Today’s Chronicle can be found here.
I managed to sleep past 7 am for the first time this trip, no doubt helped by the 30 minute timezone shift. Perfect timing, as it gave me enough time for a leisurely wake-up before the Restaurant opened at 8 am.
Very quiet this morning – perhaps our fellow passengers have managed even longer sleep-ins?
Bacon and eggs for the kids this morning:
And sausage and eggs for myself:
My wife had the healthy bowl, but I was too slow to get a photo. Strong service again this morning, with my morning cappucino arriving before I could even finish ordering.
Off for our usual round of reading / writing / homework, slowed slightly by the need to edit video clips together. This might be the strongest argument in favour of an underwater enclosure for my Nikon Z7ii – fewer videos to edit!
At least they put out a proper spread in Panorama for those who require second breakfast:
There’s a fantastic range of lectures on the docket today, though only my wife managed to make Alex’s presentation on the archaelogy of the Marquesas. She was surprised to learn that in 1774 – just as European contact was starting to occur with any frequency – the population was around 100,000. Disease, warfare, and migration reduced the population to just 2,094 people in 1926. Today the population is holding steady at around 11,000.
Off to trivia! We’ve added another two members to our group, increasing our geographic diversity to include the United States. Also, Silversea has developed trivia-specific note paper:
Fun Fact: This note paper is responsible for 74% of recent Silversea price increases
We were surprised to learn that the three colours of amethyst – other than purple – are yellow, pink, and green. Huge kudos to Bruce for being able to solve the riddle – the first word means the day before, the second word means to cease work. Combined they refer to a travel destination. (Answer: Everest.)
We managed another podium finish, tying for third place. Off to lunch – more sushi, rounded off with a short rib baguette (not pictured).
Back to the room to finish up with video editing, and then we were off for Chris’ lecture on palm trees and coconuts.
We will be seeing some very rare palm trees during our visit to the Marquesas, including the Pelagodoxa henryana of Nuka Hiva. I’d also never considered the way in which palms propagate – coconuts float, and that’s how they have moved from one island to the next and have become the prevalent palm tree. Except for the ones deliberately brought to new islands by people.
Back to the room for a bit, along with a couple of sea day snaps:
I’d been planning to spend some time on deck looking out for wildlife but there isn’t nearly the range of seabirds that we’d seen when we were in the South Atlantic, nor have we seen much in the way of whales or other large marine life.
Back to the Explorer’s Lounge for Malcolm’s lecture on birds:
I was quite interested to learn that most of the birds from Pitcairn and to the west came from Australasia, while eastward from Pitcairn was colonized from South America. Malcolm ran through some of the bird life that we might potentially see over the next few days – the Nuka Hiva imperial pigeon is considered a “mega tick” for bird watchers, while the Juan Fernandez fire crown is the subject of Malcolm’s favourite ever photo:
Image Credit: Wikipedia – this is just a readily accessible picture of a firecrown and not Malcolm’s favourite photo
Also interesting to learn that Polynesians are believed to have traced the path to New Zealand by monitoring the flight of the cuckoo.
I also discovered what has since become my favourite bird name – the Juan Fernandez tit tyrant:
Image Credit: eBird.org
They even look a little bit tyrannical! Also, adorable.
Off for golf putting:
It was challenging this time around, due in part to the limited time we had before our 5 pm expedition briefing. But we still managed two full holes. Soraia also gave both participation points and points for holes-in-one, which was deeply appreciated by the recipients of her largesse.
Off to the briefing! Tomorrow we will be landing at Hatiheu, Nuku Hiva Island. There are four excursions on offer – a welcome celebration and a visit to the local archaelogical sites, a strenuous hike to the top of a nearby viewpoint (4.2 km and roughly 650 feet elevation gain), an extra-strenuous hike to the nearby viewpoint and then on to Anaho Beach (6.8 km and 1,425 feet elevation gain), and kayaking.
My wife has opted to take the kids out on the strenuous hike – they would be able to handle the extra distance down to the beach but it’s expected to be hot and buggy, so better to err on the side of caution. I signed up for kayaking, though part of me wonders if I would be better to go hiking instead. We’re definitely spoiled for choice here!
Recap time. Sarah explained how mushroom corals are capable of ‘walking’, they can move up to 220 mm every 2 hours (or 1.2 bananas per hour):
While Damon reiterated that this was our best and only chance to spot the Imperial pigeon for mega birdwatcher bragging rights:
Back to the room for a quick shower and to change, where I was utterly distracted by tonight’s sunset:
Then off to the Captain’s Welcome. They served some lovely canapes:
The event was then opened by Entertainment Hostess Soraia:
And the Captain introduced the heads of each department:
We were fascinated to learn that Captain Freddie Ligthelm was the captain of the Agulhus when it discovered Shackleton’s Endurance in Antarctica. He also has a perfect record for making all landings on this particular itinerary – a rare feat given how difficult it can be to land at Pitcairn.
We’re hoping his record holds, though as all Silversea Expeditions guests are aware – the captain handles the ship, but the guests are responsible for the weather.
Off to our first dinner at the Restaurant! Tonight’s menu:
The kids each had the tomato soup to start:
While my wife had the curried squash soup:
And I had a small order of the mahi mahi curry:
Then my wife and I had the tender steak Rossini for dinner:
And for dessert, my wife had the cheese board:
While I had the strawberry creme brulee:
It was all very tasty. I never would have come up with the taste combination of strawberry cream and mango sorbet, but it genuinely worked.
And again, excellent service tonight – everything went very swiftly.
Off to bed, with a brief pause to check the notice board – where I discovered that I was not only on the list for kayaking tomorrow, but that there are only two of us. We’ll just have to see how that goes!