Chronic Negress

We are all in wind down mode with a few heading to bed early last night anticipating a rough night. It wasn’t too bad but I was glad I had taken medication. The call came over the ship’s PA to remind us there was a half hour left for breakfast. We found out more things about sea ice and the differences between the Poles (take home message: North is sea surrounded by continents; South is continent surrounded by sea). Brownyn, our Tasmanian geologist, showed us some interesting characteristics of sea ice from her honors research at the Australian Antarctica station. Damien talked about the mass slaughter of whales and seals during the peak years of economic exploitation of the continent.

Andy, ozzie passenger, Kate and Bronwyn relaxing

For me, it’s as though I know I have to wake up and get away from this dream and back to the life I am starting to know. Without being too bloody literary, this trip marks an end and a beginning. After 28 years in daily print journalism, something new is about to happen.

I brought along some musical favorites this trip. The first items to be deleted were three volumes of Phil Collins era Genesis. No great loss. I also managed to download Sufjan Stevens’ “Seven Swans” twice. Ooops. Favorite good night albums, “Raising Sand” with Alison Krauss and Robert Plant and “Release the Stars” by Rufus Wainwright. Lyric of the day: “I’m so tired of America” from “Going to A Town” by Rufus Wainwright. Perhaps there’s a new America waiting when I get back.