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In the port of Bermuda, we were anchored off some distance, but we had
the use of one of the dockyard liberty boats, which by the way, I had the
job of driving the thing, and looking after the engine room when I was on
watch. We were there for about a week, and I'm sure everyone on board had
a welcome mat put out for them each time they stepped ashore. If the rest
of the trip was going to be like this, then had some great times ahead.
Bermuda was a lovely run ashore, Jim Wheelan the other killick stoker on
our messdeck and myself, had a couple of runs ashore to the Buffalo club
there, and boy did the members look after us. This was one place everybody
said they all enjoyed and from what we had been told re on our return trip,
we would be back there.
On leaving there and with the lads on the upper deck in their whites, raising
their hats for a fond farewell to their friends ashore, we were off to the
land of the rum and coke, and some of the best cricketers in the world,
the Caribbean, and Kingston Jamaica in particular.
On arrival at Kingston, we tied up alongside, and before long the natives
were on board flogging their wares. Small knickknacks of the local crafts
etc. But carefully hidden underneath these little native dolls and garments
to wear, were some highly potent bottles of the local brew, namely Rum.
The lads soon snatched this up, with the Officer of the day unaware what
was happening behind his back. At least the lads were ready willing and
able when they got ashore. Once more both watches had a terrific time ashore,
I think most of my time ashore, was taken up in some nightclub, with a Dorothy
Dandridge look-alike, listening to the Platters giving the Great Pretender
big licks.
After two days of shore leave in the land of
the top cricketers and dark rum, it was off once more to our next destination
Peru, via the Panama Canal. Yes and I must agree with the person who wrote
the 54/55 tour of the South Atlantic. 
That going through
the Panama, Canal was a wee bit on the humid side, especially down the engine
room with those Reciprocating engines churning away.
First stop after the canal was the land of the Incas, to the port of
Callao in Lima Peru. A couple of the lads for some reason known only to
the Doc. and the medical staff, were not allowed ashore, but did have some
great stories told to us by those who did go ashore. We did have the usual
trinket sellers come alongside, so we managed to get some souvenirs, of
this lovely country and its inhabitants.
It was round about this time in our trip, just like our predecessors,
we too crossed the equator, and just like them made a fool of ourselves,
but enjoyed every minute of the whole thing.