Day 111: Still in Cape Town

It’s 10:53pm I couldn’t sleep thought it would be a good time to go to the Explorer’s Lounge, listen Laurence our Guitar Entertainer and catch up on the blog.

Yesterday, we were unable to go to the top of Table Mountain - it was hidden well behind the clouds and the winds were too rough for the cable car. This morning I did get a couple of very clear photos of Table Mountain. It is a lovely sight to see.

Sooooooooo, we were all hoping we would be heading north towards Luderitz, Namibia right about now. Instead this morning Captain Richard informed us the seas and winds were not safe to travel - so we remained at the dock in Cape Town.

Also, even though we would have like to get off the ship and explore more of Cape Town there were issues with getting immigration to let it happen. But, I think more importantly, if there was a weather window for us to leave port - there is no way they could have gotten us all back on board to leave in a short time frame. I liken it to herding cats.

You will see some cool pictures of a couple of tug boats pulling a cargo ship away from the dock and spin it around to let it head on its way. It was pretty cool to watch. Wondering if the rope would snap. They have done this before.

So, why can’t we leave?

Think of carrying an eight foot 2x4 on a windy day. Okay, now think of carrying a sheet of 4x8 foot plywood on that same windy day. Not so easy. The Neptune is the sheet of plywood.

So, today was a typical Sea Day except for the part that we were not sailing in the Atlantic Ocean we were attached safely to the dock.

It’s 11:00pm now - a few late-nighter’s in the Explorer’s Lounge. We all have our fingers crossed that when we wake up in the morning we will be on the open seas - and Cape Town in our rear view mirror.

Because of this delay we will have to bypass Luderitz, Namibia and hopefully make a bee-line directly to Walvis Bay Namibia.

Donna and I both agree Cape Town would be a nice place to come back to visit and explore more. But, right now all we want is calm seas and to be heading north.Lue lisää