Entering the No Socks Zone
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Thu 7 May 2009 00:57
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26:24.086S 179:18.705E
The wind continues to be perfect (not too strong,
not too weak and in the proper direction) and we are still sailing very nicely
north. We aren't quite to the tropics, but we have entered that lesser
known zone that exists slightly south and north of the tropics - called the No
Socks Zone. On land it is known as the Perpetual Sandals Zone. It's
not quite as nice as the tropics, but it makes for very happy feet.
It looks like we will be able to stop at Minerva
Reef on our way to Tonga. If all goes well, we should be anchored in the middle
of the South Minerva lagoon tomorrow in time for cocktails. We are looking
forward to the experience of anchoring in a place that is essentially in the
middle of the ocean with only a slim coral reef between us and the blue
yonder. Boaters that have been there say it's an entirely odd feeling -
anchored in a lagoon with ocean all around and practically no land.
They also say the snorkeling is fabulous with only a few sharks here
and there.
Later today we'll cross 180 degrees longitude
again. This time we'll gain a day since we'll be crossing it west to
east (last year we lost a day crossing east to west). Technically it
will be yesterday when we cross the line, but because the international date
line is artificially diverted to the east of Tonga, it won't really be
yesterday, it will still be today. Is that clear?
Anne
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