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Published: October 27th 2017
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When Kate was in the shower this morn , she asked me what it was like out. I replied , snow covered mountains and rain. She made the comment that we did not need to travel 4500 nautical miles to see this!
Just a few minutes after I commented on the lack of civilization , we crossed paths with a small fishing vessel and the then overtook a 30 ft sail boat motoring along. What the Hell are they doing here! i suppose they could ask the same question of us. The channel is opening up and the low cloud is dissipating, time for a beer.
Captain just advised us that we could expect nice cruising conditions for the next few hours, entering a very narrow, shallow channel , the Summer Channel. The ship would slow to less than 5 knts to navigate this area. There is a deep low pressure area developing , which will be producing winds to 50 knts. This will be happening in open waters and we will be subjected to more amusement rides and some listing of the Zaandam. So far its been just all part of the adventure , but there
is not a lot of room for error here.
The summer Channel entrance is punctuated by a pair of markers, the Zaandam needed to negotiate between these in the shallow waters. Kate and I were on the bow of the ship watching the navigators performance. There was literally 50-75 ft on either side of the ship at its widest point. We came in at a 30 degree angle then they swung the ship to the right as the bow entered. It was a nice handling job and I am sure they have practiced this maneuver a few times, maybe even in their sleep. It was accomplished at a very low speed < 5knts.
Cruised past the wreck of a cargo ship which had misjudged a turn , an ugly reminder.
Kate was chosen to play a Battle of the Sexes game , the girls won and she was presented with a bottle of Champagne. This is only day 5 of 16. Easy to get into a groove. Hot tub , wine , nap , dinner, wine, sleepies.
Observing ice is not something I would have thought could be
captivating. Well , the line of hanging glaciers that ran along the North side of the Beagle Channel in an area rightly named Glacier Alley kept us riveted . Photos are just not going to capture the majesty of these. We took a bunch, each time believing that what we had seen could not be equaled, only to be proven wrong around the next bend. The blue colour that I had previously mentioned , which is opalescent, is explained as a result of the weight
Of the icecap squeezing out all the oxygen over 100's of years.
Listening to a pianist and violinist playing arrangements of Classical music , waiting for Kate prior to our 8:00 seating.
Punta Arenas gave us a fire at a Chinese Restaurant, the Political ramblings of someone on a soap box, a drum band that were not protesting , just having fun and a bit of a fair , complete with the Fire Dept washing cars for charity, using an 1 1/2 line.
Thats 100 gallons a minute they were using! Nicer city than what we had expected , Town Square, complete with Penguin mascot , well
thats what we thought it was.
Kate bought a very attractive wool Poncho , that she said was super cosy. We stopped for a beer and WIFI, neither was very good. Always drink the local beers, usually they are fine. I am reading an historical novel about the Spanish presence in Chile. The Captain General leading the small army South from Peru was named Valdivia. In support of his accomplishment I drank a beer named Valdivia. Just the way I roll.
On a note , the driest recorded area in the World is in Chile's Atacama desert , which he choose to travel through , with calamitous results
Looked in all the stores, did not go up the hill to the viewpoint.
Tried to go into the Cathedrals, but they were all locked up, the story is people were stealing things.
Kate has a bad cold, so I imagine I am next. How could that happen , we only, wash our hands 132 times a day.
The End of the World, Ushuaia ,Argentina. Most southernly city on the planet. A stop off point for 90% of people travelling
Punta Arenas
Traded the engine for 3 healthy chickens to Antarctica. Lovely city, fairly modern, fantastic vista. Imagine a city , much larger , but Banff like , resting on the Pacific Ocean. Oh , yes I guess , like a very small Vancouver. Oh, hell , lets start over. How about if Halifax had 13,000 ft mountains behind it? Reminded me of Switzerland a bit.
It was a Sunday and local elections day , so other than what we thought was a parade, same cars cruising around and around the 2 main streets, there was not much going on. We did like it here.
Tomorrow , maybe around the Horn , the Captain has been very non committal on the route we will attempt. Depending on the low pressure system developing , with the associated weather. We could be forced to stay in the protected inner channel.
This could also affect our route to the Falkland Islands and whether we will attempt it or not. We will find out tonight.
Well , at 0545 we were up and viewing the landmark Cape Horn , seas were very good and we were treated to a great look. Everyone was out on
deck, and it felt like a bucket list moment. Not as cool as climbing the Great Wall , but a solid second.
There have been 1000 shipwrecks in the attempt at transiting the Cape , which have been recorded. Now I can have a gold earring inserted in as a result of being a Horner , or I can put a foot up on the table at dinnertime! Since we passed then reversed direction and passed a second time , both ears and both feet
Now either we are becoming jaded or the starting lineup are not in the game. The quality, of the meals seem down. Last night 4 of our group of 6 sent their food back. Kate pre-chooses her dinner as a result of her onion allergy. They are great at looking after her but none of her dishes ever has a sauce so It all tastes dried out. Breakfasts ,though , are very nice. Good assortment and nicely prepared.
I have a new favourite . There is a mechanized hand washing unit up by the Hamburger Joint. 15 seconds of warm , swishing , pressurized water complete with infused conditioners. I want one for Cristmas. It looks like a glass beading cabinet Anyone!
You reading this Kate!
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