We're protected by an ocean crossing blessing!

Whitney did a blessing for me and John that includes a bracelet brought from India, called a raksa potli.

The blessing is the Navkar Mantra:
Namo'rihantanam, Namo'siddhanam, Namo'ayariyanam, Namo'uvvajjayanam, Namo'loesavvasahunam
Eso panchanamukkaro savva pavva panasanno
Mangalanam cha savesim padamam havai mangalam

We ran errands today. I now have a proper sou'wester rain hat from the Kittery Trading Post. You know that theory that bringing an umbrella prevents rain?

I'm in Maine! But not on a boat yet.

I'm in Kittery, Maine, at John's brother's house. Tomorrow morning we'll drive up to Camden, where the boat is. I'm already letting go of the busyness of my usual life. Today, while we have internet, we're checking out weather forecasts, going to Portsmouth for lunch, and relaxing. Getting to know another cat and dog.

Packing & last minute stuff

I'll be gone for the next month, on a boat! It's a 50' Northwind named Camille. We'll be sailing across the North Atlantic to The Azores, then England, then fly home. I don't know if I'll be able to blog when underway. If not, I'll just journal instead & post later. I'm really excited & a little nervous. A week from now I'll be on that "big blue watery road." (Blog title & that line are from a song by T-Pain and the Lonely Island. WARNING: Lyrics contain lots of foul language.) I'm mostly packed & trying to figure out what I'd really miss if forgotten. Passport--check! Credit card--check! OK.

Looking forward to skies full of stars, whale sighting and sails full of wind.