Jan 20, At sea off the Pacific Coast of California

We woke up this morning having left California and we are in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. Nothing but blue water and blue skies for as far as you can see. We won't see land for four days.

Last night as we left California, we went in between some of the Channel Islands. One of the islands is called San Nicolas Island. It is part of the Navy's Sea Range, a sister Range of the Atlantic Test Range at Pax River where Rob and Toni worked. Toni and Rob took a boat out to Channel Islands National Park one and Rob spent a night out at San Nicolas Island for work. Rob told me a story of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island, Juana María. The story, Island of the Blue Dolphins, was based on her. (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/islandofthebluedolphins/lone-woman-of-san-nicolas-island.htm)

Today's craft was a flower. I had no idea how all that folded paper would look like a flower, but Toni made it bloom just like a real flower!!

We have two new crew members for the next month. They are our Island Ambassadors and will be teaching about the cultures, customs, music and activities of all of the islands we will be visiting. The first Islands are Hawaii so today they taught Lei making, Hula dancing and Ukulele playing. We went to the Lei making and watched the Hula dancing.