Sailing through Pirate Alley

We have picked up four security personnel (ex-special services) to accompany us through the four sea days through the Gulf of Aden, aka Pirate Alley.  These guys will be armed!  After we left our last port in Oman, a ship rendezvoused with our ship to load the “equipment” these guys need.  We will offload the “equipment” before we reach Egyptian waters.

"Foxy" wouldn't let me hold it; but I could touch it!

Tonight, after bridge, we sat on the pool deck and watched as our wonderful security guys scouted the ocean deep for pirates.  We saw lots of cargo ships and as I was talking with "Foxy," he got a call on the radio.  Suspicious inflatable boats were seen off the starboard bow.  There were three of them cruising around at high speed.  And then there were six of them!  They came close but I bet our guys showed them what we had.  They backed off and went away.  Yes, folks, those dimwits are out there just waiting to try and take another ship.  They would be bigger idiots if they tried to mess with us.  Another Seabourn ship had been fired on a while ago, but the pirates were chased away.  You may not recently hear about pirates in the news, but I am here to tell you they are here.  All is well as our guys are on the job 24/7.

In other news, you may recall that my right hand has been bothering me.  It is still swollen and my two middle fingers hurt so I have to be careful how I use my hand.  If that wasn’t enough, I woke up this morning with a red, throbbing and painful thumb on my left hand.  I went to see the doctor and I am on antibiotics for an infection.  He cannot inject the right hand while I am on antibiotics.  So both my hands are hurting.  In all the years I have been cruising up until now, I have never had to see a doctor.  I hope I can make it home in one piece!

I am praying that my knees hold up for the arduous journeys ahead.