Equator
As we approached the Equator today the skies darkened and the heavens opened to provide a tropical deluge, enjoyed by several guests who remained on deck reveling in the chance to take a refreshing shower in what had been a sultry day. More drama was to follow. "Afternoon tea" turned out to be hot dogs and canned beer but if that wasn't drama enough a stern announcement from the Captain summoned all guests to the aft deck to undergo clearance formalities as we prepared to transit from one hemisphere to another. The emergence of King Neptune (Ian Bullock) from the poop deck flanked by Queen Hermaphrodite (Jim Kelley) sent a shudder through the assembly - particularly the sight of the latter - and soon the ship's Captain arrived carrying a roll of ship's papers. It was soon apparent that the ship would not be allowed to progress northward until all "pollywogs" - novices amongst us who had not crossed the Equator by ship before - had undergone an initiation ceremony. As the rest of us were anxious to stay on schedule, we had no compunction in handing over all "pollywogs" in our midst to the ferocious pirates whom King Neptune had brought with him, one whom (photo) looked suspiciously like our AEL. With Davy Jones emerging from his Locker (David Cothrane from the Pool), the ship's hairdresser (with scissors and giant razor) and doctor (with giant syringe) operated on their victims, who were also obliged to kiss a fish and - by all accounts, the worst aspect of their treatment - the feet of Queen Hermaphrodite before being plunged into Davy Jones' Locker. In other words a merry time was had by all, especially spectators!
And so it has always been for those who go down to the sea in ships. Charles Darwin, who sailed these waters in the last stages of his circumnavigation of the globe, was amazed that stern, unbending Captain Fitzroy, the man who had hired him for company because he was unwilling to be on familiar terms with his crew, was transformed into a pantomime King Neptune to preside over an afternoon of frolics as HMS Beagle crossed the Equator. Maritime traditions and superstitions, many now centuries old, are alive and well in the twenty-first century, GPS or no GPS. And with the aid of the latter, an announcement was made, as we entered the dining room for dinner, that we had successfully crossed the Equator. It had been another eventful day at sea.
As we approached the Equator today the skies darkened and the heavens opened to provide a tropical deluge, enjoyed by several guests who remained on deck reveling in the chance to take a refreshing shower in what had been a sultry day. More drama was to follow. "Afternoon tea" turned out to be hot dogs and canned beer but if that wasn't drama enough a stern announcement from the Captain summoned all guests to the aft deck to undergo clearance formalities as we prepared to transit from one hemisphere to another. The emergence of King Neptune (Ian Bullock) from the poop deck flanked by Queen Hermaphrodite (Jim Kelley) sent a shudder through the assembly - particularly the sight of the latter - and soon the ship's Captain arrived carrying a roll of ship's papers. It was soon apparent that the ship would not be allowed to progress northward until all "pollywogs" - novices amongst us who had not crossed the Equator by ship before - had undergone an initiation ceremony. As the rest of us were anxious to stay on schedule, we had no compunction in handing over all "pollywogs" in our midst to the ferocious pirates whom King Neptune had brought with him, one whom (photo) looked suspiciously like our AEL. With Davy Jones emerging from his Locker (David Cothrane from the Pool), the ship's hairdresser (with scissors and giant razor) and doctor (with giant syringe) operated on their victims, who were also obliged to kiss a fish and - by all accounts, the worst aspect of their treatment - the feet of Queen Hermaphrodite before being plunged into Davy Jones' Locker. In other words a merry time was had by all, especially spectators!
And so it has always been for those who go down to the sea in ships. Charles Darwin, who sailed these waters in the last stages of his circumnavigation of the globe, was amazed that stern, unbending Captain Fitzroy, the man who had hired him for company because he was unwilling to be on familiar terms with his crew, was transformed into a pantomime King Neptune to preside over an afternoon of frolics as HMS Beagle crossed the Equator. Maritime traditions and superstitions, many now centuries old, are alive and well in the twenty-first century, GPS or no GPS. And with the aid of the latter, an announcement was made, as we entered the dining room for dinner, that we had successfully crossed the Equator. It had been another eventful day at sea.
