March 28 Summary and Analysis

After having worked very hard collecting the last few days, everyone sleeps in this morning. Steinbeck gives a defense of relaxation and laziness as a positive process that allows for greater enjoyment of life and the rejuvenation needed for more focused effort later on. He provides examples of nervous make-work for the sake of activity, ranging from obsessive-compulsive behavior to people starting wars. With this rationalization in hand, they enjoy their leisure until nine am, when the Western Flyer gets underway once again, sailing toward Concepcion Bay. Schools of tuna and swordfish leap all around them, and they are successful in catching many tuna, but not the swordfish.

The come within sight of Mulege, which they have heard has unfair port fees and malaria, so even though it looks enticing, they don't stop in there. Along Concepcion Bay, there is a...