The Wayfaring Wordhack

Yes, we did go sailing on Thursday and Friday.

No, we did not make it around the island. The winds did not will it so. Instead we got as far as M'tsamboro, an isle northwest of Grande Terre. I got a bit seasick so took two motion-sickness pills that knocked me out. I went down and napped in the "coffin" (berth) as we skipped the waves around M'tsamboro, struggling to get closer to it. We dropped anchor in the lee of the island and spent the night there. 
mana_trini , spearfisher extraordinaire, et François went hunting the next morning and brought back three yummy fishes. Delphine took Titouan for a ride in her kayak while I snorkeled and saw my first-ever pencil sea urchin.

Even though we didn't make it around Mayotte, even though we saw nary a whale or dolphin, and even though we had engine trouble that delayed our departure and our return (contrary winds, read "nonexistant," remember?), we had a good time. I'm glad we went.

Once we got back, it was time to cook and clean for the going away party. I cooked too much. We have leftovers out the wazoo, but that means I don't have to worry about cooking as we pack up and move to Lionel's house for our last week here in Mayotte.

Speaking of moving, I've got to get to sorting and packing. We vacate the house tomorrow afternoon because NIGHT DIVING, baby, tomorrow at sunset. It'll be my second time and Julien's first. I'm psyched. I'll wax ecstatic on Tuesday if we have the net at L's house.

There are good things, many of them, amidst the bustle and sadness of leaving our home of the past three years.

I didn't really feel like going sailing yesterday; I woke up with a sore throat and would have rather stayed home to write. However, some friends are leaving Mayotte on Saturday, and it was the last time we could take them out on the boat.  So, gathering good cheer to me like tattered raiment, I went with them.

Once we were under sail, everyone found a place to lounge on the deck. I decided it would be a good time to sneak in a few words. I retrieved my notebook from port hull and was counseled to lie down across the stern of the catamaran, behind the tiller bar. I had just moved a gas can out of my way and was getting ready to lie down when the boom swung around and whacked me squarely across the nose. I saw stars just before the tears flooded them away. I had enough presence of mind to lie down quickly before I lost my balance and went overboard.

That kind of accident can be fatal or extremely dangerous. I was lucky to come away from it with a scratch and a slightly swollen nose. The not-so-funny thing is just a split second before getting hit, I thought, Hurry, hurry; lie down. You never know when the boom is going to come around.

I came back from Dubai with goodies for Julien, but while I was gone, he bought his own goody. What does he need me for?  He told me he was counting on me to talk to sense into him about the purchase, but while in Dubai, when I called him on Tuesday, he told me, "Honey, I'm going to buy a sailboat!"  Lionel more wisely told Sabrina: Honey, I'm going to test a sailboat.

This isn't only *our* catmaran; we bought it with two other couples (L and S being one of them). Guess we'll be going out on the sea quite a bit in the next four months...er, make that three.  We'll be in Madagascar almost a month (May-June); bought the tickets today.

Sitting pretty

( Oggle some more )

Back to Dubai photos.

ETA: Sorry, thought I put those photos under a cut.