Part 6/10:
The reality of the maritime life crushed Pete’s romantic visions of adventure. The ship was a cramped, fetid space where sanitation was a luxury. The food consisted of grim gruel, often inedible due to spoilage or contamination, and the conditions mirrored those of the worst animal pens back home. The fervor of adventure waned as the stench of unwashed bodies and human waste became an unbearable norm. Many of his fellow crew members succumbed to various ailments, and the sea’s unpredictability shadowed them daily.
Weeks into the journey, Pete experienced the grueling "doldrums," where the ship seemed immobilized and morale plummeted. The promise of reaching the Cape of Good Hope became a beacon of hope, a chance for fresh supplies and a brief respite from the oppressive conditions aboard.