I believe I mentioned that I received this calendar from ML and the Doctor. So far, I'm enjoying it and have received lots of good hints about how to survive a plane crash and being locked in a walk-in freezer, but since there are only so many of those hints they can give out, they pepper the calendar with pages labeled, "This Day in Survival History."

I'm posting today's entry because I have a feeling Robbo will get a kick out of it.

On this day (January 17) in 1773, Captain James Cook completed his first crossing of the Antarctic Circle. On this expedition, only his second voyage, he also became the first person to circumnavigate the world in both directions. In his ship, the HMS Resolution, he crossed the Antarctic Circle two more times and sailed as far south as 71 degrees, 10' before being beset by ice. Although the ice prevented him from reaching Antarctica, he was able to establish that the continent must be largely uninhabitable and would not be a productive addition to the British Empire. Captain Cook was also noted for his attention to the cleanliness of ships and the diet of his sailors: Our of a crew of 118 on a voyage lasting more than three years, only one man died.

Now, I'm sure Robbo will expand on this and I'll update when he does. I'm sure he'll also let us know where in the Aubrey/Maturn series we can find the fictionalized adventures of Captain Cook.

UPDATE: I told you he'd do it.

Posted by: Kathy at 10:50 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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