Monday, December 4, 2006
8:00 a.m.
33˚ 36’ 45” S
073˚ 23’ 44” W
At sea between Valparaiso and Puerto Montt, Chile
What pleasure to wake up at sunrise at sea, pick up binoculars, and on the very first look out the window spot a Black-browed Albatross gliding over the whitecaps. Rarely a greater joy and sense of gratitude than, upon reaching the open deck (bundled in coat, scarf, and hat), to spy also shearwaters, small petrels, and finally, an enormous and magnificent young Wandering Albatross sailing on its tremendous bowed wings.
No one else was on deck at the early hour of seven. No one was there to hear my exclamations of “Good morning, good morning!” to the beautiful ones arcing gracefully over the waves. But I thought of good friends, who would be with me in exultation were they here, and of the unsuspecting guests who will soon hear me gush and swoon on stage (and TV) as I report my findings on this first morning of the first full day of the first Cape Horn cruise of the season. Alleluia! Glory be to the Tubenoses of the Southern Oceans!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment