MANY FACES

Five days continuous cruising the high seas. Ever-changing landscape. No life but the beating heart of this mighty ocean. Calm and stormy faces. Welcoming and threatening. Sky and sea embrace, perfect linear union. Unreachable horizons tease us. Gentle rocking. Unsteady gait. Tomorrow the promise of Tahiti, the romantic image of a green jewel fringed by golden sands and swaying palms, of grass skirts and orchid leis. Papeete and Moorea, the twin paradise islands of French Polynesia.

At the halfway point of this voyage as we sailed beyond the Hawaiian Islands 🌺, the frenetic activity of getting up early and getting off the ship suddenly stopped. There were things to do, but that was punctuated by more eating and drinking and our bodies sent out the signals to take a break. Living in air conditioning 24 hours a day was having an impact, too. I would describe it as a form of ‘cabin fever’. We had some alcohol free days and reduced lunch time eating. I got back in the habit of some circuits around deck seven rather than have a nap. Getting off in Papeeete and Moorea over the next two days will be good therapy as well.

We have been attending some lectures every morning at 9.00am from Russell Twomey, a maritime historian based in Darwin. https://www.nauticalhistory.net/  He is very interesting speaking on topics like unsolved mysteries of the sea, historic shipwrecks, the golden age of piracy, and today he spoke on the Bounty Mutiny from the diaries of Captain William Bligh. We look forward to his remaining lectures.

And Michele has taken a class on making a lei from Orchid flowers. Very impressive!

We continue to meet the most interesting new faces at dinner each night and today we enjoyed lunch with a couple originally from Ireland but living in Melbourne for some time. My good friend Ian will be pleased to know M could not help repeating this Irish joke compliments of our great friend Charlie McAlister (who has only recently died).

A huge fire had broken out in Saudi Arabia and the Sheik sent word for the famous Red Adair to help them control the  fire. But he failed miserably. Someone suggested that perhaps Green Adair  from Ireland could help; so he was engaged with the promise of $1M reward if he could put out the fire. Green Adair and his men, equipment and green firetruck soon arrived at the top of a hill overlooking the fire. Then the truck hurtled at great speed down the hill, crashed into the burning oil well and the fire was extinguished. The Sheik was delighted. Handing over the cheque for $1M the Sheik asked Green Adair, “What are you going to do with all this money?” “Well”, said Green Adair, “The first thing I’m going to do is get those bloody brakes fixed on the truck!” 

Ah, to hear that joke in Charlie’s Irish brogue was side-splitting. His jokes live on! Our New Irish acquaintances enjoyed it too.