January 26 - Drake Passage

Overcast and windy most of the day. Temperature 6.4 C. Seas quite rough. The ship rocked and rolled all day and walking was very difficult. Standing in line, picking up meals and getting to a table was tricky to say the least. There were numerous accidents and many close calls of people going head first into the salads. Breakfast was the usual assortment of things, nothing special that I saw. Lunch was supposed to include French Onion soup and that was`the only reason I went down but it was taken off the menu because of the pitching ship. Instead I had some salad and some spaghetti (more than I wanted or needed). Supper was a fish soup and scallops and shrimp with a pernod sauce (over cooked but tasty). I think in future days I will skip at least one of the meals as i neither want nor need that much food. Unfortunately if you aren't there at meal time you miss announcements and information. They do however make (too) frequent use of the PA system which blares into every nook and cranny of the ship. I did notice that the osund doesn't carry outside too well. Oh yes, did I mention that this is a non smoking ship?! There is one little corner outside where you are allowed to smoke. It goes without saying that I am unhappy about that - particularly given that it is three decks below mine. Today I only went for a smoke before and after meals or when I was already down there for some other reason (lecture, picking up my rain gear, etc.). I have a feeling that I might be the only smoking passenger because the only people I have seen out there are some of the kitchen staff and the Russian crew.

This morning there was one lecture on photography (good refresher) and one on birds of Antarctica (most of which I forgot as soon as I left the room I am sure). This afternoon there were two other lectures but I skipped them both, napped and read the novel I found in the ship's library. The library isn't extensive but I should be able to make do with what is there.

No photos today because I didn't feel like standing in the cold and wind and battling a moving ship to try and get shots of birds that might fly by. No sign of land or other wildlife.

The forecast is for stronger winds and rougher seas tomorrow....