Feb 07/12: Antarctic & Atlantic Oceans (1)

Feb 07/12: Antarctic & Atlantic Oceans (1)

 

Hi from the Antarctic & Atlantic  Oceans,

 

We have 2 sea days on the 7/8th while we make our way from Pt. Stanley to Buenos Aires. Weather has been high winds, large waves on the 7th, but has improved today (8th) and the weather is a lot warmer now. The water temp has warmed up to 16C and the temp outside is 19C, as of 9PM.  Still having high winds (sea state 4), and the combo of winds, waves & current is pushing the ship so that we have been making  close to or over the rated speed of 20 Kn. Since we lost several hours at Pt. Stanley on the 6th due to the waves / wind and not being able to get people back from shore as the tenders had to be cancelled for several hours due to safety concerns, this is helping us make up for lost time.

 

Have not seen much in the way of sea birds and no marine life these past 2 days, so no excitement in that department.

 

Another day at sea. Weather continues to be overcast, windy , with rough seas. Again going outside was discouraged and signs were up on the doors telling people the deck was 'off limits' due to safety concerns about the strong winds and wet decks and we were only to go outside in case of emergency. I could not even push open the doors, using my entire body,  the winds were so strong! I would certainly be blown all over if I tried to walk around on deck! So everyone stayed inside. We are trying to make up for lost time from Pt. Stanley, and it seems to be working. Phil and I are having a great time sitting in our cabin and watching the wave action through our window. Every once in a while they will really hit the boat and you actually hear it and feel the boat  pause for a fraction of a second - similar to when you are driving a car in gusts of wind. We are all walking around like drunken sailors, but amazingly few people seem to be suffering from seasickness. Dad & I are fine.

 

The big news today is that Dad won the Daily Quiz with a perfect score of 20/20. We have settled into a 'sea routine'. Sleep in a little later (than 5 AM!!!) then up for a leisurely breakfast, Dad does his trivia and reads the daily newspapers they have on board, I generally go to some sort of 'Wellbeing or Tech' seminar. Today I did the partner massage workshop (neck & shoulder massage only) but Dad refused to come along, so I had to partner up with someone else. Bah! Then it was on the French Buffet for lunch. It was fabulous, the best buffet yet. (they only have them on some sea days - I think it is their way of keeping us occupied - eating!). They had made to order fillet mignon steaks, veggies, scalloped potatoes, all kinds of breads, and then desserts.... desserts....desserts. I had a large dinner plate of several different desserts, all delicious, and then went back for seconds of the ones I really liked! I overate - boys you know me! But it was worth it.

 

After that Dad went to the Antarctica Forum and I went to some seminars about healthy eating & healthy diet - figured I needed it after lunch! Had a big sugar crash so went to sleep afterwards and could not even wake up to go to 'texpert' classes, so just got up for... you guessed it... supper! More eating ! It was formal night, so they had lobster on the menu - how could I resist????? Even Dad had lobster. Mmmmm.

 

Changed out of our 'dress clothes' and I went to the theatre to watch 'Dolphin Tale' while Dad went to play trivia and hang out in the library. Then decided to do laundry as our hamper was overflowing. The washers take forever to fill with water, AND the driers are the slowest... so it took me until after 2 AM to get all our loads done. At one time I had 3 washers and 3 driers going between the 6th and 10th floors (we are on the 5th floor BTW). I worked off my excessive eating by spending my time running up and down between the floors all night. Things are hanging up all over the cabin, from every place you can imagine - I even have bras drying on my bedside light while Dad has socks on his. Of course, the bathroom is loaded, there are hangers over all the doors, and have even hung stuff off the lights in the ceiling, along the desk, off the bookcase and even the picture frames. You can just imagine when our room looks like. It will take the next 2 days for everything to dry, so hopefully by the time we get to Buenos Aeries we can put most of it away.

 

Anyway, Dad worked on his Sudokus then went to bed and I did some reading before finally turning off the light. Dad has to get up early tomorrow to do the run for Breast Cancer, so have to get some sleep. I am not doing it so will not be getting up- intend to sleep in. I'm tired!

 

Hope all is well at home, and  you are all fine.