Somewhere in the Indian Ocean

Day Something or another – In the Indian Ocean off the Coast of Oman           

BIG NEWS!!! I have started adding in some photos - the technology gods have finally let me in.  I will try to add something to each page before long.

We have been at sea now for three days with 2 more to go before we get to Dubai.  We are finally starting to unwind and have been spending time with a wonderful couple from Scotland. I am getting my Scottish burr back and Dale is laughing at me.  They split their time between Scotland and Spain and are great fun (not to mention fun to listen to as they are from near Glasgow so their accents are thick to say the least! They are busy tempting us with invitations to travel Spain with them.

We are now in the Indian Ocean having come through the Gulf of Aden last night. Since late Tuesday we have been accompanied by various military watercraft – frigates, destroyers and once even a carrier – from the international group that is patrolling these waters. We are also on blackout restrictions from 6pm onwards when the ship goes ‘dark’ so as not to be spotted by would be pirates. Apparently the situation is stabilizing though it is obvious that it is still taken extremely seriously. The last attempt was nearly a year ago though there are 2 or 3 cargo vessels still being held for ransom in Somali waters.

The pirate issue should be behind us late today as we enter the Arabian Sea and head to the Persian Gulf.  Entering the Indian Ocean means that we have now sailed on every ocean in the world except the Arctic Ocean. We have now also traveled to all continents but one – Australia.  It will be very difficult to combine those missing pieces into one trip! Weather has been fair though windy. The ocean and the air are both about 26˚C, the humidity around 70%. 

We are now working very hard at total relaxation as the end of this trip is now in sight. Just to keep us from melting entirely into useless puddles we are also doing some laundry today (just in case you think we are total bums…). Tonight is Robbie Burns night so there may be a wee bit o’ scotch tasting and haggis worship goin’ on.  Haggis, neaps and taties are on the menu in the dining room (neaps – is turnips and taties is potatoes). Beyond that we are looking forward to just sitting back and watching the world go by. We reach Dubai on Sunday and start the process of flying home on Tuesday. We will cross the International Date Line on our flight home so Tuesday will be around 32 hours long. UGH! On the other hand – all these hours they have stolen from us during this trip we will get back, which is a bonus.  Interestingly, we will be flying East from Dubai meaning that when we get to Calgary we will have gone entirely around the globe (and in less than 80 days!). 

I can only imagine the reception we are going to have in Regina when we are reunited with the Mutt…

Till later -