Sea sick on Drake Lake

9 November 2022

I woke up woozy around 4am. This was weird.

Having packed the most important stuff carry-on I literally shoved my unopened case under the bed – tomorrow’s problem. I have two days at sea to unpack.

Now clearly the tablets I had taken was not doing its thing and I was wondering if the dried ginger I packed might be helpful. Only problem is, it is somewhere in my suitcase under the bed.

I got up.. dragged it out. I had to remove the luggage glove after actually concentrating to ensure that I have the correct combination to open the lock…. . Luggage glove removed I still had to unlock the case with yet another combination lock…

Eventually I opened the case on the floor between the bed and the cupboard. HUUUUUUGE mistake as I was now sitting on my haunches balancing over the case… with my head hanging down trying to find stuff and also kind of sorting stuff to go into cupboards as I was afraid I was not going to get the case shut after this little exercise.

I found the ginger and took some… it did not help. Nor did the water next to my bed. Too stubborn to give up I packed little heaps of stuff all over the floor and bed… closed and shoved the case under the bed.

[Lesson learned – Packing Cubes. For the next trip I grouped items in packing cubes with little paper identifyers e.g. “T-Shirts & Fleece”, “Leggings”, “Beanies & Gloves” on top of items – can view through the mesh. Also unpack FIRST thing when get to cabin, just in case things get rough early in the cruise – which is easy – transfer packing cubes from suitcase to drawers/shelves.]

The damage was done… I was super sick. Nothing stayed in for more than a few minutes – at best. I shoved little heaps of stuff into the drawers in between bathroom visits and collapsing on the bed.

I remember sitting on the bathroom floor staring at my feet and the wall for what my watch says was two hours. Or just hanging onto the bathroom sink half lying on my arms trying to breathe. At some point lying on the bed thinking.. they’re going to find you here in your pj’s – dead… surrounded by little heaps of stuff on the floor and on the bed.

I eventually did get up and managed to shower and dress into something respectable somewhere in the morning before lying down again. I remember the captain over the PA system saying something about it being a very calm crossing… 3 meter waves. Really, really? So what the hell is wrong with me? At least I managed to watch most of the mandatory lectures streamed to the TV.

Somewhere I called Reception to ask about alternative meds. They said I can come fetch some on Deck 6. There were no baggies in the cabin and none I could think of between my cabin and Reception. Later on I saw them mostly situated around the Atrium Area. I thought.. “I can barely make it from the bed to the bathroom, but if you want me to come down to Reception.. it’s on you.”

I did somehow make it there… there is a lift relatively close to my cabin and it is was available immediately. It is about 10m from the lift to Reception desk. The lady gave me alternative medicine, which I immediately took. Also one for 12 hours later.

She also directed me to the restaurant – which was just closing up after either lunch or breakfast, I can’t be sure. Apples – green apples. The request was met with sympathetic smiles from the restaurant staff – they clearly know about the green apples. They gave me a bowl and few to take to the cabin.

[Lesson learned – I collected a bowl of three green apples from the restaurant staff at the earliest opportunity after boarding the next cruise.]

Within about an hour and half I felt much better. I think this was the day we were supposed to vacuum the gear. I remember actually making that trip although I did not have much to vacuum, everything was new. But you had to show up at the assigned ‘vacuum station’ to confirm that you ‘attended’ the mandatory lecture regarding IAATO requirements.

Then there was the whale incident. I had cleaned my memory cards in preparation for the trip and put them all in one place. Being on meds and not really being prepared and just being me… there came an announcement over the PA… whales have been sighted. I grabbed my little Sony camera – cellphone being on charge – and moved to Deck 10 at the stern as fast as my still wobbly body would allow… pumped up on adrenaline. It’s not really whale time yet, so who knows if I’ll actually get another chance to see a whale on this trip.

I got some really nice pictures… blows… the top of the body.. fins… correction WOULD have got some nice pictures had there actually been a memory card in the camera. Enough said.. needless to say.. next time.. the camera is not closed up before ensuring that there is an operational card in there.

As for the rest, I kept a low profile and took my new meds. Things were looking up.