July 11, 2007

I am writing this message from the ocean, about 35 nautical miles west of Bodega Bay.  A nautical mile is a unit of measurement for distance at sea.  I am making progress going West and when the wind changes I should head South.

Before I left, a kind fisherman named Roger Wishard stopped by my boat.  He told me about his friend, John Francis, who traveled around the world playing his banjo without speaking a word.  I did not have time to look John’s story up, but I’m sure it is a fine tale.

Roger built his boat.  It is called Sealoom.  He gave me some fishing hooks for salmon and showed me a special way to tie the fishing line.  When we parted he said, “You will succeed.  You have a good heart.”  This reminded me of another farewell in January 2003 with my barber.  He said the same thing.

Later that night, I had dinner at the campsite of Ethan and Jutta.  They are traveling across the country in their van with their two kids.  Ethan and I had met at the marina and he offered me a pasta dinner before I took off.

I set my alarm for 4 a.m. and went to sleep.

When I woke up on Tuesday, I checked the weather once more.  This was the break I had been waiting for.  So I untied my boat and started rowing at 6:30 a.m.  Fishing boats raced by, creating waves.  From time to time, one would slow down and ask where I was going.  I said “Australia” and they cheered me on.

Moving the take-off point to Bodega Bay was a good decision.  The tides and winds are in my favor.

*Entry adapted for grades 5-8 by Andrea Rogers