February 17-19, 2016 - Days 43 to 45 - Sea Days

These three days have been spent cruising not far off the Australian coast. We are headed for Darwin, Australia. This took us past coral islands and reef areas as we transit the region of the Great Barrier Reef. When we rounded the northern tip of Australia, we entered the Torres Straight. This narrow body of water lies between New Guinea and Australia. It is a heavily trafficed area with significant currents. Our reef pilot boarded several days ago. He will be with us until Darwin. He has really earned his keep directing us through safe channels.

The sea has been our friend. There is minimal motion as we traverse with gentle swells. The sun shining on the islands makes for excellent viewing. Even though ship traffic is usually high in this region, we seldom saw another vessel.

We continue to enjoy the shipboard activities, entertainment and the companionship of many fellow passengers. After six weeks at sea we still meet new people. Some of them were with us on one of our Grand South America voyages. We continue to be amazed at how at home we feel. Time just flies by.

Today, the 17th, I found yet another opportunity to keep busy. There is a knitting and needlework group that meets at 10:00 every sea day. I kept hearing about Stephen and Russell. I must see the three dimensional house that Stephen is doing in needlepoint. So today Alice and I went to see it. It is amazing. As we oohed and aahed, Russell called us over. He explained that he and Stephen owned a needlepoint shop in Philadelphia. I asked if they had a good book to teach the various stitches. He suggested that A to Z Needlepoint was excellent. He asked why my interest. I explained that sitting in a closet was a project I had bought many years ago. I had taken a class in needlepoint to get me started on this, but I never followed through with it. Russell was very encouraging. He told me if I would like to start again he would give me a kit he carries with him, and get me started. Just call his stateroom and we could schedule a time to pick it up.

I called Russell on the 18th to find out if he could give it to me tomorrow. He said it is not that simple. Tomorrow is fine, but this is not a simple hand off. He would give me a class to restore my confidence. I should meet him in the Explorers Lounge needlework area at 9:30. Agreed.

On the 19th we met. The kit is a nice HAL symbol. He explained yarn selection and showed me how to  prepare the thread in the proper length. Next I learned how to thread the needle, and start the thread. Finally he showed me a simple stitch and a couple of ways to use it. He started teaching another gentleman, and I started stitching. At the end of my first thread he showed me how to finish it off by stitching under the completed stitches. I kept stitching. Soon it was 11:00, and I had to go. This was fun.

While we were stitching, Russell explained that he had set up the shop for Stephen, as he was the accomplished needlepointer. Russell has a tremor, and had never done needlepoint. Working in the store, customers often asked to see his work. He eventually tired of explaining he did not do needlepoint, and learned how. To his dismay when he is doing needlepoint, the tremor disappears. He is very committed to spreading the craft. He is extremely helpful and supportive. The others, who needlepoint, are as well. According to them I am doing great. I love it.