dolphins!

During this sail, with the weather being as perfect as it has been, the nurses have started a tradition of having morning devotions out on the bow. Today, I headed out a little early to spend some time alone before everyone arrived. I came armed with my camera, just in case I saw some flying fish or something.

Or something turned out to be more that I expected.

I stood at the railing, staring down at the churning water, and all of a sudden it was alive with twisting forms. A whole pod of dolphins were racing the ship, playing the the spray kicked up by the hull, jumping with every splash the ship made. Within minutes all the nurses had joined me, and we stood there, mesmerized. Their sleek forms looked for all the world like they would be overtaken, but at the last minute, they would roll free, jumping out of the way.


I'd never seen anything like it, and I never expected to be treated to a repeat performance, but that's exactly what happened. Neatly marking my day like bookends, just before dinner another family came to play. I call this one a family, because there were mamas and babies, the little ones learning to jump and play, too. There were even more this time, and while we watched, others joined them, swimming right at the ship and turning at the very last minute to leap out of the spray.

And now, here I am. Blogging about dolphins when I should be well asleep, a feat that's proving near impossible tonight since the ship is rocking more than it has this entire voyage. I can hear our dishes sliding around in their cupboards, and it's taking much more effort than usual to not fall out of bed.

Oh the wild joys of sailing.