"Still there are some chances..."

Somewhere out there, there is a list, with people's names on it, slowly being worked through.  How long is it, and who are the mad globetrotters that make it up, that is anyone's guest.  It is truly fascinating though, how a trip that was so completely off your radar last month is now viewed as essential, and has left you in an odd funk as you wait with thumbs held and fingers crossed as the provisional numbers grow less and less.  Marijke the latest contact from the ether to keep you posted. You can only wait and hope that this dream is not in vain.

The idea of it - a combination of three long dreamed of trips in one startling 3-4 month swoop.  The thought of it alone will surely skate you right through this winter.  And how wonderful would it be, to take that ship to the Weddell Sea and then welcome it back into the home port of Halifax a few months later?  That's the big, spectacular dream to shake off the cobwebs of the weary day-to-day life.

Time to get up again.  Coast into another lazy day of nothing, and the second last of the Energy law lectures.  Even that is set up nicely for one more trial next fall before handing over the reins.  I just need a few people out there to hesitate, to postpone, to fold up their interest and pave the way for you to give yourself the very best of Xmas presents.  Oh man.  Patience and optimism, sayeth Shakelton.  100 years ago.  That's the mantra, please Gods let it come good.

2,523 views

That's Cam T's latest for my favorite of all YouTube videos.  If only I could remember the original, from years ago, but that is still pretty few.  Tough night Giants, another last second loss when we should have won but oh well.  Antarctica and such things to come.  Tough times for Paris, how would people of old have reacted?  I don't know.  I'd like to think with less certainty.  But this is an ice (a nice) existence, contemplating future walks.  Will we hear again from John Healy?  Will we see the Northern Lights?  How long might the Belize kiss last?  Aye.  How many views until the next time, and how many be yours?

Miscellanous Wait Listing

So dear Liza does not want to make any predictions to be honest, which leaves you stuck (more than 460 days out) on a list that will hopefully grow shorter.  It is the type of development that only makes the commitment the easier to make when it comes. 

Surely with this much notice they can squeeze the solitary coarse traveller in.  Having seen this option thrown into your frame of reference so far ahead of time, the only way I see it not working out is if you are destined to wait until 2018 to make it happen.  I suppose that would not be the worst outcome either, and motivation to line things up over the next 11 months to confirm the booking upon the schedule's release?  Two years is a much longer wait than one, and while some other tall ship options may be open to you in the interim, I think the stars are too aligned in this direction to allow for any retreat now.

In the spirit of waiting, some drafts cleaned up on the blog, leaving a few quotes worthy of being added "in this space", to quote a witness and his testimony on day 1 of the job that in years to come you will scarcely remember.  Such is the reason for the chronicling.  Leaving puzzles for the memory to work out from the mundane.  First, various words from the master - not Friday of old as per usual, but since I'm hitting the road for home in a few hours, it might as well be: 

"But I must make fair weather yet awhile,
 Till Henry be more weak, and I more strong."
 - Henry VI, pt. II, V, i.

Yet awhile. Patience in waiting for the moment.  Fitting. 

"Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed
 The dear repose for limbs with travel tired;
 But then begins a journey in my head
 To work my mind, when body's work's expir'd."
 - Sonnet 27

Yes, the exercise manifesto has begun anew.  Tired limbs and dreams.  I like it.  Now for a discussion on flies from Aesop and the Bible.  Neither to be admired, but we will be hoping to avoid any for the apothecary's ilk in relation to the proposed cruise.

The fly on the coach-wheel - one who fancies himself of great importance, one who is in reality of none at all. The allusion is to Aesop's fable of a fly sitting on a chariot-wheel saying: "See what dust I make."

The fly in the ointment - the trifling cause that spoils everything; a Biblical phrase: "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour; so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour." (Eccles. x, i.)

And lastly, an old classic.  There may be no keg available on 03/17/17, but if you smuggle one or two on board, you just might be in a shocking place to Let the beer see the sky (but not too long!)  "He was good to his dream...  So he'd fly further because it meant... he'd get to fly longer.  And why not?" 

Haha, of course.  C'mon Liza.  It must be done.

"Senator Brockes"

The castle looked tremendous on departure.  A perfect morning and views from the Lunenburg harbour, Blue Rocks, and then again from the Ovens despite the closure ("Sir...")  Dreams of the open sea alive and well.  Of course they are. 

I keep coming back to the need for a plan, since the summer and the end of the time shared with A.  The inspiration offered by RR, and need for something epic and worthy of past efforts.  Today, in my laziness, I may have stumbled upon it.

Mindless searching of the realty options, over the past year, but at the depths of it surely that is more heart-ache than it is worth.  The Tancook plan is fundamentally a lonely one, and I wonder if a nice spot on a lake somewhere (a la Rafters or the Bluff ones) is not a wiser approach for the money required.  More fundamentally, though, the rush may not be there if the next departure is a short one.  A(nother) last escape before the true exodus? 

It has been on my mind all day, helped on by the colourful map conveniently set out on the desk.  This plan, which may just be feasible.  You start from the premise that this winter/summer are set - NL arbitration, into the Euros.  Back in July with 6 months to kill, and hopefully some work to make up some solid numbers.  In late December '16 (or earlier if needed), notice given of the plans for an escape from the Halifax winter to...  (most ironically) Antarctica. 

Heh.  The more you turn it over in the mind, the more it resonates.  Starting with the W, and then a passage from Drake to the Drakensburg.  Deception Island.  Shakleton's grave.  Tristan.  From Mythical Cape Horn and Good Hope.  Yes.  And a bit over a year to prepare and look forward.  464 days, says the web, until the start of the planned journey from Ushuaia.  I sent in the optional request form today...

April is one of the best times to hike the Otter Trail, which needs to be booked a year in advance.  Fortunately, you would be well on notice.  April/May is also ideal for the Traverse.  There is flexibility here.  Leave at the end of the year and use January to get to Easter island, even.  Or wait until February and return in mid-April at the earliest?  But I think you would take the money from January and run until the end of May, buddy passing it home from the British Isles.

As ever you look for signs.  The Champions League Final is in Cardiff on June 3, 2017.  Monday, June 5, 2017 would be a hell of a return to work day, 5 months after a tour of the South and back to the boat.  You wouldn't need to have it finalized.  You could wait to see the extent of time that made sense.  But if the salary is set properly, you would have enough.  And postpone the inevitable, serious decisions out into 2018/19.

The old Europa, named for dear Senator Heinrich.  Has my ogling of your compatriot leaving Lunenburg waters left me on the verge of a hefty spontaenous purchase that I might come to regret?  How could you, though.  YOLO, as they say.  Haha.  Let us see what the return email has to say.  There are a few dollars coming in on the class action front.  In two weeks time, that might prove enough... for another mighty fine Christmas present to yourself...