Noon Report:
- Location: S 44° 15.80′, E 161° 46.80′
- Speed: 15.0 knots
- Couse: 276º
The serious rockin’ and rollin’ continues. Big swells are typical for this part of the world and the ocean isn’t disappointing in that regard. Out on deck this morning I stoped a number of times to try to capture some of the good spray on video. It seems that whenever I get my phone out the sea calms down and we gently roll along, until I put the phone away and the seas get exciting again. However, while I had the phone out I did manage to capture an Albatross pacing us off the port side.
An amazing bird, the Albatross has a 6-9′ wingspan (depending on the species) and the ability to ‘lock’ his wings in position so he can glide for long distances without using muscles.
Eventually I caught a good example of what we’ve been plowing through:
There was a 10:00 emergency drill for the crew so the schedule today is a bit off.
The normal 9:30 lecture was at 9:00. Our Resident Historian took us on a brief journey thru Australian history from “Dream Time” to the discovery of gold.
Following the lecture we retired to our cabin to nap (Cheryl) and do computer stuff (Randy).
11:00 saw us back in the Theatre for a slideshow of Australia from space.
After lunch it was back to the stateroom for a bit – publish yesterday’s post, do a bit of texting, nap (Randy), and get ready for her massage (Cheryl).
Rested, refreshed, pounded into a quivering mass of “Oh that felt Good!” we took in the Port Talk on Hobart (where we’ll be on Saturday).
Then things got busy.
The 6:30 lecture was an overview of wildlife – their development in this isolated land and what we’ll be likely to see (and hopefully not get killed by) in the next couple of weeks.
Quick dinner
8:00 – BBB – We scored 21/30 and came in third – again.
9:00 – Lecture by Russell Lee:
10:00 – Star Gazing
11:00 – Drop into bed and get ready to do it all again tomorrow.
TTFN, R
Cheryl’s factoids:
- Aristotle predicted that there must be a great southern continent to balance all the land mass in the northern half of the planet – so voyagers were constantly looking for it. Australia turned out to be so big it is the same width as the continental United States and has almost as much land mass!
Upon watching you video the waves being crashed thru, I saw a lady walk around you. Made me think … do you walk the deck the way we run on a track in the US, meaning go straight and turn left at the corner … or go straight and turn right at the corner (seemed this was how she was walking)?
Also, do people walk to the right or left in a hallway and on the decks???
Things I ponder!
Ponder away! But remember that this ship comes from Norway.
Having said that, here’s the sign posted on all exterior doors.
You can interpret that to mean “Go out the door, turn right, and begin walking.” or “Stay to the right so that people will pass you on the left.” By convention we do both. I can see how that would confuse someone used to running on a US track, but you’d get used to it. Consider it an opportunity to strengthen your left leg (’cause being on the outside it travels a longer distance).