Off to Sea

 When we joined the Viking group at the Ushwaya airport David and I looked at each other and laughed. Some people had bags as big as a trunk but every person had a lot more bags than we did. We are definitely underdressed and happy. 

Once on board our ship we quickly found our berth. We booked the “cheap seats” but they are pretty snazzy.   But it took us awhile to unpack as we had to get briefed and tested. 

As for the briefing, as the largest and last actual wilderness area in the world there is an international  commission that is working hard to keep it that way.  So all clothing that leaves the ship has to be checked and cleaned of any possible biohazards. So hats or gloves are checked and thoroughly vacuumed of any bits of leaves, seeds, hairs etc. before they can be used when leaving the ship. Boots are treated with a biocide leaving and returning to the ship. And with the advent of an Avian flu outbreak extra measures have been taken including no kneeling squatting or laying down on the ice. 

We’ve been briefed on how to react when attacked by birds (Sarah, take special note) and the correct protocol when approached by a penguin in the wrong lane. (Oh wait, it’s their home so how can there be a wrong lane? More on that later) 

We were also tested for submarine suitability. 

  1.  Walk between these two chairs. Ok, good you fit. 

  2.  Do a 1/2 squat like you are going to sit but don’t.  Ok, good you can stand up. Great, you didn’t fall down. 

  3.   Stand next to this chair. Put your right foot up (on the chair) Put your right foot down, put your left foot up…….  You get the picture. 

You Pass!  Come to the briefing at 3:00 pm. 

And we’re off!

 

It took a while to get out to sea. During that time we had the sub briefing. Hmm, do we really want to do this?  No guarantee that the weather will allow it. Penalty if you choose to not show up. A number of other caveats. People started to leave halfway through.  “What will you see?” was asked. “Well, there are no guarantees. Oh, wait..  you’ll see the bottom 😊!”

About this time the boat pilot was picked up and we saw our last bit of land.   And with that the waves picked up. 

Melanie put on a Scopolamine, we closed the blackout curtains and called it a night!