Day 16 - 12/05 - Scenic Cruising Down the Amazon

It was a lazy day at sea (actually in the river!). I've picked up a head cold with lots of congestion. I only did five things today and refrained from people contact.

Ian's morning coffee chat was with the Flyrights who are tonight's entertainment. It was a lively time with this energetic group. Ian then presented the first of two canned talks. This one was on the Panama Canal and I wish it would have been a topic more appropriate to the Amazon.

Off and on it was a great time sitting in the Crow's Nest watching the river banks pass by. Since we are sailing downstream, our ground speed is much faster than our water speed due to the current pushing us.  

In the afternoon Ian presented a canned lecture on the Bermuda Triangle. Again this would be a better presentation for after we leave Brazil. Then it was more windshield time where I could finish my Tom Clancy novel.

Promptly at 4pm as the Captain indicated would happen, the two pilots left the ship by climbing down a ladder and jumping on to their pilot tender boat that matched the Volendam's 10 knot speed and clung close not unlike a nursing animal. When both pilots and their gear were aboard their little craft, it broke away and sailed back to Macapá and we resumed our cruising speed. Later tonight we'll have to reduce speed as we cross over the Amazon River bar.

The good news for today is that we didn't get stuck on the same sand bar as we did on the way up.
 
Our evening entertainment was the Motown group, the Flyrights. They were super energetic and well received by the crowd. They are probably the best Motown group we've ever had had on a ship. Afterwards we watched the movie, The Lost City of Z which was pretty good about an early Amazon explorer. 

Tomorrow is a sea day after cross the Amazon River bar. Stay tuned.

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