>
>
> Dear all
>
> Re: Steve Clark's note on pelagic trips, I take exception to his comment
> that "They are long, uncomfortable days".
Hey, even the Pelagic homepage makes mention of some unsavoury conditions;
http://users.bigpond.net.au/palliser/
"As the Western Field Ornithologists once said "going on pelagics is a wet,
cold, miserable, nauseating, frustrating, exhausting, boring experience but
somebody has to do it!"
Even so (and I do think the above comment a _little_ exaggerated and tongue
in cheek), I personally had a great time and it was from the Rose Bay
pelagic trips that I progressed from being a purely devoted whale watcher
to an avid beginner birder. From memory I went on 3 trips in a row until we
moved to Melbourne. If I hadn't moved I'd still be going. Fantastic days
out and for me and the rougher the better (I think I have some deep rooted
masochistic tendancies ---- actually, no doubt about it, I've also been
abseiling!)..... I loved the challenge of manouvering from the top deck down
the steps to the bottom deck in goodness-knows-what size swell. On one
particularly rough trip I travelled nearly the length of the top deck to the
steps wriggling along on my bottom as I didn't think I'd make it on my legs.
And as for using the little ladies room...... well what can I say, when
dressed for the Antarctic, as I was in the middle of winter, it truly was a
marvel of ingenuity and flexibility Then there were days where you could
have imagined that you were out for a cruise on a lake...... beautiful.
Sun glistening on the water while we all gazed silently at humpback whales,
with a backdrop of Sydney beaches, breaking the glassy surface of the water
on their migration up along the coast.
I also heard some great stories from some of the long-time regulars on
board. I loved the sight of some of the old-hands, looking for all
intents and purposes, completely sound asleep on the way home, only to have
them instantly spring into life and appear on the deck from no-where with
binoculars already glued to the head and focused as soon as anyone yelled
"STOP THE BOAT".
>
> And many thanks to Tony P and all involved in organising them. And to
Steve
> Anyon-Smith for his "sea monster" sightings and brillliant eye sight.
>
Agreed. And Steve Anyon-Smith is incredible. I recall a trip back as we
were nearing the heads, rough as blazes, boat motors blaring away and Steve
suddenly yelled "STOP THE BOAT - I heard a penguin"...... the looks he got
were amusing (even from me) somewhere along the lines of "sure you did !!!!
" Then a penguin popped up right on cue. Amazing. I also started
calling whales and such "sea monsters" for a long time after that.
Karen
Hampton Vic.
>
>
>
> Penny Drake-Brockman, Examination Recitals Co-ordinator, Sydney
> Conservatorium of Music.
> Tel: 02 9351 1254.
> Birding-Aus is on the Web at
> www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
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> to
>
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