January 27 - Drake Passage Day 2

A mixed weather day. Foggy misty morning, clear for a while and then thick fog again. Temperature range from 2.4 C to 3.6 C with slightly lighter winds and only moderate seas. Because of the fog there wasn't much to see although I did see a minke whale, an albatros and a couple of other birds. Much of the day was spent in lectures on ice, zodiac drill, Antarcitc Treaty, evironmental do/s and dont's, etc. Some were mandatory, others optional. Generally moderately interesting. The environmental restrictions are severe to say the least. No stepping on plants, no touching anything, remaining minimum five meters from animals, NO SMOKING, no release of bodily fluids (if you have to go to the bathroom you have to go back to the zodiac and return to the ship), etc. I was suprised to learn that the shore landings and/or zodiac cruises last for three or four hours. Somehow I had it in my head that they would only be an hour or two at most. Hope it warms up a little or the wind drops as I didn't bring heavy socks (wouldn't fit in my hiking boots) or waterproof gloves. They claim they will bring you back to the ship at any time but that theory remains to be tested. Unless I can find somewhere to sit and rest my back I may well be one of the first to test it.

We were supposed to have a shore excursion tomorrow morining but plans have changed and now we are going to make a straight run for the Antarctic Circle, hopefully crossing it between 10:00 and 11:00 am. For the crossing we all have to assemble on on the top deck to celebrate and be annointed either mariners or explorers. lol We will then likely have a landing in the afternoon. They expect that we will see the first iceberg soon and be in sight of land (Antarctic Peninsula) early tomorrow morning.

I decided that I was too full so skipped lunch today. Three full meals a day is too much for me. Breakfast was cheese omelets and bacon, cereals, fruit, etc. Dinner was salad, French mustard soup (excellent) and a choice of rack of lamb, poached monkfish or pork tenderloin, fruits, cheeses and crepes. I should have just had a bit more soup and skipped everything else. I will learn slowly.

Interesting talking with one of the chefs today. He is from Germany and works four months on this ship, goes home for a week, works two months on another ship (lined up for him by his agent) and then four months back on this one in the Arctic. He says that there is plenty of work and finding a new ship is quite easy. I later met another chef, this on from Phoenix but we didn't get into his life history. A third chef is from Amsterdam but we scarcely spoke beyond trading home locations. At dinner I ate with two men from England and one form Alaska. it got so noisy in the dining room that I had to leave and go outside for a while. That cleared mny head enough tat I could stay around long enough to hear the announcements.

Off to bed now, have to get up early to get my gear ready for a landing just in case.....