For those of you unfamiliar with the term Charlie Noble, the chimney of the stove is a metal pipe with a rotating cap that is seated on deck. It rises only three feet high and therefore can be overlooked when walking forward or stumbled upon on a black night. He really makes his presence known when belching black soot and diesel fumes, at any time of the day or night, meal time or not, fair weather or foul, it matters little to Charlie.

Our big event yesterday was a cold front preceded by a funnel cloud. It stayed in place off our port bow for over 20 minutes, bending and changing shape, touching down and rising up. Then it rained, hard, cold rain, what a pleasure. Paul caught lots of water for a bucket shower. Everyone on deck was soaked, keeping an eye out for another waterspout. We've been on a port tack for a couple of days and just now rolled over to a starboard tack. It's a little tougher to work in the galley on this tack, but I finished Ella's chocolate chip cookies (for her non-navel birthday) and started lunch before we came about. We had a visitor again; a long plumed white bird sat on our davits for most of the night. He wouldn't come onboard, and finally flew away. It looks like we may be arriving soon, tomorrow or so. It'll be good to call home and talk to my girl, I sure miss her. Love to all my people, HK
 

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