Talking to you from…
THE FUTURE! (cue Sci Fi music – dun dun duuuuuunnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!)
Those of you that have been following along may remember that Tiffany and Greg earned the most auspicious title of “Trusty Shellbacks” by participating in an equator line crossing ceremony a few months back. What you may NOT know is that “Trusty Shellback” is only the most well-known of a plethora of unofficial awards that celebrate assorted feats of nautical daring-do. For example, both of us also hold the “Order of the Spanish Main” for sailing in the Caribbean. (No Black Pearls, though there were some drug runners) and Greg holds the coveted “Order of the Ditch” for successfully navigating thorough the Panama Canal and is also a “Plank Owner”.
There are certificates for all kinds of feats from circumnavigating the globe (Order of Magellan) to sailing in the Arctic Circle (Blue Nose) to crossing the Equator & Prime Meridian at the same time (Emerald Shellback). But the reason this matters today is that today, or, more accurately for you, tomorrow is that day, whichever it is, is the day we cross the International Date Line and become members of the Empire of the Golden Dragon!
The Golden Dragon is the most “flexible” of the awards because well, technically the International Date Line is supposed to be at 180 degrees longitude – the opposite of the Prime Meridian. Well, see the funny part is that the International Date Line kind of wiggles a little bit depending on what date the countries near the line want it to be. There’s also a handy mnemonic to help you remember what day it is and where – “If it’s Sunday in Samoa, it’s Monday for the Monarch.” As you can see below!
We’re in Tonga. So the king of Tonga says it’s tomorrow and that means we’re Golden Dragons!
And yes, this means that we can now, in a real and official sense, be addressed as “Dragons”. Golden Dragons even. And this is the only award that comes with special powers! You see, unlike paltry Shellbacks who can see hurricanes turn in two different directions, Golden Dragons can travel through time!
And maybe perhaps you are wondering about the title of this blog entry. Perhaps you don’t know what Flux Capacitors have to do with traveling to the future.
Well hang your head in shame and go Google it.
Our equator ceremony was done with far more pageantry…and costumes. We had crowns and a message in a bottle and a shark almost ate us! Check it out by clicking on “Crossing the Equator!”
About the authors
Greg and Tiffany are traveling around the world on sailing yachts and keep a video blog of their (mis)adventures. If sailing to Tahiti on a 44 ft sailboat, getting pooped on by seagulls, opening coconuts with dull machetes, sailing past tornadoes and ukulele Christmas carols are for you, then check them out at www.CoastGuardCouple.com!
Of course we miss you.
We miss you too Mike! How’s sailing in SF?