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Log For May 7, 1998, Part 3

ROYAL HONG KONG YACHT CLUB

After leaving Guangzhou, we motored 60 miles back down the Pearl River delta to Hong Kong, an island near the mouth of the river. We needed to refuel and check out with the Chinese government officials. Once again the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club served as our host for a two night stay. Besides the beautiful setting, the club also offers a protective typhoon (hurricane) shelter (a marine bulkhead/wall) behind which perhaps a hundred boats can anchor during a storm. Pride II was anchored just outside this anchorage, requiring us to use a sampan to shuttle back and forth to the ship. Although we missed the convenience of tying up dockside, the mooring provided a splendid view of the city. The anchorage also gave the crew an opportunity to make final adjustments to the rig before heading out on the South China Sea for Taiwan.

UNDERWAY

As Hong Kong slipped behind us on the horizon, the open sea offered its familiar ways. Away from China's steadfast effort toward economic development, the sights and sounds of nature were refreshing. There is price to pay for economic growth of large cities. Clean air and water seem to be the first causalities (things that are affected in a negative way). The gray skies due to rain, heat, and humidity of the subtropics had also robbed us of tantalizing (desirable) blue skies. Now that Pride II was pointed east and stretching her "legs" in open waters, nature was once again our only vista (view). The water glistened its familiar deep royal blue and clouds formed puffy white shapes in a pale blue sky.

At night the full moon was brilliant illuminating the entire deck and casting an alluring (attractive) reflection on the water. Most of the local fisherman who had been using huge bright lights to attract fish at night began to fade into the distance leaving only the ship, the open sea, and the moon to fill the space under the stars. It was very relaxing to be at sea away from the activities of civilization. Since we are sailors, we are most at home on the ocean. As if Mother Nature knew we longed for the sea, she gave us a comfortable breeze to carry us along. At times, the seas were a little choppy and the wind a little too far forward (coming right from where we want to go), but it was of little consequence (didn't matter). We have plenty of time to get reach Taiwan and we are enjoying the journey.

Now as we approach the island of Taiwan, Pride II is joining the ranks of other commercial travelers. A huge tanker from the Evergreen Shipping Line, which frequently calls on the Port of Baltimore, steamed past early this morning. The morning watch also spotted an airliner making its final approach to Taiwan. We are due to reach Kaohshung by noon today. Recess is almost over.

CRITTER VISITORS

Nature has also paid us a call. Two very tired pigeons, who we affectionately named Bill and Ted, hitched a ride for a full day. The crew thoughtfully provided "room service" on deck of nuts, bread, and water. The pigeons recognized a good thing. They seemed too exhausted to move despite the activities of the crew as they set sails and adjusted lines. we learned later that in Taiwan pigeons are released in races on which people place bets. For the pigeons, hitching a ride on Pride II was a matter of survival from the heavy head winds (we don't know what it did to their race times).

Then Samantha spotted a lizard zooming across the cabin floor. Perhaps he fell out of a tree in Guangzhou. Kelly made him a home in a large empty fruit cocktail can and added some fruit and vegetables tidbits.

Not knowing whether he is a herbivore (eats plants) or carnivore (eats insects), Kelly scoured the galley for flies and other creatures with six legs. Fortunately the galley's supply of these high protein snacks was dismally low. As if all this biology wasn't enough for one short passage, Amy gave our fishing line a tug and discovered a moderate size mahi mahi. The crew opted to toss it back as dinner was about to be served, and cleaning a fish on deck in the dark would have been a bit much.

Mainland China offered much to explore. It has been challenging to reduce the cultural and historic discoveries of such a huge country to a few paragraphs in a handful of logs. What these logs lack in being comprehensive (covering everything), I hope they will make up in creating a new awareness of a fascinating country a half a globe away.

Making "tracks" for Taiwan,
Leslie Bridgett

YOUR THOUGHTS

Chesapeake Bay has pilots to help navigate large tankers safely in and out of the Port of Baltimore. What are some hazards (dangers) in the Bay for tankers? How might a tanker accident affect the Bay?
With your teacher's permission, place a small amount of mud at one end of a tray with high sides. Gently pour water over the mud to model a river. Draw or describe the pattern created by the water and small delta-like mud streams that flows onto the pan. How does your river compare to the map of the Pearl River delta?
Removing the topmasts and replacing them means that the crew needs to retighten or "tune" the rig. What kinds of problems might result if Pride II were to sail in heavy winds with a rig that was not tight?
Make a list of items which you would include in a tomb for a "great leader" who died. Items should reflect (be like) the kinds of objects that person would need or enjoy in an "afterlife."
List the imports and exports for Guangzhou (Canton) when it was the only port for China.
Why were Westerners (Europeans) discontented with China's restrictions on trade? What wars occurred as a result?
Why did Chiang Kai-Shek flee to Taiwan?
List the modern exports of the Port of Guangzhou.
Why do the people of Guangzhou eat such a wide variety of foods? List some of the more unusual foods.
How does your family spend its free time? How does this compare to families in China?
Do you prefer the schedule for school in Guangzhou or at your school? Why? Some Chinese art suggests the use of patterns. With your teacher's supervision and permission, cut a potato in half. Carve a design in the end of the potato to dip in paint. Make a repeating design with the "potato stamp" on a piece of paper.

Return to the second part of the May 7, 1998 log.

Return to the first part of the May 7, 1998 log.

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