GOOD STEWARD. GOOD PLAIN FOOD. CONSOMME, SALAD GREENS, HALIBUT WITH LEMON BUTTER SAUCE, POT ROAST, CHOC. ICE CREAM + CAKE. CAPTAIN NOT ON HAND - THE USUAL FIRST NIGHT CUSTOM. ONLY ONE COUPLE AT TABLE. PLACES FOR ABOUT 12. OTHER TABLES BADLY CROWDED. WE HAVE A SICK CABIN MATE. IN BED FROM START OF TRIP. SUFFERING FROM ? ONE OTHER MAN ALSO IN BED. CHILDREN ARE MANY, CONSPICUOUS, + NOISY + SMALL. HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A MIXED PASSENGER LIST. PUBLIC ROOMS NOT VERY LARGE, BUT WE WILL MAKE OUT. I HAD SHOCK OF LIFE WHEN I SAW THE NOVELTY SHOPS STOCK OF 16MM KODACHROME MAGAZINE FILM - ABOUT 30 ROLLS - THIS IS A SUPPLY THAT EVER KODAK IN N.Y. LACKS. IT TOOK ME OVER A MONTH FOR MR. BIDDLE TO FIND 12 ROLLS FOR ME (COST $6.75 - 50 FEET). SHIP IS FAR DIFFERENT THAN ANY I HAVE EVER TRAVELED ON. SINGLE SMOKE STACK SET FAR AFT. BOAT DECK TAKES PLACE OF PROMENADE DECK. SUN DECK BADLY CUT INTO BY MISC. GEAR. MORE ABOUT SHIP LATER. FEELS GOOD TO BE ON BOARD SHIP AGAIN. MY LAST TRIP WAS IN 1935 WHEN CATHERINE + I WERE IN BERMUDA. MOST PEOPLE LOOK BORED ALREADY. MANY ARE JUST LOOKING AT FELLOW PASSENGERS. THERE IS QUITE A CAMERA BRIGADE ON BOARD. WONDER IF THERE WILL BE ANY BIRD WATCHERS ON SHIP. CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR TOMORROW TO START LOOKING FOR SEA BIRDS. HAVE YET TO SEE MY FIRST ALBATROSS. THE FIRST BOOK ON MY LIST IS ALEXANDER'S "BIRDS OF THE OCEAN". IT WILL COME IN HANDY BEFORE END OF TRIP. GEOFF + I WILL PROBABLY TURN IN EARLY TONIGHT. SAILING DAY IS ALWAYS AN EXCITING DAY, BUT HOW MUCH MORE EXCITING THIS JAN. 30 IS THAN OTHERS - THE START OF MY FIRST FULL FLEDGED EXPEDITION! HOW VERY GRATE- FUL I AM TO MOTHER + TO DICK FOR MAKING THIS ADVENTURE OF THE MIND + BODY POSSIBLE. WILL START STUDYING THE COPY OF ELLIS TROUGHTON'S "FURRED ANIMALS OF AUSTRALIA" (1947-SCRIBNER'S) TOMORROW, I WONDER WHAT NEW DATA DR. TATE + I WILL ADD TO THIS COMPENDIUM OF MARSUPIAL + PLACENTAL LORE,