Sunday, August 29, 1915

Turned out at 5:30 to scrub decks. The morning was a fine one again, and the sea was very smooth. The BU was almost hull down behind us, and the Ohio was dropping slowly behind; however she caught up with us and later forged ahead of us. We sailed along the coast of Nicaragua nearly all day, until we left it at Cape Blanco. The coast is mountainous and tree-grown - so much different from the barren, sandy coast of California. At the point of the Cape is an island, bare and white, which probably suggested the name for the point, Blanco. We have increased our speed, varying from 75 to 84 turns. We are trying to get in before Tuesday I believe. I had the 4 - 6 watch in the steering engine room. After supper I heard it was raining - so Mack and I went out on the quarterdeck for a fresh water shower. It was pitch dark, save for the intermittent flashes of lightning that made the quarterdeck light as day for an instant; and it was raining hard enuf to wash off suds fairly fast - a fine driving rain it was, warm, but not too warm to lose the feeling of freshness for us. We enjoyed the fun immensely - and appreciated the bath equally as much. The port watch was on deck tonight, but I lost no time turning in at ten. The rain still continued but slackened perceptibly. The Bu was still on the horizon before I turned in; the Ohio was abreast of us.