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September 29, 1998

San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #8

8. Date: Tue, 29 Sep 98 04:40:53 GMT
Latitude: 37 degrees 36 minutes North
Longitude: 122 degrees 48 minutes West

Moksha's bow reaches for the dying embers of the sun slipping over the horizon toward our destination Hawaii. Over Steve's shoulder -as he plugs away at the pedals (yawning all the while I might ad - legacy of last night's all night piss up). I can see the faintest glint of the Golden Gate Bridge under which we departed earlier today. We're at that strange cross roads between leaving the security of land -and all that it represents- and entering the uncertainty of open ocean. By tomorrow the only way of knowing where on earth we are is from numbers on a GPS screen. It's actually a great feeling -marking our transition back to water as an expedition- We both feel calm and contented despite the fatigue; the stress of getting away from US shores falling away behind us mile by mile- now only one of the many memories that our incredible time in the US has given us.

It has taken two years since arriving bare foot and semi-naked in Miami to be ready for the Pacific. We are both different people now - and its taken the tempering of having to 'make it' in the New World to prepare us sufficiently. There are so many people to thank for making Expedition 360 and its various educational components what they are now. You all know who you are -so from Steve and I a big THANK YOU!

The US section of our great odyssey has closure to it at last. Moksha's bow leads us to new worlds and experiences in the path of setting sun. But enough of the sentimentalism -time to get real and check dinner; rice, soy chili con carne and apple flakes- to replace breakfast that ended up being fed to the fishes...

Update from Steve: Wonderful to have ocean all to ourselves again. Can still just see Golden Gate Bridge behind and the Farralone Islands ahead. This feels totally different from the Atlantic. Two months of peace, solitude and occasional bad weather to keep us on our toes. Join us every day for an update.

CLASSROOM EXPEDITION: To all schools...

WELCOME ABOARD me HEARTIES!
From Capn's Lewis n' Smith.

Q. Are you physically exhausted yet?

Yes... Both of us are completely knackered! (Serves us right for not getting fit)

Q. Do you miss going for a walk?

Not yet, but it won't be long!

Q. Are your legs and knees aching yet?

Steve's left leg is clicking! My back isn't great either. Need to take Arnica tonight to stop aches and swelling.

END

Posted on September 29, 1998 5:17 PM