Captains log: Paranormal and the supernatural fish at the 10,800 mark

Date: July 12, 2022

Time: 15:17

Location:28.57.316N / 133.27.500

While the other competitors are surely scarfing down dehydrated beef stew and rehydrated eggs via warm water, here on Solis we were greeted this morning by oatmeal for champions. While rocking and rolling up and down the seas (oh yes, from 06:00 this morning the wind is blowing 15kts!) bowls of oatmeal mixed with yoghurt diced apples, chopped nuts then sprinkled in cinnamon magically appeared in the cockpit. While a sailing trip across the pacific is I'm sure in itself a weight-watchers delight, this crew will surely come hobbling off the boat with new found bouncy around the waste, not in the form of a lifejacket. 

As one might have gathered, if one is reading this blog, that exciting topics the pros and cons of oat milk, to the definition of time being simply another way of measuring distance. A couple of conversations regarding the ability to either simultaneously grasp a parallel universe and feel or see or touch events happening to us on the other side. Or we may be able to see or experience events possibly in the past or in the future. The typical stuff that is probably discussed when you're on a little boat just a couple of feet from the water, staring at the stars in the middle of the ocean. 

Fast forward to yesterday....but wait, let me first lay a simple foundation of terms so that any reader may following my little story. And don't be surprised if you too, feel the shivers run down your spine when you realize you've felt, seen or thought about any event which may be revealed in the words of my wild tale. 

Cockpit: This is the area in the back of my boat where the helm (wheel), seats and lines for controlling the sails are located.

Spray Dodger: This is a canvas and clear plastic little dog-house kind of structure placed in front of the cockpit to protect the sailers from spray and water coming over the deck. 

10,800 mark: The number of minutes we've been at sea, thus had the opportunity to discuss any topic

Flying fish: The fish that literally have wings and fly out of the ocean for hundreds of feet at a time

Now let's dive in. At approximately 21:30 last night, Gene and I were in the cockpit sailing. Gene suddenly and out of the blue, asks me, "Did you ever see any flying fish when you crossed the pacific on your previous trip?". And on that note, on this trip, not one single time has a flying fish been seen and not on a single occasion has flying fish been discussed. So I respond with some stories about all the flying fish that I saw in Japan and on my previous trip. I even shared a quick story with Gene about how one time, a flying fish came out of the ocean and landed on the boat! Wow, how wild is that.....

OK, back to the spray dodger. In the center of the spray dodger is a clear sheet of transparent plastic that I rolled up for the entire day so the air would blow into the cockpit. So literally 5 minutes after the flying fish stories, because its getting a little cool, I decide to roll down the transparent sheet of plastic. My face is directly behind this clear plastic as I roll it down and zip it up. Without exaggeration, I tell you, within 5 seconds of zipping this thing up there is a loud and violent impact against this plastic. Had I not zipped it up, the object would have surely slammed into my face which who knows, could have given a bloody nose? Knocked out an eye? Or maybe even luckier and walked away without a scratch. Gene and I erupted with excitement. I think something has broken from aloft in the mast. Gene thinks it's a bird. I grab my flashlight and inches away from me, a florescent blue flying fish is flopping on the deck. I reach out and grasp this little gasper. It's wings shaped exactly like a dragon, it's color florescent or even electric blue. This little spirit flyer just came to send a message that they are listening. I promptly threw the little winged leaper back. 

On the course of 10,800 minutes with an infinite possibility of topics to be discussed, the synchronistic timing of our little visitor caused even deeper contemplation.

Stay tuned for additional deep thoughts from Solis in a possible two-update day! 

The guys are discussing their spirit vegetable, so I need to run. It's an interesting concept to discuss and I'm not being silly.