We enjoyed Magic Castle at Sea yesterday afternoon. We had a voice mail to remind us to arrive early. We arrived about 15 minutes early and took the next to last pair of front row seats. We wound up heavily participating! We didn't catch this magician's name but he was funny so it wasn't too bad. I enjoyed him the best of the shows, but Clay argued his magic wasn't as good. We'll have to disagree.
We ran into some larger swells early yesterday evening. The seas calmed back down overnight and this morning but somehow my equilibrium hasn't gotten out of whack and I'm struggling with keeping my balance. Hopefully another calm, restful day will get me back in order for tomorrow's tender rides.
Reflections tells us that today, 3/20, is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall here in the Southern Hemisphere. You'd need to be told as there are no signs of seasons out here that I can see. This notice was part of the announcement that we'll have another try at hosted stargazing from 9 to 11 pm tonight. There was a brilliantly clear full moon last night. It was magical reflected on the vastness of the Atlantic. I don't know if that will help or hinder stargazing, but fingers crossed for no or light clouds this time! We turn the clocks back another hour tonight so even though we have an early start tomorrow, we can stay up later tonight without losing sleep.
At noon, the captain announced that we had just crossed the Greenwich Meridian. We'll be in St. Helena on schedule. He is cautiously optimistic that we'll be able to tender ashore. Fingers crossed! It would be next to tragic to sail there twice and never set foot. Though in 2001, the locals came aboard Crown Odyssey and brought a box of soil so we could set foot. As well, a postal employee came on to sell stamps and accept our mail. So tomorrow we'll find out whether we make it or not.
So after the 2 written warnings about hardships faced on our ship's excursion to St. Helena, today we also received 2 voice mails about it. One to remind us of no A/C and the other to warn us to expect sights visited to be overcrowded. I guess the overcrowding will be on Crystal's responsibility. Anyway, still hopeful we get ashore at all.
Tonight's Reflections has a reminder that in Dakar, Senegal instead of our originally scheduled 11 pm departure that now all aboard is 6 pm for 7 pm departure to a petroleum pier for refueling. I don't know if those boarding in Cape Town are learning this for the first time or not. I suppose they could have been notified before they left home but that seems unlikely.
It is only partly cloudy at sunset so we're planning to try stargazing again this evening. We're running out of time in the Southern Hemisphere.
Little Bob hits the road
Little Bob hits the road
