So Noble a Captain
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Thu 29 Oct 2009 14:30
Course: South sou' west; 3.5 knots
Wind: Southeast; F3 - gentle breeze
Weather: Sunny, warm
Day's Run: 114 miles
A better day's run, much more pleasing. If we make a similar run over the next 24 hours we should cross the equator sometime tomorrow evening. We had better start making preparations for a visit from King Neptune and his court on Saturday. His majesty will no doubt be wanting an audience with Bob Cat to see whether he is worthy to be initiated into the shellbacks of his aquatic realm.
Speaking of shellbacks, I have just finished reading about Magellan's voyage around the world. He certainly had the odds against him, out of the five ships that left Seville with about 200 souls on board on 10 August 1519, one ship returned three years later on 6 September 1522, with only 18 men left, of course not including Magellan. Reading of Magellan's death in the Philippines my impression is he became overconfident. Perhaps in realizing when he reached the Moluccas that he had become the first person to circle the globe (having previously sailed to the same area from the other direction), I suspect he then may have perceived himself as having divine protection in a God given mission to evangelise the region. The risks he took in the Battle of Mactan were foolish in the extreme - "so noble a captain".
All is well.
Bob Cat:
What's this nonsense about King Neptune wanting to see me? A salty old feline like me?. Why if Magellan had had me on board things may have turned out very different. Actually, come to think of it, they probably would have eaten me, so forget that idea. So what does old Neptune do when he isn't awake? If he wants a few lessons in the sleep department he is coming to the right cat. As the skipper says, I better start preparing myself. Zzzzzzz.