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#30 Memories of the Amazon
Posted: March 29, 2015 in Cruising, general, P&O, Travel, UncategorizedTags: Adonia, Amazon, Amazon River, Cruise, Cruising, Devils Island, Macapa, Meeting of the Waters, Mrs Me, P&O, pirahna, Podge, Rail travel, River Negro, Santarem, Tapajós, The Amazon, Travel, vacation
This trip to the Amazon was to be my third, the 2nd for Mrs Me, but the shortest. On previous trips, we’d sailed (on a cruise ship of course, I’m not that adventurous) up the Amazon (calling at Macapa) all the way to Manaus visiting Parintins and Santarem en route plus an overnight trip to Ariau Amazon Towers [some love it, some hate: – we love it], a kind of jungle lodge on stilts. This however the itinerary this year would be just Macapa and Santarem, to see the meeting of the waters and do a spot of piranha fishing. We were however due to do a ‘sail by’ of Devils Island as we came out of the Amazon (future Post).
The following is effectively a re-post [with slight alterations] of an earlier one in February but this time with pictures (displayed randomly) 🙂
As always, visiting the Amazon was to be the highlight of our trip, this time consisting of two days sailing along the mighty Amazon River and a day spent ashore at in the town of Santarem, located as it is, on the Tapajós River.
As we crossed the sandbar into ‘effectively’ the Mouth of the Amazon, we were still 60+ nautical miles away from the nearest lands! Yet even here, the water had turned into the muddy brown colour for which the river is well known.
Our first port of call, which was actually a 2-hour stop in the middle of the river, was at Macapa: This was to allow immigration officials and river pilots to join us, for the duration, to help navigate the river – sounds to me like a cool 3-day jolly if you ask me. Once on board, we set off and through the course of the first day, the Amazon unveiled its beauty for all to see: we passed isolated dwellings, little more than huts; sometimes built on stilts to lift them above the flood level, where the inhabitants would wave at us or even try to chase us in their little, woefully underpowered, boats. I have no idea whet would have done if they’d caught up with us (perhaps they were pirate scouts), but they never did, though it was quite amusing to watch them bob about somewhat precariously in the wake of our ship 🙂.
Day-2 brought us into Santarem and as we drew towards our mooring yours truly was dispatched by Mrs. Me to report back on our progress and to let her know, supported of course by her morning cup of team, when it was a suitable time for her to arise and view the town. When she did eventually surface, the temperature on our balcony, as indicated by my Garmin, was 97.7f: in anybody’s book, that is hot and for which I received my first thick ear of the day, for not warning her. But, arise she had to, as we were booked to take a boat trip to see the meeting of the waters, view locals wildlife and do a spot of piranha fishing.
The ‘Meeting of the Waters’ is an anomaly where the muddy brown waters of the Amazon River and the brilliant blue waters of the Tapajós River meet but don’t actually mix for a couple of miles and as such the two waters can be seen side by side as you sail along. This phenomena is similar to the more well knownMeeting of the Water where the mighty Amazon and the River Negro where the two waters, one sandy brown (The Amazon) and one almost black coloured (river Negro)
After this we went to a smaller tributary to view the wildlife, you know the sort, cows, sheep, chickens, water buffalo, iguanas, sloths, vultures, etc., etc. Oh, we also saw some more local dwellings on stilts. After a while we stopped and started fishing for Piranha. Mrs. Me took her place on the boat between my and another gentleman and inevitably, after the other gentleman and I had pre-baited [her] swim, Mrs. Me hooked a Piranha and, accompanied by all sorts of squeaks & squeals, she eventually brought the poor creature on board for us all to look at. Despite me wanting get a picture of Mrs. Me kissing the Piranha, the fish was having none of it and stayed firmly with the hook and line; probably a wise choice as she would have probably have just eaten it.
Go on, kiss it1
Pickfords, Amazon Style
Go on, kiss it1
My next post, probably, will be about our sail-by of Devils Island and/or the crossing the line party [similar to last years Crossing the Line party but different boat, different crew & older passengers].
Dietary Habits
Posted: February 22, 2015 in Cruising, general, Health, P&O, UncategorizedTags: Adonia, big fella, codger, Cruise, cruise ship, Cruising, Diet, dietary habits, glasses, gluttony, Mrs Me, over-indulgence, P&O, Podge, Travel, vacation
Of a Cruise Ship Passenger
So, when at home my daily dietary habits include:
Breakfast
Porridge or cereal
Lunch
Sandwich, maybe an omelet
Dinner
In the hands of Mrs. Me, I’m afraid.
Obviously along the way there may be a few drinks involved, a couple of glasses of wine, a couple of glasses of whiskey and of course coffee / tea and yes, even water. And this, along with occasional biscuit, cake, crisps etc. does me quite adequately for any day of the week.
So why is it that as soon as I and, I suspect many other people, board a cruise ship, we throw caution to the wind; discard common sense ignore what one’s body is saying and devour anything on offer.
When on a cruise ship however my dietary habits change and might typically include:
Breakfast
Porridge (maybe), fried eggs, bacon, sausage(s), beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, fried bread, and [sometimes] black pudding, followed by toast and jam and a plate of fruit.
Lunch
Fish & chips, or curry and chips, or pie and chips plus a chocolate desert and maybe some fruit and a pint of lager
Tea
Sandwiches (small and various) plus a small cake and a glass of Rosé
Fivesie’s
Large gin & tonic plus a bowl of nibbles and maybe another gin & tonic
Dinner
Starter) Prawn Cocktail, Foie Gras or melon:
Main Course) Chicken or salmon or steak, with chips, maybe some peas;
Desert) whatever is on offer but normally includes cream / custard or, if I’m feeling a little too plump by this time of day, a sorbet. All accompanied by wine and liqueurs.
After Dinner Retire to see a show or listen to a band to enjoy a couple of glasses of wine / champagne / prosecco / and/or whiskey.
Obviously along the way there may be a few drinks involved, a couple of glasses of wine, a couple of glasses of whiskey and of course coffee / tea and yes, even water, but, no occasional biscuit, cake, crisps etc. I’m not a pig you know.
I have to admit, I did have a theory (see My Last Posting of the Cruise) that ‘one of the peculiarities of cruising, especially sea cruising is that the salt-water air has a tendency to reduce the elasticity of one’s clothing thus making them appear and feel so much tighter. I can think of no other explanation, save that of course of over eating, which I find hard to believe.’ – And to add insult to injury, even my feet need bigger shoes when I go cruising: How on earth does that happen?
And so, it’s back to MyFitnessPal. – just look for Podgethepuffer.
Must lose weight, must lose weight.
What Do I do Next?
Posted: September 12, 2014 in Rant, UncategorizedTags: Secureserver.net, Wordpress
Just received an email from secure server.net thus:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear [Redacted], We noticed that you need to verify your email address. All you need to do is click the button below (it only takes a few seconds). You won't be asked to log in to your WordPress.comaccount – we're simply verifying ownership of this email address.
[Button here for me to 'press']
If you don't verify your email address, we’re required to temporarily put your website on hold until verification is complete.*
Thanks for being a WordPress.com customer.
Sincerely, WordPress.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Question is, is this real, or a spoof. Notice that my website name isn’t specified.
The Colnago is Alive
Posted: September 7, 2014 in Cycling, Health, training, UncategorizedTags: C59, C60, Cardioversion, Colnago, Cycling, Geo Dream
The Colnago Ge Dream still performs as well as it did in July last year and with little or nothing done to it. I love my Colnago. I need to get back on my Colnago: maybe my Colnago needs a sister or brother like a C50 or C60. In fact, I’m sure it does.
Having had my long awaited Cardioversiuon only to be told it had failed and my heart was still bouncing about like a good’n I was [naturally] a little depressed but, depression solves nothing so I wallowed for a short while then looked at what I needed to do to ensure the 2nd attempt was a success. Weight loss was the obvious answer and I have made a start on that , having lost 8 lb. already but I still had another 20+ lb. to shed.
Against all this, I have had to endure[!] watching the Vuelta (Tour of Spain) and now the start of the Tour of Britain. I so, so wanted get back on my bike. Well, this weekend, as result of numerous events, was the 1st weekend Debbie and I had where we actually had no commitments whatsoever. And by way of bonus, the weather was good. That was it, I had made my mine up I was going to try a bike ride.
Saturday came, Saturday went: no bike ride, but lawns cut, so not so bad. Sunday was my last chance but the morning found me feeling tired, physically so a morning ride was out. Come the afternoon however I was going to do it. I got my bike out, pumped up the tyres, heart rate now 150 bpm so I sat down and go my breath back. Maybe I’ll just ride to the end of the road and back. “Go for a ride” said Debbie “And when you get back, we’ll sit down and have a Desperado”. That did it.
Dressed in Khaki Shorts and Caribbean shirt complimented with brown sock and black & grey cycling shoes, I looked every inch a supreme cyclist (none of my cycling kit fits me at the moment). And so, I donned my cycle hat and I was off. After all this time off my back, getting back just seemed so natural and better still, even though I hhd neglected her of late, the Colnago behave and operated like a dream.
Muy intent was to do 3-miles but as I drew close to home I veered off, determined to another two. Heart rate was surprisingly average but my chest ached so I wasn’t going to push myself. After about 1.8 miles I turned left off the main road and stopped to let tractor go by. He signalled his thanks then slowed does so that I could catch and draft him, but the heart wouldn’t allow so I gave a thumbs up to say thanks then waved him on. All in I did 4.8 miles which given the circumstances isn’t so bad. Let’s just hope this is the first of many progressively longer rides.
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Go Podge, Go
The Adventures of Podge & Tubbs 