We had a mild time through the Drake Passage until now. Today however, our cabin turned into a tumble dryer with a lunatic at the spin control.
The iPhone app told us there were 40 degrees of toss on some of the bigger waves.
It must have been better inside than out because a cacophony of birds could be heard nesting in many places throughout the cabin. Some under the floor, others behind the mini bar, everywhere.
Once daylight came, I tried to get up gracefully. Not going to happen. The floor is my friend, even if it does feel a bit like sandpaper. The most stable position was spread-eagled face down. I waited until those moments of weightlessness when the ship plunged into another trough and then pushed off in the direction of the bathroom. I was splattered back onto the carpet as the ship started its next ascent. I got a bonus loufaring of my chest and face in the process.
I made it to the bathroom door and using the wall, door handle and coat hooks was able to drag myself upright. I turned on the light. What? No birds? On closer inspection the nesting noises turned out to be the creaking and groaning of materials and objects rubbing against one another.
The shower was a challenge with the ship heaving around this much. Both hands were fiercely gripping the handrails. Then, in a desperate instant, I would lunge for the soap, scrape some part of my body and put it back. Then cling on again until the next opportunity. Do not drop the soap.
The inside of the shower/toilet room was similar to an automatic car wash. Not much water was draining away, it just sloshed around the room, thankfully that saved me from trying to soap my feet.
I grabbed my clothes and wriggled into them whilst laying on the bed. I then grappled my way to the door, unleashed it to crush my hand against the wall, and was immediately tossed to the opposite wall against my back, and finally spat out into the passage way. By any Olympic diving standard that was a 10 for style!
At breakfast, I realised that I was one of the very few lucky ones. Nearly all other adventurers aboard had the seasickness jab and were lying prostrate in bed with stomach and mouth in a superposition of uncertainty.
We encountered our first snow flurries, saw lots if birds, and a dozen Sei whales.
At dinner that night we were almost back to a full complement, many thanks to the miracle jabs from our ships doctor. The day ended on a "windscreen" high.
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