From far South

Birdwatchers Anonymous | Home | Icebergs

20 December 2005

by Nathan, onboard the Esperanza

©Greenpeace/Sutton-Hibbert

First of all, thanks to those of you who've written back with nice things to say about these postings - it's good to know folks are actually reading them, 'cuz I know they're sometimes quite long. For me, it's nice to write because I don't keep a journal and I'm sure after this trip, it'll all get blurry fast. So if you feel like dropping a line and telling me what's up in the world (George Bush resigned, the Seahawks are leading their division, Bill Richardson lead a 5.11 at Seneca, etc,) that'd be just lovely. Even though I'm slow to reply, you just wouldn't believe how nice it is to get an email when you've been at sea already for over a month and don't have television, the morning paper or much of a grapevine!

I hate to be such a boat obsessed geek, but the biggest news from here - as far as I'M concerned at least - is that, after a solid month of work, I think the Billy G. is finally fully ready to go get 'em. A lot of work has been done, but I can't tell you much about it 'til we engage the whalers. The boat came to Cape Town in fine shape, but fitting it for the specifics of THIS work, both in terms of making her match up with the ship operations as well as tricked out for the whalers, made for a long list of things to do. For those of you who know the boat, I think you'd raise an eyebrow over what she looks like now. As we say around here, she's been "Monster Garaged". I still want to paint flames on her somewhere, but I'm thinking my colleague Dan might not be too keen on that...and don't worry Dan: we did all of it with very few little alteration to the boat itself.

More of the crew has had time at the wheel and many have gushed afterward about just how fine a boat she is, in her handling and stability (we took her out on a pretty rowdy day again for about four hours last week and had a wild, wet, good time working against the ship. This time, neither the boat nor any of the crew took much of a beating). I've probably said it before, but I just love this boat. I enjoy working with all of our equipment, but it's cool when you get to work with something in a way where you've covered almost every inch of it at some point and come to know it almost personally.

Comments

Your enthusiasm is wonderful. Look forward to seeing pictures of you skimming through the waves on your Billy G. in due course!

Life in UK is obsessed with the loom Christmas event.. and anything commerical you could wish for.

Enjoy your peace.

Bobby and Cogs

Posted by: Bobby and Cogs at December 20, 2005 11:50 AM

in israel everything's the same. goverment being one big mess, prime minister had a stroke (but he's fine), winter finally decided to show up (more or less).

good luck to you all, it really is a wonderful thing you guys are doing! i'd join in a heartbeat if i could.

Posted by: Alina at December 20, 2005 7:10 PM

Well guys - you asked for news of the outside world, so here's some bits from today's Guardian (London)

Same Sex Civil Partnerships (not quite marriage, but equalising much in law) are now legal in the UK and happening all around the country.

Yesterday Elton John and David Furnish tied the knot publicly.

Saddam Hussein claimed in court that the Americans have tortured him in jail.

England's cricketers finally beat Pakistan in a one day international (the last of the series) - but Pakistan won both the five day and one day series.

Both British and Americam climatologists claim that pollution in the atmosphere is slowing the rate of global warming. They warn that as we clean up our act, global warming will accelerate and climate change become more dramatic ... but they reckon that is prefereable to all the lung conditions humans would develop if we stay dirty!

Some US school athletes (football, baseball etc) are now to be tested for steroid use ... it seems that drug abuse now starts right down there.

A Pennsylvania court has ruled that Intelligent Design may not be taught in schools governed by its jurisdiction.

The US Senate has blocked a Republican plan to allow drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife REuge ... but it was close.

Here's a surprise - emissions of global warming gases in the US have more than doubled in the last 14 years.

Lincoln City won a soccer match and Robert Hohn Martin Halls says hi to Luke.

Would you really like more in a few days' time?

Posted by: Bobby and Cogs at December 22, 2005 6:29 PM

All updates from the Southern Ocean whaling 2007 leg »
All updates from the Pacific transit »
All updates from the Mexico leg »
All updates from the Hawaii leg »
All updates from the Pacific leg »
All updates from the Philippines leg »
All updates from the India leg »
All updates from the Red Sea leg »
All updates from the Mediterranean leg »
All updates from the Azores leg »
All updates from the Pirate Fishing/Africa leg »
All updates from the Southern Ocean »

Avast ye land lubbers! The ocean critters need your help!
Take action today!