December 22, 2011

Thursday, December 22, 2011 (Russell Beacon)

By 6:30 were on our way.  “Rhapsody” was behind us and “Saranade” behind  them.  “Saranade” (trawler) glided right past both boats and radioed they were going to make a turn to record a section on the chart that was missing and off they went.  Then they started towards us again.  “Casa Mare’ this is “Saranade”, over”  Fred answered switched channels from 16, up one to 17 and Monty said we have something hanging off our anchor.  I thought he was talking about the Christmas wreath but he said he could see the wreath, and that this object looked like it was hanging off our anchor but he could not tell what it was.  I quickly jumped up and walked to the bow of the boat.  There it was...hanging like thousands of strands of Angel Hair beneath the wreath and anchor blowing in the wind.  I decided this would have to be an upside-down stretch and thought about the hook but was reasonable sure I could do this without the hook.  I braced myself, wondering how far I could bend over the bow of the boat without falling in.  When the opportunity arrived between swells, I reached down and raised the mystery object., still balancing and holding on with my right hand and 10 toes.   Proudly held up our first catch of the day and showed it to Fred.  Since I am a catch and release kind of fisherwoman I threw the remains of a badly tangled and shredded piece of rope back out to sea.  Afterthought…that was a crazy thing to do without a lifeline attached to me.  The trip was wonderful.  Seas were a teeny bit choppy with a few white caps and I was glad Fred reminded me to put my seasick patch on the night before.  Either he was counting on “healthy help” for the day or he really does take care of me.  We were actually out of site of anything except “Rhapsody” who trailed behind us  because they started about 1/2 hour later than us.  I decided to put my prized hand line out in hopes of getting a fish.  Cantaloupe and a sandwiches were lunch.  Fred took a short nap and when it was my turn to nap I went below and laid on the settee.  I noticed Stasia under the table hunkered down in the corner getting banged by whole coconuts as we rolled from side to side.  Evidently she made friends with the coconuts because they were around her like little kittens.  This cat has patience, no question about that.  As I was about to close my eyes I looked up at the microware just in time to witness a basket of potatoes slide off, spilling the potatoes onto the cushion just above Stasia then raining down on her like hail falling out of the sky.  No sooner than that happen there she was, potatoes rolling all around her among the coconuts and the basket upside down on her head.  She had enough, got up and made a beeline for the V berth, loudly taking a stand and meoooooooooowwwwing to let me know she wasn’t happy and couldn’t get any peace when this tube of what ever it is was moving.  I jumped up, tore her claws out of the spread and embraced her until she fell asleep in my arms.  I woke up to Fred calling from the cockpit, “I think you got a fish”.  Poor Stasia didn’t know what was happening but she bolted to the cockpit right next to me.  It was a fish alright, about 3 feet long, a barracuda.  I learned a little bit in Bimini about fish.  They have really nasty teeth just like this one, and are not shy about showing them off.  I got him/her to the side of the boat and Fred grabbed the hook, snagging it through the gills to bring it up so I could retrieve my spoon or whatever that thing was on the end of the line.  Fred made it crystal clear, he was NOT going to reach his hand inside it’s mouth to get the spoon.  It was either me get it or cut the line.  Reaching down, careful not to let those vicious teeth, I got it out. Release!  I am hoping there will never come a day I would need to eat Barracuda because I hear it isn’t a good fish to eat.  Fred didn’t want it so I continued my reputation as a catch and release fisherwoman.  It was fun to pull it in without a rod and reel.  My first barracuda and the biggest fish I had ever caught in my life, except a Salmon I hooked in Seattle but that one got away.  I don’t think the salmon was bigger than my cuda though.  So there went dinner plans.  No fish.

We are now where it seems like in the middle of nowhere.  360 degrees of nothingness.  It was dark...really dark...so dark I could not see where the sea ended and the sky started.  The sky was breathtaking. Heaven dotted with millions of angels shining it’s light to remind me that all of this is God’s creation and my gift from God.  Every bit of it.  Taking time to let all of this breathtaking heaven to soak in, I prayed.  It suddenly dawned on be, “Big Ships”.  Wonder if they come through here.  Wonder if they could see us, a dot in the middle of nowhere.  I asked Fred if those big steamships ever came though this area and he corrected me and said, they don’t use steamships any more.  He never did answer my question.  I decided I would rather not know.  Felt like we were in the middle of peaceful and serenity.  “Rhapsody” is just off our bow a few yards away.  Another early start in the morning.  We are planning to go to the NW light @ the Tongue of the Ocean.  At that time we will either go over to the Berry's aka Frazier's Hog or Bird Cay.  Weather permitting.  Still not sure where we will be at Christmas.  Floating somewhere between there and home.  Fred just asked me to dance so I am out of here!