Wow, I’ve never been aboard a ship during high, very rough seas, and really don’t like it too much. Actually, the captain warned us to be prepared but I don’t think anything can prepare for sailing over rough seas you unless you have done it before. The good news is that I took my Bonine tablet before bed, the bad news is that I didn’t fall asleep until after 3:00AM because I was not used to the swaying of the boat and the sounds of the sea as it crashed against the sides of our vessel. The floor above our cabin is the lower promenade, and in the morning I discovered the source of the crashing and banging noises overhead. All the wooden deck chairs had come loose from their constraints and were tangled all over the walkway.
But, in the morning we docked at the town of Burnie and soon forgot the night before, except for the frequent yawning and fatigue. Our tour left immediately, the final destination Cradle Mountain Lake St. Claire National Park, but first we visited the charming town of Sheffield known at the “Town of Murals”. I was especially interested in this place because I recently designed a mural for the town of Seward that claims to be the mural capitol of Alaska.
The story we were told about Sheffield was that years ago the economy was poor and the residents were seeking a way to boost revenue and came upon the idea of having artists paint murals on the sides of the historic buildings. There are many excellent murals, and finding them was fun somewhat like an Easter egg hunt. The subjects depicted early life in the Kentish district, and were very enjoyable. In the “Mural Park” were a number of freestanding paintings each protected by a metal awning. These murals are replaced each year with new ones. An energetic and commendable enterprise.
I am especially charmed by the mural on the side of the Sheffield Bible Chapel, note the bird on top of the tree.
