DOLPHIN DAYS

Yesterday was work day, I spent most of trying to sort out the disaster that is the remainder of our trip - cancelling hotels, car hires, speaking with trip organisers, the whole nine yards. Today was day of rest, up later, leisurely breakfast, lecture on the battle of the Atlantic, paying tribute to the health workers around the world then after lunch a restful lounge on our balcony. It's nice warm & sunny and our doze was interrupted by a large dolphin school (see, they're not all shut down) several hundred, all spinning and jumping & putting on a show for us. Just to calm down we had to have strawberry daiquiris. Our captain Leo always gives us one of his grandfather's anecdotes. Today was, don't forget Leo, you are very special, just like everyone else.

GOOD NEWS VIEW

Well, we're finally off. That's us powering 22 knots away from Chile, after 6 days enforced stay. We found it difficult to get the medical supplies required for the journey home. Apparently we are making a stop at Manta, Ecuador(I think) to pick up medication. I gather it is insulin that is needed. Captain Leo advises we should arrive in San Diego on 30 March. Fingers crossed. So far we are still well & handsomely provisioned & entertained.

ECLIPSE THEME SONG

Otis sings...

Sittin' in the morning sun
I'll be sittin' when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch them roll away again, yeah

I'm sittin' in Valparaiso Bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm just sittin' in Valparaiso Bay
Wastin' time

I left my port in B.A.
Headed for San Antonio Bay
Cuz I've had nothing to sail for
And look like nothing's gonna come my way

So, I'm just gon' sit in Valparaiso Bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm sittin' in Valparaiso Bay
Wastin' time

Looks like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, listen

Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone, listen
Two thousand miles I roam
Just to make this port my home, now

I'm just gon' sit in Valparaiso Bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
Sittin' in Valparaiso Bay
Wastin' time

LIMBO...

that's the land, not the dance. Well we sailed up from San Antonio to Valparaiso once we were not allowed to enter harbour. We have dropped anchor, but are still not allowed to dock. All the Chileans got off. You can see the guard boat keeping an eye on us. The Azamara Pursuit in the same situation has been following us around. I hear they're on their way to Miami. Because we are not docked, refueling a provisioning is all from barges which a difficult & slow process. To make things worse our provisions were in the wrong port & it has been slow getting them transfer & customs cleared. This has been  going on for 2 days but the captain announced this should be complete overnight and we should set sail to San Diego USA, where we have permission to dock. What happens when we get there is anyone's guess. Bussed to airport & straight on evacuation plane or quarantine on Alcatraz. There is a sort of wildness on board with lots of odd costumes - it's certainly very lively.

WHAT NEXT........?

Well, no sign of us getting off. The Captain reports he is preparing to sail elsewhere. Meanwhile mood on ship is good, food hasn't run out yet, the drinks are all free, the internet is free, entertainment continues while the rest of the world has gone nuts. It has the feeling of Nevil Shute's book On The Beach. Weather's good, sea's calm, what more could you ask. (Perhaps I could dance a bit better)

HELL IN A HANDBASKET

B2Backers lost their run to San Diego, the ship cruised up to San Antonio, we were due for early off for city tour and then airport drop off. Rudely awoken by Captain on tannoy advising the ship had been denied entry to the port & we had been circling the port since 2:30 while negotiations were conducted. I then received email saying Peru was cancelled, the gov FCO said no travel to & from Peru & USA, our next destinations, Hong Kong was to put us in 14 day quarantine as was Australia. Japan seems OK, just can't get there! Free booze, WiFi & phone to get things sorted, let's see what tomorrow brings. One woman went trekking in Puerto Montt yesterday & fractured her wrist. Off to clinic, then Santiago for flight home. Now that's what you call a lucky break

TURMOIL WITH A CAPITAL TEE

Yesterday, Puerto Montt, today turmoil. We started off with bucketing rain that cancelled our tour up the the volcano and waterfalls, road washed out. So after some debate on the coach we went for the alternative of German village, town of roses and the fish market. All were great. We had coffee & German kitchen in the village which had been founded by Germans I'm the 19th century. Lutherans in a catholic country - wow! It was very nice there with an opera house on the banks of the massive lake, 50 klicks wide with the volcano on the opposite bank, but invisible in the cloud. I think it is really a Chilean marketing ploy, it doesn't really exist. The town of roses, Vargas was also very scenic, but the real star was the fish market. This was the proper job, local fishing boats quality fish, smokers, massive shell fish & they were selling veg - monster garlic & potato varieties you will not have seen before. All in all a lovely place. The turmoil, that's for tomorrow, cruise cancelled for b2backers ...turmoil.