Monday, February 24th, 2014
We woke up this morning to slightly calmer waters and not a whole lot to look at. We were in the middle of the Drake so as with the way down, mostly grey skies and water to stare at. That storm we were a little worried about had dissipated and it appeared we had again dodged a major Drake Passage bullet. Funny though because we woke up to this Twitter message from the crew https://twitter.com/g_expedition/status/438087978704203776 but lucky for us it didn't really get "too" bad.
On this morning my seasickness was gone however I was certainly feeling the effects of that sea-sickness patch. In fact I had to take it off as it was making me dizzy and light headed with blurred vision. Yeah I was pretty much stoned. Think I preferred the nausea. The effects certainly took some time to wear off but as there wasn't much to do or see today, I mostly just changed nap locations between meals.
As you can tell by my lack of pictures there was not much going on this day. Most of us took the time to relax, exchange pictures, and make plans for continuing journeys.
Although not back on land just yet, I had time to think back to what I didn't get to do and see on this trip. First I guess I didn't get one of those close up whale encounters you always see pictures of. Those encounters are always a thing of chance and making the correct guess as to which way those whales are moving when they go underwater. I was not so lucky on this trip although I remember my uneasy feelings whale watching in Nova Scotia when the whales went under the boat.....and we were in a big boat. Being in a little zodiac would be a tad worse.
And I didn't get to see an Emperor Penguin. Those are the big ones that all the movies are about. They can get to be over 4 feet tall. Unfortunately we were a little late in the season to see them as they had already headed back inland. There was thoughts that maybe there were still a couple around but unfortunately no. A little disappointing but like the whales it's all about timing.
The biggest thing I think is that we did not get to cross the Antarctic Circle. Many of us said that we would have been willing to give up a landing or 2 to head a little bit farther south and cross that magic Antarctic Circle line. Of course how far south we go always depends on weather and ice and how the Captain feels about the safety of it all so we have to give the guys who know more about that stuff the benefit of the doubt. But it still would have been pretty cool.
All this means is that I have a reason to make another trip. Maybe next time I do some kayaking and spend the night sleeping on the continent. Maybe I pick a smaller boat that can get into different places. Maybe go a little less luxury as a volunteer on a research boat. Oh the possibilities.
But before I start planning my next trip to Antarctica, I still have to get back to land. This trip is far from over.
Julie
We woke up this morning to slightly calmer waters and not a whole lot to look at. We were in the middle of the Drake so as with the way down, mostly grey skies and water to stare at. That storm we were a little worried about had dissipated and it appeared we had again dodged a major Drake Passage bullet. Funny though because we woke up to this Twitter message from the crew https://twitter.com/g_expedition/status/438087978704203776 but lucky for us it didn't really get "too" bad.
On this morning my seasickness was gone however I was certainly feeling the effects of that sea-sickness patch. In fact I had to take it off as it was making me dizzy and light headed with blurred vision. Yeah I was pretty much stoned. Think I preferred the nausea. The effects certainly took some time to wear off but as there wasn't much to do or see today, I mostly just changed nap locations between meals.
As you can tell by my lack of pictures there was not much going on this day. Most of us took the time to relax, exchange pictures, and make plans for continuing journeys.
Although not back on land just yet, I had time to think back to what I didn't get to do and see on this trip. First I guess I didn't get one of those close up whale encounters you always see pictures of. Those encounters are always a thing of chance and making the correct guess as to which way those whales are moving when they go underwater. I was not so lucky on this trip although I remember my uneasy feelings whale watching in Nova Scotia when the whales went under the boat.....and we were in a big boat. Being in a little zodiac would be a tad worse.
And I didn't get to see an Emperor Penguin. Those are the big ones that all the movies are about. They can get to be over 4 feet tall. Unfortunately we were a little late in the season to see them as they had already headed back inland. There was thoughts that maybe there were still a couple around but unfortunately no. A little disappointing but like the whales it's all about timing.
The biggest thing I think is that we did not get to cross the Antarctic Circle. Many of us said that we would have been willing to give up a landing or 2 to head a little bit farther south and cross that magic Antarctic Circle line. Of course how far south we go always depends on weather and ice and how the Captain feels about the safety of it all so we have to give the guys who know more about that stuff the benefit of the doubt. But it still would have been pretty cool.
All this means is that I have a reason to make another trip. Maybe next time I do some kayaking and spend the night sleeping on the continent. Maybe I pick a smaller boat that can get into different places. Maybe go a little less luxury as a volunteer on a research boat. Oh the possibilities.
But before I start planning my next trip to Antarctica, I still have to get back to land. This trip is far from over.
Julie
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