Crossing the Equator!

Today we crossed the equator going south, about 300 miles off the coast of Brazil. This event causes King Neptune to rise from the depths, to put the Pollywogs (never crossed before) on trial for their sins, and to determine their sentence.

On this ship there were 3 crew and 3 passengers offered up as sacrificial lambs for everyone else. They came tied together to kneel before Neptune and his court.

All were summarily found guilty as charged (fueled by much jeering from the peanut gallery).

The punishment was a trip to the barber for hair washing (with blue goop), or to the surgeon for some ad hoc surgery (and removal of some key body parts). Or, if the crimes were particularly heinous--BOTH!

Then the culprit had to kiss the fish (a decidedly nasty looking specimen dragged up from somewhere).

And, finally, they had to walk the plank!

I wish that I could get these photos in order because the Captain was looking on smiling through the whole process, until his crew mutinied and put him before King Neptune. His crime was "confusing the daylights out of everyone with his 4 strings forward, 3 lines aft, 93 degrees here and 24 degrees there". He was deemed Guilty as Charged and was subjected to Barber and Surgeon, with no holds barred. The Captain walked the plank, not being able to see, with his shoes, sunglasses and everything else on. He did exact a little revenge at the end, but had to do his "noonish report" from the bridge dripping wet-- which caused it to be the shortest one yet.

I got a soggy photo with the Captain and Fritz got an even soggier embrace from Dina, the Frequent Cruisers Hostess!

Then it was time for the BBQ by the pool--which had to be drained and cleaned!