Like a good sailor.....

Like a good sailor I forfeited sight seeing for a little rest and relaxation. Peach juice, vodka, Turkish wrap, laptop, and a balcony with a great view....

Walk around the city? I think not.

I jest...but only a bit. After walking around Batumi for a bit I decided that my dogs were barking and that I was entitled to a cocktail. So, I hit up a convenience store and made my way back to my hotel.

The weather was fabulous - sunny and warm - but, I still was able to gaze at snow covered mountains in the distance.

I feel so lucky.

Doubly so, because today is the day I fly home!

A Cuppa in Georgia

Hello from Georgia!(As in The Republic of Georgia)

I'm on my way home - which is lovely. I've been lucky to get two days to explore before flying out. It's been amazing....obviously Big Bertha has been busy and there will be pictures soon!

For now, I'm blogging from my phone...which strangely feels like a treat.

Random note: Georgians take their coffee black. (good thing I got some practice in Italy!). They'll ask, 'Turkish or Nescafé?'. I usually opt for the Nescafé and haven't been disappointed yet!

Wanna know what this is?

My last sunrise of the trip.

Woot Woot!  I'm homeward bound....well, sorta....I'm actually sitting in hotel until tomorrow morning-ish.  Works for me!

Night Photos :: A little ice.

The other night while at anchor, a pack of ice floated by.  I had started to forget how cold it was!  I haven't seen ice in the water since my days spent sailing in Alaska.  Granted, this was such a small amount of ice that it didn't even touch what we'd see in the Cook Inlet.  Either way, it was a little novel and helped break up the monotony of an anchor watch.  Combined with some moon light...and some anchor lights....it was quite picturesque!  

The Crank.

Towards the end of my rotation I tend to get a bit cranky.  Specifically, my last two or three days aboard.  I find myself on edge.  I'm a little bundle of stress, nerves and, tension.  Even though I know I'll feel this way it always amazes me.  It doesn't really seem to make sense.  I'm on the brink of going home!  I have things to look forward to!  Soon, I can make my own dinner and go out for a coffee; I can buy flowers for my house; I can sleep in! I think what happens is that I get focused on too many little details.  Am I leaving things in good order for my relief?  Did I remember to print that out for the Captain?  Did I send a follow up email to so and so?  Did I log all the changes to the charts?  Did I print new pages for the log books?  The list could go on forever...

While I'm focusing on all these little details I'm also packing and cleaning my room.  I'm trying to fit all the stuff I bought in port back into my luggage....it never really works and invariably, I need to leave things behind....like work pants or boots.

I'm also trying to make plans shoreside.  Making plans to visit friends and figuring out an itinerary for myself.  Deciding when the best time to drive across the country is and whether or not I should go ahead and book my ticket to Hawaii.

Here's the catch:  I have no idea when I'm going home!

I thought I was going home three days ago....but, we still haven't left for the next port yet....which means that there was no way I'd make it.  In fact, the reliefs who flew out to meet us in the next port are still sitting in their hotel rooms.....and will be flying home tomorrow!  Sad Face!

What am I stuck with?!  Permanent crankiness and no travel plans! 

The thing is....I'd rather just not know that it was time to go home....that way channel fever would have no way of setting in.  It's easy to do 120 days aboard when you know that is what you're signing up for....

I've been trying to get myself to mellow out a bit....by simply being ready to leave (as in have everything in order) but not fixated on going home.  This is much easier said than done. 

In the meantime, I'm just trying to manage the crank....and not worry about my lack of travel.....or that I haven't booked my ticket to Hawaii yet!

Dolphins at Sunrise

 

A few mornings ago, there were dolphins everywhere.  They were lazy dolphins...coming to the surface very slowly showing a little fin and then dipping back down just below the surface of the water.

I tried so hard to take pictures of them!  It was nearly impossible!  There was no rhyme or reason to how they were coming to the surface - or where they'd come next.  I just had to be patient - point and shoot - and hope things were fairly straight! 

There is something so soothing about watching dolphins move about.  Even when they aren't being frisky and playful it's hard to take your eyes off of them.  I was so surprised to see dolphins this far north - and I wondered if they were moving slowly to conserve energy and body heat....the water temperature is about 7 degrees Celsius.

It was a treat. 

Enjoy some photos of a packed anchorage, some sunrise shots and dolphin 'puddles'!

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