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Page 17
PLACES VISITED
Date: 18th Feb 1961 Place: Tilbury Docks
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6:0AM Leapt out of bed! Still some packing to do and final tidying of the flat. It looks very bare. 7:30 Dad and Mum arrive. Luggage stowed in back of car and ourselves squeezed into seats. Misty damp morning but not much traffic. 10:0 Tilbury - a dreadfully dirty area but interesting docks, miles of them! "Orcades" looks huge after Channel Streamers. Customs very simple - nothing examined! Goodbye to Stephen and then in a few minutes we have passed up the gangway and found our cabin. Tiny but neat, in the centre luckily, shouldn't feel too much movement. 11:0AM Explored
Page 18
PLACES VISITED
Date: 18 Feb cont. Place
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part of "Orcades" and found a place where we could see the landing stage more easily. Dad's ciné camera whirring most of the time - should make a good film. Olive and Josh arrive and Steve meets them. Lots of waving and gesticulating - we are rather too high for conversation! 11:30 Mum and Dad left, after last look round, to join Olive, we stay in our corner and watch dock activities through the mist. Occasionally the sun struggles through - but not for long and the wind is cold. 2:0 Things are happening - gangways are down - ropes being cast off - sirens and hooters going - tugs getting into position - all friends and relations crowding into the quay for last waves -
Page 19
PLACES VISITED
Date: 18 Feb cont. Place
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and at last Orcades is moving. Past Orion, with our crew calling remarks to her crew. A gramophone blares "Sailor come home" over and over again. Everyone on the quay streams along with us down to the lock, and from the lock we have our last glimpses of Mum and Dad, Stephen, Olive & Josh. Then we are through and in the Thames and as the tugs leave us we move slowly down stream and Tilbury vanishes into mist astern. There is a lot of shipping in the Estuary and as night falls winking buoys drop behind and other craft are small collections of light around us. So our first few hours on board come to a close as we climb into our bunks and put out the cabin lights.
Page 20
PLACES VISITED
Date: 19th Feb, noon, 391 miles Place: Bay of Biscay
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Not too rough although a swell across the bows makes the ship roll more than is pleasant. It proved a waste of time to have eaten breakfast but after one bout of sickness I was fairly well again. Cabin proved to be the best place as the pitching doesn't seem so marked. Stayed there most of the day whilst Peter explored and got his bearings - there are so many decks and stairways that it is difficult to sort out ones position at first. Cards to Mum and Peter's Mother, Linda and Pat written for posting in Gibralter.