Hobart II

Hobart II

Back aboard, still beautiful out.  Large dinghy fleet out racing, probably forty or more.  In Sydney we walked by one of the sailing clubs, lots of guys my age racing dinghies and obviously have been for years.  These boats have been out for at least three hours.  Beautiful breeze.   There is a terrorist boat coming by now.  There are a couple of smaller ships docked right near us.  Foreign writing on them, I believe they are Antarctic ships because Hobart is advertised as the jumping off point for the Antarctic, pics to follow.

Beth here.  We were  just about to leave Hobart, Tasmania and I was drying my hair in my cabin (Larry was near the bridge of course for our departure) , when I heard this man's voice behind me and I just about jumped out of my skin.  It was the Captain telling us on he  PA that we're leaving and we will expect 4-5 metre seas as we cross the Tasmanian Sea.  We will be running with it, so the boat is going to roll.  SWELL!  Just when I get my sea legs this has to happen.  It looks so calm right now.  We will be at sea for 4 nights and 3 days.. Oh, oh!  I stopped taking the scopolamine patch because I thought I was doing so well.  Drat!  If you don't hear from me it's because I've jumped ship.  Can't we stay in Hobart a little longer?
Beth -this Feb. 8th ( your 7th) and day 5 on the ship.  Today was Immigrations and customs day.  The officials come on board and process 3,000 passengers on the ship as it would take too long on land.  We can't believe how strict they are.  They inspected our shoes and found a seed on Larry's  shoe so the inspector put it in a specimen jar to analyze it.  Absolutely no food is allowed to come off the ship.  Good for them.  I think we should be just as strict everywhere.  That is a good debate

Seas are pitching but not as bad as I thought.  I did some laps around the ship for exercise and I could really feel the bow lifting.  Sent my companion to do the laundry and I must say the devil (Tazmanian) must've been in him.  Quite a bit of reluctance to do this on his own , so I said hop to it because this old gal cannot be in a small enclosed space. He he!
Only 16 degrees today and blustery, but I love it.  Sitting here on my own deck with a cafe latte enjoying the sounds of the sea and the sunshine.  I wonder when Sun Ling will be finished doing my  laundry.  Is this politically incorrect?

 These two crazy guys have a thirty minute TV show every morning about upcoming events they're really quite good and very funny.