Pacific Odyssey - Leg 1

Today marks the beginning of a final phase of this leg.  We are happy that we still have 9 days together and are trying to make the most of them.  This morning at breakfast, our final one with our watches around a table, we shared what we would take home with us and what we learned from the person sitting left of us.  Learning how to sail, learning to be patient and trying new things were some of the responses.  Several people commented on having the chance to spend time with people one may not have otherwise, realizing there is something interesting about everyone if you give yourself the chance to get to know them.  One trainee mentionned how neat it was that we became such a close group and how quickly we were able to share personal information about ourselves within such a short time, with people who were recently perfect strangers.   I think it was Brad who brought up the small living quarters he was able to survive in.  Everyone has something they will leave the boat with; some won´t realize it fully until they are home again, in their familiar surroundings.  We arrived in Honolulu about 1000hrs.  The passage improved as the night progressed.  Before midnight the engine was reduced and this made quite a difference in the motion of the ship.  Coming into the lee of Oahu also improved the stability of the Grace; most of us slept well, though Skipper was up for most of the night.  We saw the skyscrapers of Honolulu from quite a distance, they are unmistakable if you´ve arrived from the sea before.  Some trainees were a bit dumbfounded at how big a city Honolulu is.  We were dressed in our uniforms as we came to the dock and are tied up below the Aloha Tower at Pier 8.  We are around the corner on the north side of the dock from where we were on our last voyage coming home.  Because of the fourth of July celebrations, they have put us here, out of the way of central stage.  There is a chance we may be asked to move when the festivities are over.  It is actually quite nice where we are.  We are less conspicuous and thus have more privacy.  We have been given a hose to have showers with and we can roam freely through the enormous ´mall-type´ complex that this dock is a part of.  It was built in 1993 to try to recreate the Boat Days from years back when people arriving from the mainland could only come by ship.  There would be a huge welcome for them with hula dancers, music, food and people swimming out to meet the boats.  The cruise ships also tie up close by and the plaza is filled with very posh and expensive shops.  There is a Starbucks here though, and an open courtyard with beautiful wooden tables to sit at, so we feel pretty fortunate, once again.  We were able to find a small convenience store on the corner nearby with cold drinks, chips, ice cream and other neccesity items!  My kids remembered it from last time and I´m sure the owner will do a good business with us being here for 10 days.  Our shipping agent came with lots of mail; it was like Christmas for those who received some.  It´s always wonderful to get mail.  I remember the first few offshores, before the existence of email, faxes, etc.  Mail was really the only contact we had with home, except for the occasional phone call or fuzzy ham radio message.  The amount of mail has definitely lessened, it´s nice to see it hasn´t disappeared altogether.  The day was spent roaming Honolulu.  Most people returned for supper.  Today is Blayre´s 22nd birthday and a group of trainees went out tonight to celebrate.  We had a service on the boat for those interested; we did some singing with the guitars, mandolin and drums and Skipper spoke on the word ´grace,´ reading a wonderful bit from Yancey´s book "What´s so Great about Grace,´ where it tells the story of "Babette´s Feast" in relationship to ´grace.´    Nearby there is a movie theatre that shows about 7 different films and they charge only $1.  It was here three years ago and we made good use of it, especially in the hot, middle-of-the-day hours.  Today a large group of trainees and crew frequented it saying the movies they saw were ´okay.´  Tonight at 2200hrs another group left to watch . . . I can´t remember, something about two male skaters.  Nearby the ship is a walkway that will take you all the way to Waikiki, much of it along the beach, at least an hours walk.  You pass by some commercial areas but also some great beaches and shopping malls, Pearl Harbour and finally the tourist and condo section of Waikiki where most of the tourists swim, surf and boogie board.   The kids and I found a spot on the water along the walkway with many different types of tropical fish that we could feed.  A dispensing machine would spit out 25 cents worth of fish food in your hand which would bring the many colourful fishes to the surface.  Great fun.  Yesterday was Canada Day and yes, we did celebrate.  Tatoos were handed out and we wore them proudly on our foreheads, arms, wrists etc.  We were also given ´Made in Canada´ stickers to put all over our lunch bags.  There was a streamer of Canadian Flags hanging under our foresail.  Apparently there are fireworks tomorrow night from the Aloha Tower, right beside us; we should have a great vantage point.  On July 4, there will be fireworks again from the beach by the Ala Moana Mall, about a 40 minute walk from here.  The boat is very quiet, the crew have gone to sleep as they were the ones, along with Skipper that spent long hours awake last night.  The moon is still very beautiful and the air feels soft.  There is a wonderful breeze still blowing from the land, it´s a good night to sleep on deck.  I will return tomorrow, good night, Bonice