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Last Day -January 3, 2000,
THE LOAD OUT

Last night we sailed past Cape Horn, we were about a mile and a half from shore. Once we reached the Cape, the wind and the waves died down. The impromptu recording session with the Chieftains went well. The musicians in attendance were Derek Bell (harp), Paddy Moloney (tin whistle), Eric Weissberg (guitar) Art (great voice) Diana Krall (another great voice) and yours truly on synthesizer. OK, so now I've fulfilled a secret wish to perform with the Chieftains. All the musicians on the cruise were a dream to work with. These are people to whom music is everything.

I awoke on the ship this morning, back in Ushuaia well rested and ready for the load out. I've done quiet a few load outs in my time, but this one takes the biscuit. First we had all band members meet in one location with their check-in luggage. A representative from each group sorted the luggage into various destinations. We then rounded up the various bands instruments and moved everything to an outer deck. Outside a crane was waiting on the harbor. Two giant nets were lifted up to us and we proceeded to load up the nets with luggage and instruments. You have no idea how fast my heart was racing as all our instruments were lifted from the deck and swung out into mid-air, nine stories above the harbor in a net. Everything made it safely down to earth. I'm pleased to say.

In sending these entries for the journal. I have had to be mindful of one thing, security. I can now tell you why. Guest lecturers included Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who gave a great lecture on environmental issues and what we can do to improve our environment. FW DeKlerk (former leader of South Africa) gave a lecture on political issues and the struggles that await us in the new Millennium and how, despite very intense opposition, he was able to help in bringing about an end to apartheid in South Africa. Simon Winchester, a British journalist who was captured and accused of spying during the Falkland War. He spoke about the events leading up to the war and of his imprisonment in Ushuaia. He now considers his jailers to be his good friends and maintains regular contact with them. Joseph Shackleton told of his distant cousin Ernest Shackleton's near death experience in Antarctica many years ago. Dan Ackroyd was on hand to keep the fun going (and he did) and jam with various bands. The whole event was put on by the Young Presidents' Organization, so as you can see there were some pretty heavy rollers on board the ship, and security was of utmost importance.

All in all everyone on the entertainment side of things had a great time. The only thing I didn't get to see was a whale. Oh well maybe next time.

My journey home takes me from Ushuaia to Santiago then we stop in Lima and finally on to Los Angeles I arrive in LA at 7:25 AM on the morning of the 4th.

01/0/4/2000- 9:10AM

I'm home from the sea. Now the really important stuff, my dog Mr. Otis Brown is begging me to take him for a walk on the beach, I guess I've got to go. Thank you for taking the time to read this journal. Maybe next year we will cruise to the North Pole and I can do it all again. I must say, that I've really enjoyed making this journal and I hope you enjoyed reading it.

All the best.
Stuart D. Breed