Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Archives
>
2021 Readathon #1: Miles of Pages
message 51:
by
Sherri
(new)
Feb 15, 2021 06:16PM
Monday 86 pages
reply
|
flag
Mod
When I write to you that we have travelled 8579 miles today, you may well find it difficult to believe. Indeed picturing your look of astonishment very nearly makes up to me for the difficulties wrung upon us this last day and night.
While we had nothing but the most glorious weather for crossing the ocean, as we approached that great unexplored continent, Mother Nature decided to test our determination to reach it. Such storms! We were tossed about quite violently and I was at times quite afraid that our hull would be torn open by some rock or that we would be thrown against the cliffs. Our worthy captain spent much of the night going up and down the coast line seeking the secure bay we were heading for. We paced up and down the coast over and over again until at last we found the entrance. That unfortunately was the principal of our mileage.
This morning it continued to rain heavily but we were able to land and beginning setting up the base camp and store of supplies that we shall leave here for the return journey. I endeavored to seek out some specimens but the rain was too much and I was forced to retreat to my cabin. Oh how I long to be by your side, curled up in front of the fireplace, warm and blissfully motionless. I dream of going with you to our favorite market, and buying fresh fruits and cheeses, and bread still hot from the oven...I was not made for a diet of tinned meats and already stale biscuits.
Continuously dreaming of you and the wonderful life we shall have together,
Your Most Devoted Lepidopterist
Monday: 365 pages
Monday: 218 pagesSat-mon: 3 hrs audio (that I forgot to check in).
Mod
Monday - 81 pages
Mod
Good news to report: we have set off up river into the interior and have logged over 3376 miles. Truly this time! And Darling I have begun collecting specimens! The river requires careful navigation and so each night we stop at sunset and I go ashore. I have already half a case full of specimens of the most interesting types, some even that do not match any references. It's much too soon to come to any firm conclusions, but it is at the very least most promising for my future publication record! Picture the galas, Darling...you and I sipping the best champagne courtesy of the Society as the rich and eminent gaze upon the newly discovered species of L. Darlingi...
While I restrict myself for present at being drunk merely on our future delights, I fill notebook pages with drawings and descriptions of all the local flora and fauna. How often I have despaired at the lack of such details accompanying other scientific descriptions! I for one shall have at least plenty of research to sort through when I return, and shall be able to make myself of use to other researchers.
It is good that I have so much to do, because otherwise I would be completely at my wit's end. The company on board the ship is hardly to be envied. The other members of the expedition seem to do absolutely nothing in the evening besides playing at cards. No stimulating conversation at all; it makes me miss you all the more. With you there can never be a dull moment. Write me long letters Darling, so that I might at least have a glimmer of your sparkling personality. Such lonesomeness is even harder to bear than the biscuits they feed us.
Sending all my love to you,
Your Most Devoted Lepidopterist
Tuesday: 390 pages
Mod
Sunday- 152 pagesMonday - 122 pages
Tuesday - 73 pages
Tuesday - 500 pages. (I didn't forget to post today. YAY)
Mod
Monday: 55
Tuesday: 294
Monday: 155 + 1 hour audioTuesday: 238 pages
Monday: 110 pages, 5 hours audioTuesday: 134 pages, 4 hours audio
Mod
Mod
As I write to you now, we are encamped at the edge of the jungle where it opens onto the great vast desert and above me the moon shines so bright and clear that I do not even need a candle to write. It is so beautiful that I shed tears upon seeing it for instantly I was reminded of you. How wonderful it would be to have you here next to me now.
We have spent the last few days travelling up the river, some 7134 miles according to the surveying team. We have entered uncharted territory and new maps will made according to the findings of our expedition, which shall be of the utmost importance for the Society. It makes it much more difficult for me however for it is so much more difficult to keep clear records of where each specimen was collected.
And oh Darling! What specimens I have found! One is in particular the exact shade of your eyes and I confess to gazing upon it with such wistfulness as to make the expedition doctor question whether I was suffering from a fever. Fear not, for I am only heartsick for you, my sweetest one. Another species that I have seen in great abundance are a gorgeous aubergine color that is so like the very color of the wallpaper in our favorite sitting room. They gather in clusters in trees and look like flowers. I have done a few watercolors of them, but I fear I shall never do them justice.
Tonight and tomorrow we rest here at camp and then we will make our trek through the dunes to the oasis village. Until then, my love, look upon the moon and think of me.
With you always in my heart,
Your Most Devoted Lepidopterist
Mod
Mod
