Land again!

I write this as we enter the Beagle Channel after our voyage across the Drake Passage. The sea is now calm and the temperature has risen. We have about sixty miles to run until Ushuaia at the tip of Tierra del Fuego. It is strange to see bare land close to the ship; we are no longer in the continent covered by snow. Ushuaia is our first port stop for ten days and will be the first time that I have needed a wallet since then!!

This morning the aft of the boat was a great place to observe petrels and albatrosses. There were more birds following the ship than at any time during the voyage. I was encouraged by one of the expedition leaders on the ship who told me how difficult it is to capture good shots of seabirds. About one in ten are successful, the remainder comprise of vistas of sea.

I did venture to the gym yesterday afternoon and had the bizarre experience of watching a preview of Yeovil v. Manchester Utd while rocking up and down at the bottom of the world.

 Last night was a formal dinner, which meant suits and ties. Thomas’s penguin tie received many admiring glances; I could have sold a few on this cruise. My better entrepreneurial idea though is sea-sickness bands disguised as jewellery. So many of the ladies on board had wonderful dresses and jewellery on but were compromised by ugly grey elastic sea sickness bands. You heard it from me first. The dinner was excellent and we spent it with two Australian couples who were excellent company. Indeed one has got me to partner him in the putting competition this afternoon, I think he thinks I may have talent. I have already worked out the problem, at Augusta the greens do not move; here they go from side to side.

I have also found out what Sir. Tim Rice and our good friend Bill Scott have in common, they both support Sunderland Football Club. I had a short discussion about the merits of the Championship with him!!! These Mackems get everywhere.

Well it is Australia Day today so we are having a typical Aussie Pie for dinner this evening. Not sure what that is, but apparently it comes with mushy peas!