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2023 Ends Near the Screaming 60s

Updated: Jan 3, 2024

GA Day 25 (cruise day #9) - When writing my last few blogs and reflecting on where I have ended up with this incredible journey, I was thinking about the Dr. Seuss book I had been given by Silvia Wilson, associate dean at Douglas College, when I graduated with my masters degree. In retrospect, it was quite a prophetic gesture given all that has happened since 2005 - onwards to my PhD in Montreal (and Ottawa), work (Kingston, Antigonish, Saint John, and Winnipeg), and travels hither and yon (cruises throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and to Hawaii plus a few car and train trips). Sadly, Silvia passed away while I was doing my PhD and so she would not know where I have gone; an irony of this is this cruise will end in Silvia’s home city of Buenos Aires, on January 6, 2024. Silvia - we shall toast you when we land in Buenos Aires (or maybe do an Eva Peron moment on the balcony at Casa Rosada) ☺️


So the place for today is Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet, so roughly the 56th parallel south which is about the same as Prince Rupert, BC, or Grimshaw, AB, is north of the equator. Contrary to popular belief, the meeting of water at this junction of the oceans is not a violent collision of waves and currents - it is rather seamless, although at certain times of the year (especially winter) the passage here can be quite treacherous. But today the waters were relatively calm, more of a rolling action than choppiness, and the sun kept breaking through; according to the onboard naturalist this is fairly rare as often it can be quite foggy.


The estimated time for rounding Cape Horn was to be about 6:00 a.m., but like a kid waiting for Santa I found it impossible to sleep near to that time. When one eye opened at 3:00 a.m. and saw the morning twilight off the port side (I will never sail without a balcony!) it was time to don sweats, hoody, and stable footwear to cross the outside deck. Camera, cell, and computer in hand I headed out to greet the day. Because we are so far south, sunrise is extremely early (full sun about 5:30ish) and sunset is about 10:30ish but there is no real darkness here given the earth’s tilt.

Once again the twilight provided a visual treat with the contrast of colours from sea to clouds off the ship’s bow - the lighting was amazing! And off the bow the waning full moon was absolutely brilliant dodging through the light cloud cover. But the winds were amazing at about 30 knots/hour (55 km/hr) necessitating caution with the slick decks…hence the sturdy footwear 😁



And as full dawn broke Cape Horn came into sight; the tip of an archipelago at the southernmost point of the America’s. By now the naturalist was narrating the history of the islands and how the Spaniards first discovered the Pacific walking across the Panama isthmus and then Magellan, a Portuguese explorer sponsored by the Spanish crown, navigated through the passes to the north. Cape Horn was actually discovered and named by a Dutch explorer for a town in the Netherlands…Hoorn; but in translation an “o” was lost so it became the Spanish word for “oven” 🤷‍♂️ But when you look at the rocky topography a case could be made that it kind of resembles a rhinoceros horn 🤔. In any case, here we are on the last day of December 2023 sailing through the winds of the Furious 50s (round up and it is close enough to be the Screaming 60s).

I guess it was kind of like screaming my way through those last few years of my 50s to begin the current decade - many challenges and frustrations getting to this point, but also many accomplishments and much to be grateful for along the way. I certainly would not have challenged myself to complete a PhD and to take the risks of moving had it not been for the love and support of Jean, whose patience, words of encouragement, and wise counsel has kept me plodding along (maybe not always in a straight line, but nevertheless forward). This trip of a lifetime is largely due to that support, since we had always dreamed of doing a cruise around South America. So I am especially grateful to be sharing this part of my grand adventure with Jean so that he is able to realize this aspiration ☺️ And there have been other special people, great friends, and some family who have also been incredibly supportive and helped me get where I am today (I shan’t name names as I will not risk forgetting someone or implying a hierarchy…but if you are reading this, you know who you are!).


With many more hours still left in the day to reflect and a promise not to do any work today (🙈), I will leave a wish to everyone for a smooth closure of 2023 and all the best for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2024 🤗❤️

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