We’ve crossed the 1300 mile mark, and the midway point of the trip in terms of miles traveled and miles to go. On top of that, we traveled a record 56 miles in 24 hours! If we keep this up we’ll be home before you can say, “I’m dying for something to eat besides fish and granola.”
Our spirits are up, knowing that we’ve got 3-4 weeks to go, provided all goes as anticipated. Right now our main objective is maintenance. The raft is suffering a bit, as all boats do. Last night the eyebolt holding the mainsail gave way, but was caught by the chain we installed a few days earlier. The galvanized wire holding up the mast is beginning to fray in places. We’ve got tons of rope to replace them if needed. Bottles and netting are holding up fine at this point. Today we will drop the mainsail and do a little maintenance for a couple of hours. This is just a fact of all boats.
What has impressed us is the durability of everything in light of the few small failures. Joel has kept the batteries tapped, constantly chasing short circuits. I’m still making mini-pontoons, sewing netting as I find weak spots, and tightening lashings between the deck and pontoons.
To mark the milestones in our trip, we decided to celebrate. Tonight we’ll whip up two boxes of macaroni and cheese, and share a pack of beef jerky. Wild times!
P.S. Check out Ecousable to find alternatives to the disposable plastic bottle.
And here is the rest of it.
(Clearly this isn't a photo from JUNK (our sailors looking clean shaven and, well, clean) but as there was no image for todays blog: this was a celebratory moment on our 2008 Gyre Voyage with Algalita, when we committed to take JUNK on. I imagine they'd trade a lot of jerky right now for a pina colada....)
5 comments:
Wow. This is possible the coolest public statement that I have ever seen/read. I will definitely be writing about and linking you at TheDailyBonus.com
I noticed in the blog that someone referred to the resin code (the number that appears on many plastic containers inside the chasing arrows symbol) as a "recycling code." This is a common misconception. It is a resin code, not a recycling code. It does not mean that the container can be recycled.
In fact, environmental groups sued industry over the use of the recycling symbol on plastic. There is much controversy over what actually happens to plastic tossed into the recycling bin. We know that there is a good infrastructure for downcycyling #1 (PET) and #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene) bottles. Notice that the word is down-cycle rather than re-cycle...it can't be made back into a food contact surface because of FDA rules. It has to be made into a "less demanding product application."
There is not a strong market in the US for other post-consumer plastics, although some niche markets exist (such as Stoneyfield Farms yogurt containers being made into Preserve toothbrush and razor handles). Some creative people can make reusable bags from plastic containers, hats from plastic shopping bags...even rafts from plastic bottles!
"Recycling" only diverts about 3-5% of plastic in the US from the landfills, and that only temporarily.
The language we use about the plastic waste stream makes a huge difference in public perceptions. Let's be accurate.
Congratulations on the halfway mark!! This is a great blog, and better project. I am a homeschooling mom, eager to share this with my kids tomorrow!! Thanks :)
nice wow
This is really cool. I can appreciate anything about boats, sailing, fishing (even though I'm a veterinarian) because I live in Gloucester Mass. and my grandfather and all my great uncles from here where involved in the fishing industry and used to take me out on boats all the time. So anyways ya I think your whole blog is pretty cool
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