Sunday 22 February 1953 Lat 2°38'S; Long 97°47'W. Course 241°T. Dist 560 mi. St. time 24 hrs Av sp 15.00 K. Wind var 1-2. Sea smooth--gentle swells S. T.Time 3 d 14 hr 35 min. To Brisbane 6375 mi; Balboa 1330. A very quiet day at sea. A few storm petrels (5-6); 2 large petrels (shearwaters?). No boobies. 2 schools of tuna. One whale close off starboard side--seen from porthole--small(30'). Captain invited me to have an aquavit with him in his cabin at 4:30. He showed me newspaper articles about himself in Christian Science Monitor & Australian papers. Once had own plane. Loves flowers (has flower paintings all over ship). He can hypnotize people. Uses this for minor surgery aboard ship. May give demonstration before end of trip. Showed me a press photo of one subject with needle in cheek! No blood! Has sisters in Denmark. Plans to retire in 2 or 3 years. Has a wonderful hammock he sleeps in.(GEOFF DRINKING WITH FRIENDS. UNTIL 4 OR 5 AM. FELL ON FACE - (BAD CUTS ON BRIDGE OF NOSE, CUT ON UPPER LIP, BRUISES ON FACE. NOTHING BROKEN). Monday 23 February 1953 Lat 5°24'S; Long 105°23'W. Course 244°T. Dist 376 mi. ST.time 24 hr. Av Sp 15.67 K. Wind SE 4. Sea slight SE, Swells. Tot. T. 4 d 14 hr 35 min. To Brisbane 5999; Balboa 1706 Another quiet day broken only by light rain squalls. One storm petrel. At -- 3 long-winged, long-tailed, slight birds approached ship but turned and paralleled ship for a few minutes about ¼ mile off. Tail appeared to be deeply forked. Flew lightly with wing beat hesitation of terms but did not seem quite right. Not tropic birds--did not have strong purposeful flight. Read "Tales of South Pacific" a second time. Just as engrossing as first time. Also reading book by John Caldwell "Desperate Voyage". He was in crew under Capt Eriksen during war. Sailed 29' cutter alone to Figi Islands. Met a Porto Rican member of crew this A.M. Hobby is fishing--showed me all his gear. Clocks retarded one hour tonight. Tuesday 24 February 1953 Lat 8°14'S; Long 109°02'W. Course 243°T. Dist 379 mi. St. Time 25 hrs. Av sp 15.16 K. Wind SE 3-4 Sea S slight. T. Time 5 d 15 hr 35 min. To Brisbane 5620 mi; from Balboa 2085. Bright sunny day with gentle SE Trade winds. Little motion to ship. Read and slept most of day. 2 petrels in A.M. Black (splotchy) above; wh below and on under wing coverts. Too far off for details. Medium size 10-12". Wednesday 25 February 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--Ducie and Easter--1020 mi. 100-200 miles further to Galapagos and Tuamotu Group. Same or another bird in P.M. (3:00) followed ship for about 1 hour, far off-- could not see central tail feathers (possibly not present).