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Ship Porridge

Day something aboard Namarie, and we're starting to wonder if the sun and moon have gone on vacation together. Since leaving La Rochelle, we haven't seen a glimpse of either one, thanks to a relentless blanket of cloud cover. It's like the Atlantic decided to throw a giant white sheet over itself and call it a day.
Two theories are circulating on deck: either we've stumbled upon the world's largest cloud, or somehow managed to snag one on our mast and are dragging it along with us. Honestly, at this point, both options seem equally believable.
The only things breaking up the monotony of gray are…you guessed it, ships! Our AIS continues to be a symphony of blips and bloops, with a constant presence of at least four vessels on the screen. They seem to be on a north-south migration, likely refugees from the Red Sea kerfuffle. It makes you wonder how the Houthis haven't had a field day with them – it must have been impossible to miss one with a missile.
The good news is, we're rapidly approaching our pitstop in Gran Canaria! We're definitely looking forward to a change of scenery, even if it's just for a short while. Don't get me wrong, Gran Canaria probably has its charms, but we have oceans to conquer, canals to navigate, and a strong case of "rolling stone gathers no moss" syndrome. The longer we stay put, the harder it is to get back into the rhythm of the sea.
So, here's to a swift stop in Gran Canaria, a quick refuel, and a speedy departure back into the (hopefully sunnier) embrace of the Atlantic. Until next time, fair winds and following seas (and maybe a break in the clouds, if the universe is listening)!

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