day 103
-----Original Message----- From: Sent: Fri, 26 Aug 2022 10:28:45 -1000 Subject: day 103
Naomi here, Today I developed a new technique for shelling, which was to go out near the outer reef where the water is anywhere between ankle and knee deep and use the mask and snorkel to get the shells when they’re fresh. This involved either standing and plunging my face in the water, crawling round on my hands and knees or hands and feet with my face in the water, or laying down and pulling myself round with my hands, sometimes army crawling on my forearms. The most dignified way I found was to not wear the mask at all but hold it on the surface to use as a window. The shells I found were of very high quality, not the larger specimens Miriam and Megan found but with a high sheen, well formed and very attractive.
Miriam: Today began with high visibility fish watching followed by yoga on the foredeck which is surprisingly spacious enough for a proper practice. Morning’s slight overcast built to a lovely rainy afternoon, showering on the foredeck aka dancing naked in the rain. Megan and I kayaked to shore in a one person kayak and proceeded to wander and shell and talk, pointing out discoveries to one another and enjoying having an adventure buddy. The Guinea fowl pufferfish is the cutest ever. I’m curious about the orange thread organism that seems to be parasitic all over the vegetation of the island, if anyone wants to google and get back to us I’d appreciate the tech support! And Reef Herons, so lovely. I found the largest cowrie of all and Naomi hasn’t managed to steal it yet. That is all.
Ellen: Chill morning, which seemed good after yesterday. Backup cutless bearing construction is going fruitfully - if the correct part does not come on Friday, or Sunday, or forever, a franken-bearing made from both our too-small OD bearings will ensure we don’t have to live in Apataki boatyard forever. Scraped the rubber out of one bearing and hacksawed it open, and spread it to fit around the outside of the intact one. With the addition of some 5200 after we burn out the rest of the rubber, the double layer of brass should be the right thickness. Will it hold as long as a a real correct part? Goodness knows - maybe - 5200 is crazy stuff. This bit is pretty much Qwalen’s genius tinkering, but he’s in bed for the hour of blog tonight. A long row this morning and a long kayak at sunset. Soup and hot chocolate after.
Jamie - today saw my first expedition upon the reef with the intention of collecting shells, and collecting shells I did. Faded cowries, old broken coral and undesirable shells were my target. I have found my niche as the other shellers on bluebird have particularly high standards and keen eyes. WOD - contempt . Contempt - resentment could be another word for that. Actually seems very similar. Used in a sennay: LEANING BACK ON MY CHAIR, AND GAZING UPON THE BEAUTIFUL JOB IVE DONE, I FEEL VERY CONTEMPT.
Ia orana, Megan here. I did not return to work today as a plumber, though I trust that one day, my curiosity and my ever building desire for the universally appreciated moment of solitude a bathroom promises will bring me back. Back to pumping the flushing lever in a variety of ways and listening very carefully, taking apart the bits I feel I understand and nodding with satisfaction that these bits are still fine, and furrowing my brow at the bits I don’t understand and constructing arguments as to why it couldn’t possibly be them… all behaviours of a real plumber, I assume. No, today I had an adventure buddy - Miriam! While I have enjoyed developing my sense for what I want and like to do on this trip (something I’m honestly not at all particularly confident about in my day-to-day), one realisation I’ve had is that despite identifying as a curmudgeon, I do so enjoy an adventure buddy. Someone to share your discoveries, delights, and passing thoughts. So, thank you, Miriam. I also have high hopes that a certain guineafowl puffer may sign on as an additional adventure buddy - he was in the same spot he was yesterday and he did not spit at me this time! Maururu!
Bluebird out!