Yesterday we got a message from the Volendam Management Team saying they were pleased to inform all of us that the guest lecturers would be able to be viewed on our stateroom TV's. We have been asking for that for several years now and are very pleased that they are able to do it. In the old days, the lectures were always televised. Then they stopped doing it. Not everyone is able to make it to the talks for several reasons like conflicting activities. For us, we try to avoid crowds. There was one exception to the talks being shown in our rooms and that was if the presenters objected to it. The port talks will be repeated on the TV as well. We do hope they resolved the problem with no sound.
Once again, what a difference a day makes. Yesterday was warm and mostly sunny, but today, it was overcast and decidedly cooler. As the day advanced, the conditions worsened with a cold wind, some light rain, and rolling seas. During his noon talk, Captain Rens said we had 288 nautical miles to reach the Falklands tomorrow at a speed of 16.5 knots. At noon, the temperature was 59 degrees, but at 2pm, it was down to 50 degrees. The humidity was 98% with 24.5 mph winds, causing some rocking and rolling with 5 foot or better swells. Then the Captain added that tomorrow was looking good, except by the afternoon, the winds would pick up. That could make tendering very dangerous. He did add that while going ashore to please accept the help of the crew getting in and out of the tenderboats. By dinnertime, we were feeling the motion of the ocean big time.
We did spend a short time at the Sea View pool, but with mugs of hot chocolate instead of ice water. There were very few people back there, mostly the dedicated smokers on the starboard side. Speaking of smoking, we did get a notice asking us to be most careful with anything that can blow overboard while in Antarctica. And smoking was only allowed at the Sea View pool. If that isn't a reminder about the weather getting worse, we don't what is.
There were several talks on Antarctica with the Expedition Team onboard now. There was the IAATO briefing and navigation overview held in the World Stage this morning. Hopefully this will show up on our TV this evening.
Today must have been Australia Day with a special Aussie tea and an Australian pub lunch in the Pinnacle Grill (charges applied). We passed by a sheet cake that was not real in the Lido with a note next to it saying Do Not Touch. It had the Australian flag on the top.
We spent the rest of the day with the fan blowing in our room while we worked on pictures and reports. Kumar called and said the workers had been in our room when we went to dinner last night and resolved the leak. We shall see……..
Dinner was a rocking and rolling event. So glad we had our special dinner last night. Some of our buddies were in the King's Room for the second round, a total repeat of last night's cuisine and entertainment from the officers. Their evening wrapped up around the same time as ours did….close to 9pm.
We ordered one shrimp cocktail and another bowl of chicken noodle soup. Mains were one sweet and sour chicken and a smoked brisket plate with mashed potatoes and a very tasty BBQ sauce. Both were excellent, but we had no room for dessert. Just as well, as we polished off the rest of my little birthday mousse cake for lunch.
A pianist by the name of Tomono Kawamura was the entertainer this evening in the World Stage. No doubt she was good.
We are estimating a 50/50 chance of making it to the Falklands tomorrow.
Bill & Mary Ann
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