Heading back to the U S of A

We are tucked in at the island of Hierro, the westernmost island in the Canaries. We are right next to our friends Ted and Kay in their boat, Moorglade. Dinner tonight will be at 7, on their boat! Another boat couple caught a tuna and is sharing so there will be six for dinner.

We had an easy trip over from Tenerife - just one night at sea.

We toured around the island of Hierro today with Ted and Kay.

Here is our marina. It is also a ferry terminal which is why you see so much blacktop. Remedios is the middle sailboat tied up to the far wall. We have to climb a home made rope ladder to get on and off.

Here is an overlook on the other side of the island. See that object in the upper left corner?

It was this guy - he waved and hollered to us as he went by under his wing.

We plan to leave Friday, with Rob's blessing, and then Pat and I will be at sea for 25 to 35 days.

I know some of you are wondering about our compatibility - us being in a small plastic container for a month with no liquor, no internet, no Desperate Housewives, no medical journals. It will be tough but I'd like to introduce you to my best friend who will be along for the trip.

I can always remove one ear bud to listen to Pat

Pat has a best friend, too.

That's not Pat's hand, but I wish it was.

Kindle / iPOD - The world's best, most compact devices enabling men to avoid interpersonal communication and sharing while appearing to be engaged in something meaningful.

But, I digress. How will we get along? Here is a sample day for one of us.

Stand two watches alone = 6 hours total
Sleep (alone) for 8 hours - 3 and 3 and 2 = 8 hours total
Listen to iPOD = 2 hours total
Read Kindle or legacy technology analog paged book = 2 hours total
Cook dinner and clean up = 1 hour total
Personal time like in the head or grooming = 1 hour total
Boat chores and nav stuff and log updates = 2 hours total
Working sails, lines, steering, fixing stuff = 1 hour total
Personal cleaning time for self and laundry = 55 minutes total
Interpersonal sharing = 5 minutes

Pat says if we are pressed for time, he has devised a shorthand for personal sharing and feeling checks. If one of us is feeling fine - that person is 2F. All the other has to do is get the other's attention, ask "Are you 2F?" The other guy nods or maybe gives the OK sign - and we are DONE FOR THE DAY!  FOUR WORDS AND A NOD AND WE ARE DONE! We may never get off this boat.

OK, time for dinner and a good night's sleep. Tonight will be the last time for around 30 days that we will get to sleep for more than three hours - we intend to use every minute!