Saturday, May 6, 2017 @ o9:40

I am about 35 miles off the coast and I’m not alone.

Just past the “Dora Mae” an old west coast troller. I spoke, I should say shouted, “Good Morning” to the two fellows baiting a long line out the stern to the flock of waiting sooty Albatross, must be a least one hundred of them, some diving for the bait on the long line hooks others on the water shooting the breeze and still more gliding around them and me. Great looking old wooden west coast boat. I asked them which way Canada was and they laughed both pointing in a different direction.

My old Perkins with its makeshift cast on is saving the day. Not a breath of wind here and big seas. I am not running him too hard but we are making about four knots in the right direction. Visibility is at least ten miles so no problems with being seen. Just going now to fry up some onions, potatoes and eggs for breakfast. I have had lots of sleep even with Perkins snoring in my ears. I feel much more relaxed now that it’s daylight and we have Perkins bringing us home.

All is well, cold but well. Those fishermen must be tough sons of fisherman!

May 6 @ Noon

Land Ho! 10:30 this morning! Off in the distance is Vancouver island and Cape Flattery.

Doing very well after an amazing breakfast, and lots of mail. I have been thinking about all the hundreds of people from all over the world who have supported MaryLou and I and our sailing adventures this past decade. From the morning I stood on the helicopter deck of the Argentinean Navy Vessel Porto Deseado and spoke with MaryLou for the first time after being rescued, we have always realized that our journey was not about the sailing as much as it was about the people we met along the way.

To all those who were there from the very beginning, I would like to send my deepest heartfelt gratitude for all your deep support and especially to the Ham radio operators who faithfully met me every day and listened and shared their lives with me and those on the blog as well. It is very important for me to thank them for supporting my dearest MaryLou through some difficult times as well as some hilarious times.

And of course it goes without saying that without her love and support I would never have made it. Many times I have sat at this nav station and shared more than a few tears of joy at being so very lucky to have been able to do what I have done.

Thanks to you all.

May 6, 2017 Position: @ 16:45 48.42 N, 124.69 W

May 5, 2017 08:20 am
Position: Lat 46 31 Long 128 11  Temp 53 F

Glenn sails out the Straits of Juan de Fuca on his second solo circumnavigation attempt, September 2013.

The sun is up, albeit behind some very billowy clouds. The seas are still mountainous and the wind blowing hard. Good for making volts, not so good for standing up. My bunk is by far the most comfortable and warmest place be. If all goes well, we should be at the mouth of the Straits by the afternoon tomorrow, so hopefully I’ll have clear weather.

The tides, of course,  will start to play a big roll in my transit of the Straits.

I’ve been trying to imagine what it would be like trying to make landfall in a square rigger in these conditions. Boy those guys must have been tough. Up in the rigging on a night like last night is hard to imagine. How about Captain Cook and his crew, they didn’t even know where land was!

Photo: Intrepid solo kayaker, Hayley Shephard

In my very brief forays on deck and poking my head out the hatch I have seen sooty albatross and petrels in numbers that would make you think that land is close.

Looking out the galley port lights is difficult because of the condensation, but even so, the blue sky is visible and it looks warm.

All is well.

May 5, 2017 0:6:30
Position: 46.33 N, 128.59 W

Still slogging it out in some big seas with a good course and lots of wind. I got a few hours sleep and once I go on deck and adjust our course, I am back to my bunk. At night, in the dark, my mind dreams up all kinds of scenarios, some of which come from an Alfred Hitchcock movie and make sleep almost impossible.

With the bright light of dawn those thoughts are gone and things are a lot more realistic and not quite so scary. I will feel better with a cup of tea and some hot cereal.

Only 186 to go to the mouth of the Straits. Should be there noon tomorrow and enter in daylight.

All is well and feeling good.