28 WED. 25 FEB. 1953 TEMP. WET 74° DRY 80° F CLEAR SUNNY, NO RAIN SQUALLS AT 11:15 A.M. A TROPIC BIRD OVER STERN OF SHIP. DID NOT REMAIN LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO OBSERVE TAIL FEATHERS. DISTANCE FROM NEAREST LAND: ISLAND - JUCIE + EASTER - 1020 MI. 100-200 MILES FURTHER TO GALAPAGOS + TUAMOTU GROUP. SAME OR ANOTHER BIRD IN P.M. FOLLOWED SHIP FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR, FAR OFF - COULD NOT SEE CENTRAL TAIL FEATHERS (POSSIBLY NOT PRESENT). LAT. 11°-04'S; LONG. 114°-27'W COURSE 242T DIST. 365 MI. ST. TIME 24 HR. AV. SP. 15.21 K. WIND S.E. 3-4 SEA S.E. SLIGHT. T.T. 6D 15H 35M. TO BRISBANE 5255 HRS. FROM BALBOA 2450 MI. MOON ALMOST FULL. NO SUNSET COLOR. AM LEARNING A FEW OF NAVIGATING STARS EACH NIGHT. WHOLE SCHOOLS OF FLYING FISH BREAKING WATER TODAY. READ MOST OF DAY. KEEPING OUT OF SUN. HAVE A SHORT TALK WITH CAPTAIN EACH DAY. FOUND A CREW MEMBER TODAY WHO VISITS MUSEUMS + ZOOS. MOST PEOPLE KNOW OF MUSEUM OR HAVE VISITED IT WITHIN RECENT YEARS. (GEOFF + I DECIDED TODAY THAT IF WE GO TO AUSTRALIA IN FUTURE WE WILL TAKE KAY + MIRIAM WITH US AS FAR AS PRACTICAL. LOCAL HOSPITALITY WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM WHILE WE ARE OFF FOR A FEW WEEKS AT A TIME. not m copyist