If today was yesterday, we would have carried our sacrifice and petition to the oracle of Apollo requesting fair winds for the morning. We did not desire a blustery blow but simply a gentle enough breeze to attain a forward momentum less than four knots when most sails were set. Of course that would be illogical if our goal was to put miles beneath our keel. What we really wanted to do was to hop into our little rubber Zodiacs, speed away from the Sea Cloud and photograph her magnificence. And that is exactly what we did! There were smiles as big as all outdoors and the day had barely begun. Oh yes, there was activity before that time. The sun did rise behind the hills of Turkey and dolphins leapt as they accompanied a Coast Guard vessel. But the highlight of the day was definitely the Sea Cloud under sail.
Although our appeal had already been recognized and granted, we proceeded with our pilgrimage to the Temple of Apollo in Didyma, Turkey anyway. Standing and peering over the wall of the modern village we could look down the Sacred Way and visualize processions from more than a thousand years ago. Within the ruins of the temple itself fluted columns rose above our heads, some truncated and some reconstructed. Building blocks were straight and square and marble edgings carved in intricate repeating patterns. Once again we were struck with the exactness and fine workmanship exhibited by the people of that time. Given the tools they had, would we even begin to accomplish the simplest of tasks? By revisiting the past we recognize how much mankind has lost even as our world progresses forward at an astronomical rate.
Our time on board has flown too fast and as tomorrow inches near, suitcases must be filled before we rest our heads.
