Drone image © Steve Reed Dec 2024
With regard to the calm ocean, I guessed that our luck could not hold out. Sure enough, about twelve hours ago the sea conditions began to change. It was very rapid. Previously, we had been ploughing through the waves like a water skier on a summer lake and now the ship was going up and down as though on a never-ending fairground ride.
Have you ever suffered from seasickness? I have and it's a terrible condition to endure. Up and down, your stomach rising into your mouth. You might find yourself lying in your cabin unable to do a damned thing - just praying silently for the undulating motion to cease. Fortunately, I remembered to bring some "Sea Legs" motion sickness pills with me so I am feeling A.O.K.. Pity I don't have any to spare.
Out on deck, several bloggers were groaning as they bent over the railings emptying their stomachs. Heave-ho! Their faces were pale grey, tinged with green. "Ohhhh!" spluttered Nurse Pixie from Alberta, Canada as she rushed from her cabin, spewing her guts up before she could reach the railing. As all nurses know, vomit is slippery stuff but thankfully I successfully dodged it as it swished about the deck.
Half the crew members are suffering too. I believe that "The Jolly Puffin" has a crew of seven, including Captain Flounders and even he has had to take some time out from his wheelhouse duties.
Seaspray bursts explosively from the bows every time we plunge into another trough.
Hysterically, Jennifer repeatedly yelled, "Oh God! We are going to sink!". It was sending shockwaves through the rest of the passengers so I held her shoulders and shouted at the top of my voice, "Pull yourself together lass! We are not going to sink!" This seemed to quieten her down but she continued to tremble like a leaf and barfed inelegantly once more.
How mountainous these seas are! We are meant to make Tristan da Cunha tomorrow morning - New Year's Eve - but I will be happy just to survive this ordeal. I can hear Dave Northsider and Mary Moon in their shared cabin singing a hymn of the sea above the roar of the ocean:-
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
You KNOW I have a horror of drowning, and here you are laughing at my distress! I thought we were all goners for awhile there. :)
ReplyDeleteI wasn't laughing dearheart*.
Delete*dearheart = term of affection popularised by blogger John Gray from North Wales.
My grandma called her grandchildren dearheart. Thank you for bringing back this memory. Happy New Year!
DeleteI once felt terribly sea-sick on the cross channel ferry. I decided to go out on deck for some fresh air, and as I opened to door I was hit by a huge wave. Instant cure!
ReplyDeleteI prefer "Sea Legs" myself.
DeleteAfter this vivid description, I am even more glad that other obligations kept me from joining you all on this trip!
ReplyDeleteDid you get the message about the parachute drop? The RAF Atlas C1 will soon be heading south from the aerodrome on Ascension Island.
DeleteI'm reminded of that famous painting, Rembrandt I think, a ship on the stormy seas of Galilee? Anyway, I'm glad you remembered your sealegs tablets but sorry others didn't think to bring their own supply.
ReplyDeleteYes Rembrandt - but the difference between The Sea of Galilee and the South Atlantic Ocean is mind-boggling.
DeleteSeals don't lay eggs.
ReplyDeleteI know a few other wise sayings about animals:
DeleteDead birds don't fly.
You can't milk a bullock.
Pigs will eat anything.
I assume that you will be aboard the RAF Atlas C1 when it flies down from Ascension Island later today. It will be good to meet you after all this long time but don't expect me to hug you! After all, I am a Yorkshireman.
I've been on the great white sick telephone all night. Talking to Hughie and Ralph the sick gods.
ReplyDeleteI could hear you in your cabin and Ms Moon from North Florida yelling, "Tell Hughie and Ralph we're coming!"
DeleteAt least the ships carrots are organic.
DeleteA nice plateful of tripe and onions should sort you all out.
ReplyDeleteYou're talking tripe JayCee!
DeleteWould you like me to have 'Sailing By' music playing as you reach the island? Famous for its continuous use every night on the BBC after the shipping forecast.
ReplyDeleteThat's a splendid idea. We can have it blasted out from the island's loudspeaker system which was installed to warn of volcanic eruptions.
DeleteSo, remind me of the purpose of this trip to Tristan da Cunha?
ReplyDeleteWho picked this destination?
ReplyDeleteAh, no. I wouldn't be singing a hymn to beg an invisible god for safety. I'd be belting out the sea chantey I learned as a kid in school.
ReplyDeleteCape Cod girls they have no combs
(Heave away, heave away)
They come their hair with codfish bones
We are bound for Australia!
Heave away my bully, bully boys, heave away!
Heave away and don't you make a noise
We are bound for Australia!
Also, THC works wonders for sea sickness.
Are we doomed to be cast onto the rocks? Does the RNLI operate in Tristan da Cunha?
ReplyDeleteThank goodness I don't usually get seasick. In Florida we grow up on boats so I've been spared that affliction so far in my life. And thank goodness my drone shot worked! Please don't make me swab the decks...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if thee is any other post about barfing in the whole blog world?
ReplyDeleteWhat will we do with a drunken sailor?
ReplyDeleteWhat will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning!
Happy New Year, Neil! Wishing you and your family a wonderful 2025!
ReplyDeletePerhaps next year you could arrange to have the ceremony someplace that is not so f&*$%@g isolated. I here London has some lovely venues, or Italy, or anyplace that is not in the middle of nowhere.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen the movie, "Triangle Of Sadness"? There is a fifteen minute scene of vomiting on a luxury yacht, at the Captain's dinner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HxuMch6dNA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUk_nNULRJY from 24:00 to about 32:00 if you have the time to spare.
ReplyDelete