2geonomads

Saturday 7th March 2015

Good night’s sleep but wake to fair swell as we head more into the open sea of Drake Passage. Short and sweet breakfast for me and then it’s back to the cabin. Doc John calls on me to check if all is ok and I assure him that he should not read too much into the fact that I appear to be lying in state on my bunk. Apparently quite a lot of passengers are feeling similarly off-colour.

Excellent presentation by Diego in the lecture theatre on Deck 2 on ‘ Seabirds of the Southern Ocean’ and a recap on the various penguins we have viewed. As always the charismatic Diego adds to the occasion by donning his penguin cap.

As anticipated by Diego a number of those attending fall asleep due to the seasickness medications and USA John’s Tracy sleeps very soundly even through someone’s rather loud wristwatch alarm.

Get through lunch OK and then it’s back to the cabin for more luge training Billy Connolly-style.

Excellent talk (Part 1) by Alasdair McGregor on Shackleton ‘s ill-fated voyage on the Enterprise. He may not be as extrovert or flamboyant as such as Diego but he really knows his subject and is particularly impressive  when speaking off-the-cuff.

This is followed shortly afterwards by a film made by Birgitta Moeck’s Swedish family on whales. The footage of a very young Birgitta diving among pods of orcas is truly awe-inspiring and it’s hardly surprisingly that she now seems totally at home diving in the Antarctic waters.

By 6.00 pm the sea is very high and many people are firmly ensconced in their bunks. Dinner is,therefore, for some of us, a very truncated affair and I am cabin-bound fairly quickly.

Tom from St Kilda, a very personable travelling companion has rarely been sighted for the various lectures taking place during high seas.Sarah from the UK is likewise the worse for wear but this time suffering from a severe chest infection. She is another passenger who has come to our aid in charging up our batteries on a regular basis and we will certainly not forget her excitement at spotting a very large phallic symbol iceberg during an earlier zodiac trip.

Another visit from Doctor John to check us out after which we forgo the showing of the film ‘Happy Feet’and turn in for the night.

Gail goes through another ‘ pissed off with Aurora’ phase as the impact of the lost suitcase hits home once again.

Cheers

The Obese Ferret.