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February 18, 2007

The Things we Value the Most

LOCATION: Arabian Sea Crossing
Day: 19
SEE WHERE WE ARE!
Longitude: N:15°23.606'
Latitude: E: 062°56.342'
Heading: 270°M
Wind: ENE, Force: 1
Miles from Mumbai: 660
Miles to Djibouti: 1,140

After nearly three weeks at sea the material things we value have altered to ones completely centred around life on board the boat. Land based things like money have absolutely no value out here at all of course.

Aside from each other, here are some of the things we value the most....


SLEEPING COMPARTMENT
This comes in pretty high on the ratings scale. affectionately known as the 'rathole', this tiny space looks about as inviting as a lead-lined coffin, but it is without question the most highly prized area of real estate on the entire boat. After each 3-hour graveyard shift it is the most heavenly thing to be able to slide full length inside and relax our aching muscles. And the gentle rocking of the boat puts us asleep like babies in no time.


WATER MAKER
Essential to our survival this handpump watermaker is still hanging in there thanks to a series of major surgeries to fix a major crack early on in the voyage. Each day both Sher and I pump this thing for around 40 mins to produce a total of 5 litres of fresh water from sea water (the process involves reverse osmosis) - enough for one person's intake per day. We draw the other 5 litres from the containers of water given to us earlier in the voyage by the MSC Eliana.


CUTTING BOARD
Our cutting board performs a multitude of functions from the obvious one of preparing food, to a writing platform, to a lid for the saucepans, to a hefty piece of timber to hammer things with.


THE LAST CABBAGE!
This is our last cabbage, and as you can tell it's seen better days...

But take off the outer layer and the underneath stays fresh for weeks. Each afternoon we each peel off a leaf to munch - delicious!


CUP of TEA
And there's nothing like a cup of the old Rosie Lee to look forward to during the long graveyard shifts at night.

jason

Posted on February 18, 2007 3:11 PM