Day 13: Anchoring the Golafruz
Mark, Wesley, Richard and Peter decided to wake very early at 4 am, to be able to see the moon and the sun in the sky (as it was rising at the same time). The moon has been waxing since we left and is due to be full tonight. After waking and looking out our cabin window, I realised that they probably did not get the spectacle very well as it was cloudy. All morning we had rainy weather, so it will be quite difficult to see the first land form a distance. At approximately 1pm, we could just make out the outline of land in the clouds, although it was very faint. Two little boats were visible in the surrounds.
It’s 14:30pm and we have just entered the anchorage area. Mike has risen from the dead and is out trying to grab the first cell phone signal. He gets one and phones his Mom, It’s her birthday today. She burst into tears at hearing his voice. After that, a short call to Jolandi, his wife. Signal is not very good and my phone seems to be struggling to get one. It’s the middle of the night in Australia anyway, so I must wait a while. I sent an SMS anyway as the signal comes and goes. Shaun and Mike are talking excitedly about beer and coke. It’s amazing what you crave after a journey, all be it that we have been well looked after. We are so spoilt in normal life – being able to get what we want, as we want it. There are 10 or so ships at anchor, and we are hoping to be close to the harbour so that tomorrow will be a quick trip to the key side.
The land is still shrouded in clouds, so it is hard to appreciate the beauty of the Brazil coastline. As we get closer, a yellow speed boat approaches us and a gang plank is lowered. The pilot and new Captain climb on board, as well as an agent to sort us out. He explains that he needs our passports and that Golafruz will come into harbour early tomorrow morning and that his driver will drive us to the airport or hotel as we require. He then heads back to the boat.
In the meantime, the others are busy getting the captain’s body ready to be taken ashore. They all left a little later and the crew was very quiet for a while. One, because their beloved captain had been taken and two, I think they were aware that they had a new captain on board and did not know how he would act towards them.
At lunch Shaun Verster gave his head lamp to the 2nd officers son who was travelling on board. We did not see him much but when we did he would come and shake our hands and I am sure found us fascinating given that he is 5 years old and probably had not met foreigners before. In the evening, another ceremony took place, where Peter dressed up in his red wet weather gear and took a small sail bag into which Wesley placed an Ucayali he had brought with him and salvaged from Trekker. The crew had informed us earlier that when Peter had climbed over the railing after being rescued that the little boy also named Amir had said “oh look its father Christmas” because of his read coat and grey beard. Peter pretend to rummage in the bag and pulled out some socks first and shook his head before reaching and pulling out the Ucayali and giving it to the boy. A nice touch to end our cruise!
Quote of the day: “Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
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