March 22, 2020, Fremantle, Australia “For the first time in our marriage, when my wife offered me one of her tranquilizers last night, I took it,” said a lap swimming buddy yesterday afternoon as we were working our frustrations in … Continue reading A Chaotic Ending*
March 21, 2020, Fremantle, Australia We were lolling along at 12 knots toward Fremantle when all of a sudden Amsterdam picked up speed and started racing along at 22 knots. Captain Mercer came on the horn saying that we were … Continue reading Waiting
March 18, 2020, Off the West Coast of Australia Last night we crossed another time zone, the last one we will cross on this ship. We’re gone as far “west” as the ship will go. We’re lucky that we took … Continue reading Practicing Gratitude
March 16 and 17 2020, in the Indian Ocean off of Australia “…as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there … Continue reading Chaos Theory
March 14, 2020, Cruising off the North Coast of Australia. As the elevator door opened, I heard one of the staff say to a colleague who was holding a box of pencils and pads of paper for trivia “I’m not … Continue reading The Ides of March Come One Day Early.
March 12, 2020, Cairns, Australia Rain, Old Testament rain. The slight rain in Townsville was just the preview for the heavy rains Cairns. We went to Great Barrier Reef HQ in Townsville as kind of an insurance policy. It was … Continue reading Ersatz Reef
March 11, 2020, Townsville, Australia In our lectures we’re warned of several different types of jellyfish with stingers that can cause a range of reactions from discomfort to heart stopping paralysis. Then there are crocodiles, sharks to eat you, fish … Continue reading Things Here Can Kill You!
March 8, 2020, Sydney, Australia Two years ago, two days in Sydney wasn’t enough, we explored “The Rocks” the original part of town, did the Opera House tour, explored Circular Quay, went to Bondi Beach, had tea in the Queen … Continue reading The Australian Trash Bin Bird and Other Downtown Delights.
Sunday Sydney Ferry. March 8, 2020, Sydney Harbor The ferry sails through fleets of Sunday sailors in every sort of sailboat. There are hundreds of them, sometimes tacking and heeling over like some sort of synchronized ballet regatta. There was … Continue reading Sunday on the Ferry
March 9, 2020, The morning after Sydney, Halfway home. Sydney marks the halfway point in our journey. The second day in Sydney was the 64th day of our 128 day ‘round the world cruise. Marked in time zones we’re 9 … Continue reading Halfway Home? Who knows?
March 7, 2020, Katoomba, Australia. Our family likes playing a game called “Empire Builder, Australian Edition” where we get to build track to different Australian cities, collect loads, deliver tourists and have our tracks wiped out by sandstorms, bush fires … Continue reading Wilderness Theme Park
March 7. 2020, Sydney Opera House Two years ago, we stumbled on Badu Gili, a projection of animated Australian aboriginal art onto one of the sets of sails on the Sydney Opera House. I found a flyer tucked into a … Continue reading Water Light (Songlines)
March 4, 2020, Bay of Islands, New Zealand. After our ride with Geoff I checked out the boat tours of the island. Holland America offered such a tour in the morning; it costs about $80 and lasts for 2 hours. … Continue reading A Cultural Misunderstanding
March 4, 2020, Waitangi and Paihia, New Zealand Geoff, our cab driver is from Sheffield, England and still talks with a Yorkshire accent. It is tempered enough by the other places where he has lived to make it understandable, but … Continue reading A Town Character
March 3, 2020, Auckland, NZ Last time I was in Auckland, two years ago, the area along the waterfront and for a few blocks up Queen Street was torn up for renovation. Auckland is renovating its entire waterfront and we … Continue reading A-Maze-In’ Auckland
March 5, 2020, Sailing in the Coral Sea “Where are we going, I don’t know. Where are I headed I ain’t certain. All that I know is I am on my way.” Allen J Lerner and Fredrick Lowe from “Paint … Continue reading Where in the World are Suzi and Rich? — A New Game.
March 2, 2020, Waiheke Island, New Zealand It’ the soil and the climate, so says a brochure about Waiheke Island, about 40 minutes by fast ferry from Auckland. The soil is not fertile, but it is mineral rich. According to … Continue reading Wine Island
March 2, 2020, Waiheke Island, New Zealand You don’t always need to go to Havana to see a car like this. I saw this beauty in the Thomas Batch winery parking lot on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. It’s a ’57 … Continue reading Stylin’ in New Zealand
The elephant in the room has finally spoken in the voice of Captain Jonathan Mercer. He gave his normal sail away announcement and then paid tribute to the medical staff who negotiated with the Tongan officials to let us land … Continue reading We hear from the Elephant
February 28, 2020, Kingdom of Tonga. February 28, 2020, Kingdom of Tonga. I set the alarm for 7. It went off when my phone thought it was 7 but the ship’s clock thought it was 6. Ship’s clock wins but … Continue reading The Friendly Islands
February 27, 2020, Sailing between the Cook Islands and Tonga. “There’s a sign over a bar saying ‘It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.’ Well it’s Wednesday somewhere.” That’s how Father Lew opened the service. Pastor Bruce added “Welcome to Ash Thursday.” The … Continue reading Velvet waves on Ash Thursday
Last night we celebrated Carnival, Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday; and then, with the tick of a second hand, Fat Tuesday flipped over to Thursday as we turn our clocks ahead 23 hours. Ash Wednesday is consumed by the International Date … Continue reading What, No Lent?
… not Roto-Rooter February 24, 2020, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. A shipmate was asking the confused woman behind the excursion desk about tours on Roto-Rooter. Finally, the light went on, “You mean Rarotonga.” Now I can’t unhear it. Avarua is … Continue reading That’s Rarotonga…
February 22, 2020, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia As a kid the legend was that Tahiti was supposed to be paradise on earth, it was sung about, movies were made about it and lots of ‘50s doo wop era motels on … Continue reading Heaven or Hell?