As most people realize, I am still in the Canadian Navy.  I am presently onboard HMCS Athabaskan,
Destroyer, Helicopter Carrier, and Flagship during NATO 2000. Canada, of course, is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and deploys servicemen (and women) continuously with the NATO Task Group. This year, we departed to join up with the multi-national fleet on a southern deployment along the East Coast.

    On 14 Jan 00, we sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Nova Scotia was just beginning to acquire the extreme cold that comes with Winter. Everyone who left was thankful to at least miss the cold, and head South. As we approached the warmer waters, we began exercises with the multi-national fleet. The ships that were represented:
 
 

    We made 5 port visits before returning home to Halifax on 24 Mar 00. Each of these ports carried its own special attraction, and I have added the adventures I experienced in each place.