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13 March 2006

Nearing the Equator: Apprehension on Board...

by Dave, onboard the Esperanza


©Greenpeace/Walsh
From Mike's article, you can tell that tension is rising on board the Esperanza. Hushed secret meetings on corners of the deck. Cardboard tridents found littering the cutlery rack. The model of the Esperanza - usually accompanying the Arctic Sunrise and the Rainbow Warrior on the map of the World - is now stuck to the Messroom clock. Egg timers, tridents, starfish and other stuff have been chalked on the blackboard, as well as references to Neptuna boats.

Out in the alleyway, the duty whiteboard is similarly scribbled on, with messages about poor Pollywogs (see photo above). A notice for a 15:30 fire drill is adorned with tridents points. Highly suspicious...

Last night, I stumbled across another Shellback meeting on the bridge wing - what are they plotting? I get an uneasy sense that the salty Shellbacks are going to falsey accuse us poor Pollywogs of crossing an imaginary line - the equator.

Apart from our watertight defence case, us Pollywogs have a surprise in store...


- Dave


Shellback: Someone who can certifiably prove that they have sailed across the equator before
Pollywog: Someone who can't

History of "Crossing the Line" »


Plotting Shellbacks
©Greenpeace/Walsh



Fire Drill? Really?
©Greenpeace/Walsh

   

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Comments

Ok.....we want a full description of what actually happens when you cross the equator...(and photos!)

Posted by: Rose at March 13, 2006 5:24 PM

OK - I've never sailed across the Equator, but I did stand on it at the Equator monument in Ecuador. The earth didn't tremble - was kind of fun to stand with one foot in Northern Hemisphere and other in Southern Hemisphere. A friend took a funny photo.

Glad you are enjoying the trip. Learning lots from reading the posts.

Posted by: echo at March 13, 2006 6:49 PM

Photos are a must! lots of them

Posted by: Ange at March 13, 2006 6:51 PM

Can anyone tell me what the lizzard thingie on the webcam was? (http://frummel.demon.nl/Esperanza-webcam8.jpg)

Posted by: WJ at March 13, 2006 8:08 PM

Hello guys,

beware Pollywogs Neptune is watching you!!!!
All the best for this campaign and I wish you a wonderful trip
See you soon I hope
Alain

Posted by: Alain at March 13, 2006 8:15 PM

that was the lizzard.... it's our pet walking all over the wheelhouse. We can find him everywhere and i guess today he wanted to enjoy the view and participate in the crossing jajajaj

Posted by: espy at March 14, 2006 12:48 AM

For Sale:

One row boat good for ramming ocean liners and oil rigs.

Posted by: Skipper at March 14, 2006 1:38 AM

Hello little polywogs! Be afraid! Be VERY afraid! Muhahahahahaha!

Here's some pictures from my second equator crossing (Sept last year). Thankfully this time I was a shellback! :

Over here

Posted by: Abri at March 14, 2006 6:20 AM

have a nice day!

Posted by: Maria Farmer at March 14, 2006 2:14 PM

Beware pollywogs neptune is watching!lovely reporct!!!

Posted by: mirtys at March 15, 2006 1:56 AM

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