Hawaiian Chieftain

Ages ago, I claimed I'd blog about Alex and my "nautical adventure," then kept forgetting. So finally, I present to you pictures from the Hawaiian Chieftain, a tall ship that came to port over Christmas! As part of Alex's Christmas present, I bought her and I tickets to sail on the ship the day after Christmas. The afternoon was threatening rain but our spirits were high and we had taken precautions against getting seasick by taking Dramamine and wearing pressure point bracelets.

Look at the beautiful ship!

Sails and rigging

Alex watching the sea

Mainmast

We had fun imagining that we were Isabel and Devon -- the two main characters from my book.

Jib sail

Heading out on the Pacific

Bow

The crashing sea!

Lowering the sails!

Freedom

As you can see in the video, there was much work to be done, and we were all invited to participate. Alex and I helped hoist a sail, making the mistake of turning our backs to the sea. That's when the seasickness kicked in. Despite bravely pretending I didn't feel nauseous, I soon had to sit down. Alex began to feel sick, too, and as it started to mist and then rain, we huddled under our raincoats and stared at the flat horizon, trying to keep our stomachs from churning. Alex was nobly able to keep her fish food down, but I wasn't. I puked five times, and on one occasion while hanging over the gunwale, I saw a cool dead jellyfish. It didn't help that the kids sitting across from us were having a booger war. As in wiping boogers on each other.

Here are some pictures my mom took of the ship as it came back to the harbor four hours later.





After spending about 3 1/2 of the four hours puking while being doused with rain in the growing cold, it's frightening just how quickly our bodies weaken. The shivering was uncontrollable. Both of our teeth were chattering, we couldn't feel our feet, and my jeans kept trying to fall off because they were heavy with water and I couldn't work my fingers enough to hike them back up. I have rarely been so miserable (except for the other time I sailed on the Hawaiian Chieftain and had the same thing happen) but I would do it again any day. Yes, being in the first stages of hypothermia sucks, but it's worth it to me if it means I get to be out on the open water. I must have been a privateer in a past life!

This was our view for about 3 hours.

Drowned rats

This picture is hilarious for many reasons, one of which being Alex's "I'm already dead" expression. Another is how well it shows one of the differences in our personalities. As much as we're similar, my sister has a tendency to show her emotions as she feels them while I am more reserved and put on a face for others. Like right then when I was actually about to collapse.

Niña

The lighthouse

I promised to put these pictures up ages ago, though I don't think anyone else cares.

The day after Halloween, November 1st, 2008, my mom, dad, sister and I went down to the local harbor to see the Nina -- a replica of the ship upon which Christopher Columbus sailed on hi expedition to India in 1492. Yeah, you know. The one where the poor retard landed in America and called the Indians well... Indians.

I should probably share the fact that I am absoultely in love with tall ships and everything about them. I have studies Sailing (both on my own and in a class) and have sailed on a tall ship twice -- The Hawaiian Chieftain. I love that ship. Like, LOVE. Few experiences or sensations in my life can compare to the thrill and excitement I feel as soon as I hear the creaking of the blocks and feel the sway of the sea beneath my feet. Passions like this, inexplicable in this life, must come from past lives. Even as a child I loved to listen to the doors of the barn blowing in the breeze, creaking like a ship...

All photos were either taken by me or Alex.

Docked

Beautiful

:)

Spars

Anchor

Pumpkin... it was the day after Halloween!

:D

Rope has never looked so beautiful.

Alex is either cold or wondering why I'm taking her picture. Or both. But her lovely eyes match the sea!

If you look closely, you can see the coast guard practicing in the stormy seas.

Probably taking the above picture!

Yes, water was on the lens. It was raining!

The coast guard

Pelicans hanging out on a downed piling from the looks of it

coast guard again

big waves!

Okay. I have reach much of Christopher Columbus' diary/journal. He started to go insane around the 3rd of 4th voyage. Now I see why. Look how roomy his quarters were. Prisoners had more luxury!

block

I somehow doubt they had this on the real ship... but am glad they have it on the replica!

There was a crab on one of the pilings on the dock. A crab. Yes, there are often starfish and barnacles and even muscles, but crabs? I'm afraid of crabs and they hate me! I never even ate one and they hated me! Well, a year ago after I realized that crab is yummy, I decided to fight back. I now eat them. Though maybe they hate me because once a friend and I combed the beach, blowing up their empty shells with bottle rockets. We probably desecrated a graveyard or something. Though don't worry -- we were smart. At one point we gave an anemone in a tide pool the stick of the rocket to hold then lit it. See? The anemone fired it, not us! I think it liked it.

So pretty!

More pelicans. They kind of scare me ever since I saw one bite another's throat open in August as they were fighting over scraps of fish a fisherman was feeding them...

The beach

On the drive back, I filmed some of the surf, a coast guard person in it, and some California gulls in flight!

I would say all the excitement turned me retarded, but I kind of always look like that...

And here are some awesome pictures from that day and the next!

The barn looks alien

The Toot looks possessed... but then again, maybe she is. Look what she did to that soccer ball!

Kate, Mickey, Teyla

Our house looks spooky!

I also tried out a new recipe the next day -- pumpkin meringue pie!

And my dad made lots of yummy donuts!

Mackenzie's Momma -- I'm glad you enjoyed them! Hmm... I should ask Mathilde if she's seen any on those topics! ;) Are you done with your semester? And I'd love the recipe! :D