{"id":1113,"date":"2016-03-19T21:20:45","date_gmt":"2016-03-20T01:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.runkevinrun.com\/?p=1113"},"modified":"2018-02-12T13:39:40","modified_gmt":"2018-02-12T18:39:40","slug":"3102016-stabilizers-are-failing-shields-down-to-78-evasive-maneuvers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runkevinrun.com\/?p=1113","title":{"rendered":"3\/10\/2016 \u2013 Stabilizers are Failing! Shields Down to 78%! Evasive Maneuvers!"},"content":{"rendered":"

3\/10\/2016 \u2013 Stabilizers are Failing! Shields Down to 78%! Evasive Maneuvers!<\/strong><\/p>\n

One hand for the ship. That\u2019s the repeated advice from crew members and in the welcome binder. A free hand to steady oneself should the ship roll as a result of heavy seas or a sudden change in course (say, to avoid an iceberg or something). There\u2019s a good reason for this advice \u2013 as we make our way through the Drake Passage this morning, we\u2019re rocking and rolling like a perpetual motion machine modeled on a theme park swinging pirate ship ride. It started sure enough last night as I felt the motion of the ocean. I\u2019m not seasick but I\u2019m definitely feeling it.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been up for a few hours, grabbing a shower that required one hand for the ship and one hand for the soap. The bathroom is a flood-friendly single room of sink, toilet, and shower, with hand rails throughout to ensure stability. It was a unique experience trying to shower one handed. On the plus side, despite the water temps being super sensitive to the slightest movement of the faucet knob, it was warm and soothing.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

There is a reason there are seasick bags tucked into the hand railings of the hallways and stairwells. Fortunately, I haven\u2019t had need of them so far. Touch wood, knock wood, etc. I hear the difference between touching wood and knocking wood is whether the culture embraces the notion of wood nymphs as lucky and advantageous or evil, mischievous creatures. You\u2019re either trying to make friends or scare them off.<\/p>\n

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The PA system has just announced the 7:30 AM wakeup and to inform us that the winds are 16 knots with a gentle roll of the seas. The air temperature is 6.9 degrees Celsius and the sea is supposedly 6 degrees.<\/p>\n

As I stumble about the ship, I\u2019m not sure I agree with the \u201cgentle\u201d roll adjective. This is the reason Captain Jack Sparrow is always drinking his rum \u2013 perhaps drunk, I would walk a straight line. Marathon Tours should advise the Medoc Marathon as a training exercise for this adventure! Fortunately, I have run Medoc and am prepared to roll with the seas.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Kevin\u2019s Log \u2013 Supplemental \u2013 8:45 AM<\/strong><\/p>\n

At breakfast this morning we were told this is an incredibly gentle roll on the seas\u2026 that this may be the smoothest the Drake Passage crossing has been in many a voyage for this crew of seasoned seamen and sea women. I hope that\u2019s the case. I\u2019m feeling a bit under slept, not sure if that\u2019s due to a cumulative effect of early start times and restless nights or the surprisingly energy depleting efforts to roll with the ship. Regardless, I *thought* I slept well last night\u2026<\/p>\n

One quick note \u2013 I\u2019m never sure if you should feed potential seasickness or starve it. I gather from Brooklyn<\/em> (2015) and various other sources that contain oceanic travel featuring seasickness that the less food in the stomach the better. But I could\u2019ve sworn I read somewhere that a solid base was the way to go to settle the stomach. I went with heavy but tasty pancakes this morning, some fruit, and a small bowl of cereal. The food, while presentation wise is a bit cafeteria buffet style, is quite good\u2026 and perhaps dangerous for a non-running runner.<\/p>\n

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I did sign up for the treadmill tonight at 6:30 PM, if only to say I\u2019d done it. I figure I\u2019ll walk it and just see what it\u2019s like on the rolling seas. I\u2019ve obviously used a treadmill as a last resort on Disney Cruise Line when the running deck is closed but it really is the worst way for me to get a run in. But when in Rome\u2026 or when in Antarctic waters\u2026<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Kevin\u2019s Log \u2013 Supplemental \u2013 11:48 AM<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am kitted out. The crew split the ship into Port and Starboard side groups for ease of presentation. As Starboard, we started the morning getting outfitted for wetsuits and boots. We\u2019ll be wearing these on excursions and getting in and out of the zodiacs. There will be many, many photos of us in this gear but I really wanted one of me amidst the storeroom of gear. A silly indulgence, an over-share of mundaneness, but it seemed in my head like this was a moment, a moment that needed to be documented. This, the beginning of the sailor man.<\/p>\n

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I finally figured out how to open the window in our cabin with a great deal of input from Meg. It\u2019s a bit more than \u201crighty-tighty, lefty loosey\u201d but only because of a half twist and jibe ho befitting a sailing vessel.<\/p>\n

Given our shared bathroom facility, I need to pitch to my neighbors the idea of not only knocking but announcing entering the bath with, \u201cPrepare to Jibe! Jibe ho!\u201d This is a long, long ago story but I was obsessed with this phrasing because I always thought the cry of a sail being released and moving was \u201cPrepare to JIVE\u2026 Jive Ho!\u201d I was heartbroken to learn I had misheard and been mispronouncing the command. To this day I still want to say, \u201cJive ho!\u201d when I move. Maybe I will\u2026 once a malapropism takes hold, sometimes it subsumes the reality.<\/p>\n

I crashed and burned thereafter though trying to grab a nap. But the wetsuit outfitting was being called by decks so every ten to fifteen minutes there was a PA announcement calling the next deck to the \u201cmud room\u201d for their fitting. It was a sleep by a thousand cuts of consciousness. I felt worse rather than better by the time it was out turn to swap with the Portside passengers and see a presentation on Penguins by crew expert Antje.<\/p>\n

It was a PowerPoint presentation in the converted dining room and the gentle rocking of the ship coupled with a darkened, overly warm room made for a tough mental sit. Antje was a knowledgeable resource but I was struggling. I\u2019ve forgotten much already but still here are a few notes that I scribbled down at some point:<\/p>\n