Sunday, February 28, 2016 – We are still savoring the amazing experience of Tahiti and Mo’orea and the sail away last evening past the coral reefs with the surfers and boating people. The Philip Hitchcock Magic show last night capped off an amazing, dare I say Magical, day.
Today being Sunday, we attended the Church service by the Captain Kevin Oprey, followed by a fascinating lecture on Papua New Guinea (PNG). Tim Flannery worked in PNG for 2 decades during the 1980’s and 1990’s and discovered some 25 new species of mammals. He worked in very remote areas where locals had never seen Westerners and brought us, so to speak with him, on a fascinating trip of discovery. Some of these animals include – Giant echidna, New Species of Wallaby, Giant Rat, Bulmers fruit bat, Weimanke, Tenkile, Dingiso, Flower faced bat Guadalcanal, Woodlark cuscus, Taki monkey-faced bat, Samoan flying fox and others. This was followed by a particularly interesting talk, which was the first in a series, by Mick Dawson. I am sure Markus has heard of him and perhaps knows him. Anyway, he was an ex Royal Marine who with his brother rowed across the Atlantic as part of the race that takes place every 2 years. He has subsequently rowed across the Atlantic in the race a few years later and a third time. He has also rowed across the North Pacific single handedly, but failed when is boat capsized. he has subsequently been successful with a partner to row across the North Pacific (www.189days.com) and is the only pair to have ever completed the trip, holding the record and the Guinness Book of Records entry. This first lecture was about his first row across the Atlantic Ocean from Tenerife to Barbados. The day was packed with fascinating talks as the next one was by Melvyn Bowen an expert in Maritime history who spoke today about Captain Cook’s first voyage to this South Pacific area of the world and more.
Monday, February 29, 2016 – The day again was filled with knowledge and some time for the gym, where Nelson put me through my paces. Graham Howell did a Port lecture discussing Bay of Islands, New Zealand – Our stop between Auckland and Wellington and the area where New Zealand was founded. Melvyn Bowen (form the UK, but living in New Zealand) spoke about Captain Cook’s second and third voyages of exploration. Dr. Andrew Adam (Dr. Death as we have come to call him as he speaks on matters of Life and Death) gave a very amusing talk of “Laughter in Medicine” recounting many incidents where laughter is used by doctors to relive both the patents as well as their own tension, giving us many anecdotes that had us all in stitches. The evening show was a man / woman acrobatic act – Ilia and Olesja – “Power of 2”. The opening act was she being a rag doll and he moving her around. We were all convinced that the doll was inanimate and not human, but were proved wrong, thus was the brilliance of her performance. They continued to astonish with their outstanding feats to the amazement of all. The program correctly states – “The duo resent poetic pictures and passionate movements that merge with one another to create harmony, power and elegance in full development.”
Tuesday, March 1, 2016 – (Clocks 1 hour back) – Today is the day we cross the International Dateline at 2:04 PM – See discussion below (March 2). Lectures include another Graham Howell port lecture, this time on Wellington, New Zealand. Melvyn Bowen spoke about Mutiny on the Bounty. This was doubly fascination as we are exactly where the story takes place, having passed Pitcairn Island and also stopping in Tahiti. The second reason was Melvyn’s direct personal involvement. The ship “The Bounty” was at anchor in Tahiti for some 6 months and had the task of getting breadfruit and bringing it back to feed the slaves working the plantations. During this 6 months the crew became very involved with the locals on Tahiti, including Fletcher Christianson (Chief Mutineer), taking himself a local wife. Soon after the crew was brought back to the ship to set sail, they mutinied, setting the Captain and some others afloat in a small vessel and they returned to Tahiti where others that did not want to mutiny were left ashore. The remaining 9, with wives and local men, set sail for Pitcairn island which had not been fully documented on the navigational charts and afforded the locals a place to hide out and live the rest of their days. Today Pitcairn has a population of 42, all descended from the original inhabitants and has a flag that shows a wheelbarrow and a bible – The only flag that shows a bible. The reason for this is that the 9 who mutinied over time died off or jealousies arose and they killed each other. When “The Bounty” arrived, it was stripped of everything and the wooden frame dismantled and sunk to avoid detection. The only boot that remained was the Captain’s bible. When they were down to 2 plus the Tahitians, one could read and the other could not, so he was taught and read the bible from cover to cover. He was convinced of its importance in their lives and set about having all residents to undergo daily bible reading. thus the importance of the bible and its inclusion on the flag. Now to Melvyn Bowen’s involvement. David Lean, the great director was to film “The Mutiny on the Bounty” and insisted on the ship being built exactly (at least all visible parts) as was the original. He spared no expense to get the exact replica down to the last detail. Melvyn was instrumental in the manufacture and was to play the part of the captain. He went as far as taking the replica of “The Bounty” for sea trials and put it through its paces, thus Melvyn really knew all about how the original might have handled. Unfortunately, David Lean was replaced and thus Melvyn did not get to play the part in the final picture.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 – The day that did not exist – We crossed the International Dateline at 2:04 PM at 30 degrees 28′ South and 172 degrees 30′ West. Thus at that precise moment Tuesday at 2:04PM became Thursday 2:04PM, eliminating March 2 from existence. Sorry Robin, your birthday this year did not exist!!! Normally the dateline is at 180 degrees and thus exactly across the world from Greenwich, London (the 0 meridian). However, due to the many islands and their dependencies, the Dateline snakes its way from North to South around the 180 degree Longitude. All very confusing and for practical purposes the ship changed the days at midnight, going from Tuesday March 1 to Thursday March 3. We will actually be at the 180 degree mark just before getting to New Zealand on Friday March 4, 2016.
The lat talk was by Mick Dawson on his solo attempt to row across the North Pacific Ocean from Choshi, Japan to San Francisco in 2004. He had gone 100+ days and was going well, when he was hit by a wave of a large vessel that capsized him. He was able to summon help from the US Coast Guard and was picked up by a large vessel. He was egged on by all to make another attempt which he did, but will go through that on another occasion. In the evening we were invited to a champagne and caviar party given by the Captain and Senior Officers for the World Travelers, where Capt Oprey gave us a summary of the voyage thus far with all the issues and such that occurred since Valparaiso. He touched briefly o the incident of the passenger who had to be let off in Easter Island, but gave no further details.
Thursday, March 3, 2016 – The program reads overnight you should have “Set your Watches forward 24 Hours”! A quiet day, allowing time for catching up on writings, picture organization etc, There were only 2 talks we attended – Graham Howell’s Port lecture on Sydney and Mick Dawson’s talk on a rowing across he Atlantic with a total stranger. An individual wanted to compete in the row across the Atlantic, but his partner fell ill the day the race was to start and went home. He went to the bar and met up with Mick, who agreed to row with him and so they did the crossing. He explained all about the pitfalls of not knowing what you are doing on this type of voyage and the importance of having the right equipment and discipline. The Magician gave a Matinee performance and Katie Clarke played to piano, but we missed both of these.
Friday, March 4, 2016 – Arrive in Auckland, New Zealand for a 12 four excursion into the countryside and Rotorua and the Sulfur Springs.
Roger & Anne Travels 