It's been a few months now since Amistad's yard period in Mystic Connecticut. We're here in Cascais Portugal for our short European yard period. It's great to be on board giving the boat the love that she needs to take us safely to West Africa. Amistad has come so many miles already; it's amazing how well she's held up. Everything onboard has been getting slowly more and more worn - and I didn't really even notice it. I suppose I don't have an eye for these sorts of things yet. But under our bosun's instructions, and with some elbow grease on the crew's part, things are starting to look brand new again. It really is an amazing feat. It feels wonderful to be working all over the boat: head rig, aloft, bilges, and other weird places then crash into a delicious dinner at the end of the day. It's easy to get your head into a project, but now and again, all you have to do is look up and see the tile roofs, white stucco houses and the windy European streets. It's friggin' amazing doing this work out here in Portugal.

I think we reached the half way point a ways back, and the end seems to be looming closer and closer everyday. To me it really does feel like we're all on a downhill slope. It's exciting to have that feeling in the air. Along with feeling like we're almost done, I've started to make plans for what happens after Amistad. I think I'm going traveling around Africa or Europe with my girlfriend Alison. It's been long enough without her, and I can't wait to go and make tracks with her in all these cool places over here. Take advantage right?!

As the medical officer I've been as busy as somebody ... really really... busy with a lot of stuff! We're about to head down to West Africa, which is plagued with Yellow Fever and all sorts of other horrible bugs. I have to make sure everyone gets their proper dosages of the malaria medications, and yellow fever shots. That sounds pretty simple, but there are 16 people on board who I care for. The travel clinic doesn't speak English, we don't have a car, a fax, or unlimited funds. The travel nurse doesn't write prescriptions, but does require them for vaccinations. Needless to say, it's been a Portuguese goose chase that I've almost finished up. For those of you who don't know, there are all kinds of undesirable side effects of malaria medications. I'm planning on grouping everyone together in 'mosquito groups' so they can commiserate together. Pretty brilliant isn't it?!
 

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