I'm sailing away! Set an open course for the virgin sea.

On December 8, 2009, the Africa Mercy set sail from Cotonou, Benin.




The gangway being loaded. We are officially all on board.




We got to leave work to watch us set out. From the left: Kendall, Chelsea, and me.

One of our tug boats. This one was on the bow.

The other tug boat.

That massive space between boats there was our berth.

This is the pilot boat. It pulls up along a special hatch where the pilots that steer the ship out of the harbor can get out.

Sailing into the sunset. They opened the bow for us to sit on.




Me, staring off into the evening.