Ocean Adventure '11: Newfoundland bound

[Catrin]

Awesome! I know you would have used common sense while hitching, but glad you were able to avoid doing that.

I am really looking forward to learning about your journey, this is quite the adventure!

[Reesha]

I'm currently on the boat but spent the first day puking like crazy... we had some rough seas. Teresa made a loving behind the scenes video introducing me. I'm a good sport about my seasickness... it was pretty hilarious how immediate it was. Doing better on day 2!

Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLyLSy3m7SQ

[withm]

I'm currently on the boat but spent the first day puking like crazy... we had some rough seas. Teresa made a loving behind the scenes video introducing me. I'm a good sport about my seasickness... it was pretty hilarious how immediate it was. Doing better on day 2!

Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLyLSy3m7SQ

Been there, done that. The worst part of sea sickness is feeling like you are going to die, but knowing that you won't.

I used to be a mate on a charter boat. The first couple of trips each season were pretty rough until I got my sea legs back. I found Dramamine II (non-drowsy formula) works pretty well; there are other non-drowsy anti-seasickness pills out there. The key is to take them before you leave the dock.

Stay outside, but as close to the center of the boat as possible to minimize the rocking motion, and keep your eyes focused on the horizon. Don't even think about reading when you are queasy. Try to keep upwind of the engine fumes too whenever you can. Gas, diesel - either is nasty when you don't feel good.

Eventually it will pass and you'll be laughing about it later on.

[Reesha]

Oh man, I have some crazy updating to do. I had to hit the ground running once I got home with weeding, preparing for the new school year and at this point getting the new school year up and running! What a trip!

Pictures coming shortly!

[Reesha]

This is a shot I took on the nice movie making equipment and probably gives the best impression of what it was like every day on the open ocean. That's Teresa-- one of my best friends and an incredibly accomplished sailor. We were hungry constantly on the boat!


Below is a shot of St. Pierre, an adorable French-owned island off the southern coast of Newfoundland. We sailed into St. Pierre in the wee hours, the lights of the island twinkling on the western horizon while the sun rose behind us.


With three of us on a 28 foot boat, and two of us a couple, it was important for me to get away or vice versa. When we were in St. Pierre I would row to shore to walk around and scout out unsecured wireless so I could skype my boyfriend for a minute or two. Overall though, we were a great trio and they were pretty thoughtful toward me when it came to their 'couple' behavior. Although at times it did feel like I was living inside someone else's relationship!


When the winds were not right, we would anchor in a fjord and wait it out. It's still overcast here, but it cleared up beautifully the next day and we had six full days of glorious sun! This is La Hune Bay, a magnificent fjord on the southern coast of Newfoundland.

[Reesha]

Once it got sunny we were all about swimming, but I bet you can imagine how cold this river was. The water in the bay was as dark as coca-cola from all the tannins from evergreens. Still, just a stunning place (if you don't mind swarms of black flies)


Shortly after, we moved to Deadman's Cove (yes, really) and went ashore. The wild irises there were absolutely stunning!


Here I am in all my moviemaking glory. You can't tell from this picture but I was being devoured by thousands of black flies. They were so thick you'd inhale them if you weren't careful.


Dory the boat cat. Dory is perfectly happy to live in all the nooks and crannies of a sailboat, but he really hated open ocean sailing. If we were out at sea, he was securely in someone's arms, fast asleep. I think he got seasick


Halifax seemed HUGE by the time we got there. Here's a glorious sunset over their main port.