MV Greenpeace / PC 8023
Position: Noon Pos: 22 deg 56 min North and 117 deg 12 min East
June 23rd, 1996
Day 38

Hello again, Sorry for the silence during the last couple of days, I'm still getting to grips with this machine and trying not to bother Neil to much with my limited proficiency at getting into where I'm supposed to be.

The days are rolling along here at sea, getting back into the rythmn of `normal' ship life away from the distractions and stimuli of being in port. Last night we had a barbeque on the poop deck. Frank our bosun has discovred a mean talent for firing up the barbie and got everything set up very nicely. He'd got some willing helpers to set up tables and chairs with name tags and a seating plan of all things, so it was very swish indeed as we sat out there eating a yummy dinner watching the sky's last pastel shades giving in to the black velvet night. Sounds great eh? It was lovely to have a leisurely dinner and take time to reconnect with everyone again. During the course of a normal day there isn't much time to relax with everyone together at the same time and somehow a barbeque gives a bit of a festive air,and people linger abit longer instead of scurrying of to their next task.

There were a few moments of absolute peace and tranquility today. We've been making really good time due to a fairly strong current pushing us towards Japan so Ulf made a decision to turn offthe engines and drift for the next half a day or so. I was about half way through making lunch when suddenly everything went silent on the boat,and for a few minutes before the generators sparked up again all I could hear was the gentle slish of waves as they slapped the side of the boat. There is something purely magical around the feeling of being suspended on the ocean courtesy of this vessel no engine power and rocking to and fro, the current moving us along at it's lesure. Actually Helen told me we were moving at about 1.5 knots and in the direction that we would be going if we were under our own power. That seems pretty cool to me!

Always,every day I take a few moments to silently thank all the effort and energy that everyone puts in to making all of the Greenpeace ships stay in the water and remember how lucky I am to have the opportunity to experience the wonders of life on the sea.

Well my bed is calling and I,m looking forward to a great sleep with no engine noise.

Night all

Love Lynda.