I think I owe Poseidon an apology. We pulled out from port today, to brilliant and warm sunshine. The kind of weather we'd been missing ashore. I got my camera to photograph some of the buttes in the distance. Jungle on the coastline, desert inland, that's Australia.

I finished taking photos, and started talking with LCpl T_, who also has the photo bug. While chatting, I was looking idly into the water... when a pod of dolphins surfaced for air! They weren't playing or leaping, but they were only perhaps 200 meters away.

I took some photos, until they dived and did not return. Went back to the shop, and duty called. We had to move all the aircraft on the flight deck. For each aircraft, we undo 20 chains, let the ship's Aviation Bosun's Mates tow it to the new position, then put the 20 chains back on. This gets tedious quickly.

Suddenly there were cries from the starboard catwalk. A whale surfaced no more than thirty meters off the side, so close we could see the scars and barnacles. It blew twice, and dove again.

So, Posidon: I apologize for criticizing your realm. While the scenery leaves something to be desired, your subjects were most welcoming today.

Posted by: Boviate at 03:44 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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