It's raining stars

When last did you see a shooting star? Do you make a wish when you see one? It seems at times I wish for something and then see a shooting star at the same time, and I often take that as confirmation. It is Sunday here by us. Relaxed, calm, a gentle breeze pushing us along. Puffs of clouds all around us, sunny and warm. Early this morning, at about four, a slither of the moon appeared behind us on the horizon. It's nearly dark moon, and one could just make out the faintest edge around the mostly dark shape of the smiling moon. Exquisitely beautiful.

Throughout my early morning watch from two to six, the skies were as clear as you could wish for, and the stars as bright as you can imagine. The Southern Cross is a constant companion on our port side where we are currently, slowly sinking into the ocean every night with the earth's rotation. Once we cross the equator into the northern hemisphere, it will become less and less visible as we sail further north.

I often sit and stare at at the skies at night during my watch, a lot of time softly playing my ukulele, learning new songs and sounds. I must have seen at least a dozen shooting stars last night. Some of them leaving a trail in the sky for a few moments. I have heard of meteor showers before. Certain times of the year at certain places there is quite a bit of activity in skies visible. You can google it. Haley from Haley's Comet, sailed all the way to St.Helena by ship to observe the comet's calculated day of appearance, about a hundred years ago. He was sitting on Diane's Peak, the highest point on the island, with a beautiful three hundred and sixty degrees view of the clear night skies. He must have been very excited, and for good reason. This was the culmination of a lifetime's work, and ready with his chronometer and telescope, waited patiently. I would imagine he had some tea with him on his vigil. An hour before Haley's Comet appeared, clouds formed and covered the sk
y, as
they often do. The volcanic rock retains a lot of heat from the sun during the day, and at night it cools down and forms vapor which forms clouds, and with that often a bit of rain as well. One can often spot an island a hundred miles away from the clouds that often forms above it. Haley would have enjoyed the night skies here by us last night. It was a star studded show of note. Even the Milky Way looked more like a huge line of cloud in the sky, except the cloud didn't move, and through binoculars billions of stars appear. In Greek mythology, this was caused by Isis, who sprayed her breastmilk across the skies, hence the name Milky Way.

At six Don took over watch from me. I told him to call me if he needs any help with catching a fish. We've been trying for weeks. A baby dorado which we returned, and a bonito which we kept. I don't enjoy bonito, quite bland. Jane wanted to taste it, but once she fried it and tasted it, she agreed it is not all that tasty. This morning at about eight, I heard Jane shouting "fish!!!". Don and Thomas were there and Thomas grabbed the line and started bringing the fish in. He got some ropeburn from the 2mm flat braided line we use. Don got the gloves and soon the fish was on board. A bonito again, but quite a big specimen this time. We released it immediately, and let the lure out again. We will keep on trying, and should get some dorado or wahoo down the line.

I hope things are going well with you and that you are having a leisurely Sunday.

Keep shining

Paul


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