Sailing Antarctica Seas!: Still crossing the Drake

Monday, December 28, 2015

It was cold and cloudy during our watch. Did have some little snow flurries. Not enough to stick, but fun to watch. We did have a nice sunrise. Had to run back to my room for my camera!

Tried to get some rest after watch, before breakfast, but did not succeed. So, while I was taking the sea sickness medication, I was constantly sleepy and sleeping every chance I had. I stopped taking the medication, now I am constantly tired because I can’t get to sleep! Yikes! Just part of the adventure!

We still have 4 people down on our watch team. They feel a little better, then bad again. We have only four groups in our watch team so we are on for 20 minutes, then off for 20 and back on. We are on helm for one watch, then lookout for the other. Just start to get warmed up between watches and time to bundle up again!

We have to vacuum all of our outer clothing and any equipment bags we are taking onto Antarctica. We have to be sure not to risk introducing anything into the ecosystem. Tomorrow we will attend a mandatory talk about landing in Antarctica. We are getting closer!

But it is gorgeous outside today. The sun is SHINING!! Clear and very cold. We past the Antarctic Convergence Zone and the air and water temperatures are 2 degrees colder. The water is 2 degrees C. The crew is checking it very regularly.

We had a carrot soup with lunch today. We have a hot soup almost every lunch. Always nice to warm up from the inside out!

Gordi gave a good talk about the penguins we will see once we reach Antarctica. The Chin strap, Adelie and Gentoo.

We also had a practice fire drill. It was cold out on deck without all the outer wear!

Did finally get a nice nap this afternoon. Feel much better.

Still cold and clear outside. All I saw today were some of the birds. Got a couple of average photos of the Cape Petrel. There is no wind so we are motoring. The albatrosses need wind, so they were not around.