, sleep-deprived, and embarrassingly unstable when we came up with a new term: the magma feeling. A contrary phrase to my last blog, representative of the “whoa” moment, where the reality of what you’re doing hits you with a loss of words in a more dreadful way. We sat at the bow, coiling line, on the verge of throwing up, realizing land was weeks away. I tried to take a positive spin on our doomsday mentalities by thinking of how magma eventually makes mountains; what feels rough right now will ultimately (and hopefully) lead to our mountain feeling.
Today was the first day my watch team started making mountains with the magma. Beginning with our 12 am to 4 am watch, Cate, Leo, Santana, Drew, Phoebe, Claire, and I played games, told riddles, gave Argo her hourly boat checks, and laughed while the moon cast a spotlight on our increasingly cheery crew. After our watch, we all woke up for lunch feeling well-rested and noticeably more enthusiastic about the journey to come. We were all able to stay awake through our afternoon watch as well as our seamanship and oceanography classes. It’s so cool that we get to learn about these subjects, then actively apply what we learned to Argo as well as the ocean that carries her.
As we collectively fall into a routine of watch rotations, meal times, and classes, our sea legs grow more steady, and we begin to appreciate what we are doing here. It is so inspiring to be surrounded by these people that can go from hurling to raising sails (you’re a trooper, Santana), cook us meals while barely being awake themselves, and embrace the weird things we say while we get used to our new way of life. I’m grateful for the laughter and support this crew brings to Argo; you all make the magma moments a little bit better.
(p.s. Happy late birthday, Mamma! Wishing I could give you the biggest squeeze. Thanks for encouraging all my wild aspirations. I wouldn’t be on this boat if it weren’t for your unyielding support. Can’t wait to take you sailing soon. I love you! <3)