steamed East down the Beagle Channel, following a couple of large steel or
aluminium yachts. The channel is wild treeless place and the people who live
in the few houses along the banks must get lonely in the winter.
The government insists on a pilot although the crew reckon they could easily
navigate the channel. But it is $10,000 to the cash strapped Argentina so
why not. The pilot got off down a rope ladder into a very small boat that
would be no fun in wild weather.
The wind was light and the channel calm. By early morning we were well into
the Drake Passage and it was rolly but not at all dramatic. No danger of
falling out of bed yet. We have a following sea and the wind is only a force
4 gale. It's cold but not freezing. The sky is pearl grey and the sea almost
blue. Little white caps all around but no properly breaking waves. The
Sydney - Hobart sounded worse. There are albatrosses following the boat and
when they were announced this morning we just had to look out our cabin
window to see them. But we haven't seen any other wildlife yet. Except the
people. There is quite a mix and I remember Jenni N saying how cautious one
must be in befriending fellow passengers.
We can't get internet any more so the email traffic will be all one way from
now on. And no more photos til be get back to Ushuaia on the 7th when I am
sure there'll be a deluge!
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