Thank You Russia...

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Russia is cold. It seems strangely appropriate.  I mean really....when you think of Russia you think of fur hats and bundling up in Siberia.  You think of Dr. Zhivago....snow, trains and arm muffs....am I right?

Midnight watches suck when it is snowing sideways.  When you step outside and get a face full of snow....the kind of face full of snow that hurts all you can think is, 'what the hell am I doing here?!'. 

Snow blowing sideways and below freezing temperatures make me feel guilty that I'm a Mate.  I spend the majority of my watch in the cargo control room.  I go out on rounds about the deck however; I do two rounds an hour.  My watchstanders spend the entireity of their watch on deck.  Our ship doesn't spend much time in very cold weather which means that the deck isn't outfitted for cold.  There are no heated spaces outside of the house.

I joined my first ship in Seattle, Washington at the end of November (I was 22).  She got underway the next day for Alaska.  I spent 4 months aboard as an AB and realized exactly how brutal winter at sea truly is (a cold day ashore is nothing compared to even a chilly day at sea).  I was working on getting time on a tanker because, I didn't have the credentials to allow me to sail officer on a tanker....only other types of vessels.  Sailing AB was probably the best thing I ever did - it gave me some experience but, most importantly it gave me a little perspective....like, how cold you get when you stand a deck watch.

Being back in cold weather has me reminiscing about Alaskan winters.  One of my biggest reasons to leave Alaskan waters was that I truly didn't want to do another winter.  I soon found myself enjoying a Persian Gulf summer and decided then and there that I'd take an Alaskan winter any day over a Persian Gulf summer.....now that I'm back in the cold I'm wondering if maybe I should revise that statement! 

I didn't really expect to be really cold this trip.  I didn't bring my fleece neck warmer.  Do you know what this means?  It means that I'm wearing a coral colored pashmina around on deck.  It's bad enough that I wear a fuschia colored carhartt jacket....but paired with a coral colored scarf....talk about a shipboard fashion faux pas!  I'm pretty sure my shipmates (and the dockmen) think I'm freakin' crazy.  (I won't even tell you what it means that I forgot my waterproof gloves.  Think red vinyl....seriously.)

Being cold in Russia is making me yearn for a fur hat....you know the exact style of hat I'm referring to.  I bet if I wore a Russian fur cap no one would even notice that I was wearing a pashmina!  If only I had a fur hat like that when I was up in Alaska....

Wanna know another thing about being cold on a ship?  It has this magical ability to bond the crew.  Everyone is cold...and everyone knows that everyone is cold.  Before you know it people are pitching in to help one another just a little bit more.  Team work is slightly more prevalent.  Shipmates start taking care of one another just a little bit more.....because they secretly want to get taken care of.  I'm also amazed by how suddenly people are ready to have fun.  You'll see way more joking around...way more horsing around....way more chatting in rough and severe weather.  It's as if suddenly people realize that they have the ability to create fun.  Spontaneous snow ball fights on deck?  Yes please!

So, Russia, thank you.  Thank you for helping me remember just how awesome a shipboard winter wonderland can be. Thank you for reminding me of the days where I came into the house so cold that I had to start rewarming my toes with cold water and slowly increase the temperature.  Thank you for validating the purchase of 30 dollar wool socks.  Thank you for reminding me that at one time I was just another young pup on deck who got nervous when they had to tend the lines when they got icy.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to wear all the cold weather gear I packed....it makes me feel so much better about my heavy bags.  Thank you for reminding me how amazing a cup of hot cocoa can be.  Thank you for reminding me that there is fun to be had - and that snow ball fights are never a bad idea.  But mostly, thank you for reminding me that at one time I was an AB whose Mate sat in the cargo control room (which is the polite way to say: thank you for helping remind me to not be a douche bag Mate to my AB's).

Black Sea Smoke

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 Well Nautie Friends....it's freakin' cold out.  I mean really cold.  It's been stormy, stormy, stormy.  Our port isn't taking any ships due to Gale Force winds and so we (along with every other ship imaginable) have been drifting waiting for the weather to clear.  By drifting I mean getting blown sideways by 50 knot winds. Last night it finally got well below freezing and things started to ice up.  I haven't seen ice since I was fresh out of school sailing in Alaska!  It was borderline exciting....until I remembered that pretty soon I'd be turning valves instead of standing in a toasty bridge....and that they'd be frozen.....and I'd be cold and cranky.

The term 'toasty bridge' may also be relative.  I'm currently on the bridge wearing long underwear (tops and bottoms), a tank top, a polo shirt and, a jacket....and my Uggs.

When I was a cadet I was on a containership that crossed from Hawaii to California - it was the middle of the summer but as soon as we'd hit the open Pacific it would be chilly.  I had one measly fleece jacket.  The Second Assistant Engineer took me to task and said, 'Let me tell you something cadet....SHIPS MOVE!  You always, always, always pack cold weather gear!'.  I've never joined a ship without long undies and smart wool socks since. 

Let me tell you what, those undies and socks have been necessities of late.  Who knew a Mediterranean winter was so much colder than a Mediterranean summer! 

Last night we had sea smoke.  Tres cool.  This happens when the air temperature is substantially colder than the sea temp.  It's eerie....but gorgeous.  Wispy fog curls off the ocean....it literally looks like smoke.  I saw it quite often up in Alaska - and it's been fun to see again.

The other thing about the Black Sea?  It's dark!  This sunrise occured at approximately 0900.  Seriously.  Sea smoke, ice and darkness?  I'm glad this is only going to last for another week or so!

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the record....to take these photos I'd run outside snap two or three and then run back inside....FRIGID!  Enjoy more in the gallery below!

 

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Eye Of The Storm

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It feels great to be back in calm waters.  Despite the seasickness and the exhaustion I have to admit that heavy weather is strangely exhilerating. The sun popped out for a few minutes - just long enough to make a rainbow.  Loves it.

 I took a series of photos using a 'quick burst' feature on my camera.  It allows me to snap away while the camera stays continuously focused.  It only kinda works.  It did however allow me to take a set that show a complete 'evolution'.  Getting smacked in the nose by a good wave riding it up and then back down.

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Here are a couple of shots that I liked.  Again, so frustrating that it doesn't look like terrible.  I'm hoping you look at some of the streaking on the waves and recognize that it's far greater than gale force winds!

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The Nautie Guide to Conquering Mal de Mer!

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Most Sailors will never admit they are seasick.  They'll curl up in a ball on the floor and blame it on galley food before they admit that they're feeling a little green around the gills.  I announced to my watch that I was feeling a little queasy.  They were horrified.  AB:  Mate, I don't think you should admit that...

ME:  Why?

AB:  It might make you seem a little less....

ME:  Ummm....manly?

AB:  Yeah, manly.

ME:  Riiiight....so, will you please go down to the galley and get me some saltines?  (For the record - I only said riiiiight - I didn't make the 4-8 fetch me saltines - I had already had the 12-4 fetch them.  I thought it made the encounter sound a bit better - ha. Oh, and the numbers indicate what hours the individual stands watch and, it's how we refer to the ABs sometimes.  As in, 'did you call the 4-8?'.)

I normally bring dramamine with me to work.  It usually makes me feel better lickity split.  Remember how I got fancy new luggage for work this time?  Well, I had to pack much lighter.  I normally have a navigation bag and a ditty bag - this time I combined the two into one slightly larger bag - the ditty bag got left behind.  Big mistake, huge......the dramamine was in the front pouch.  (Aunt Pooder, this is the hot pink ditty bag you gave me when I joined my first ship.  It will never be left behind again!  Lesson learned!  Like Aunt Gene said, 'everything has a place and every place has its thing'!!)

Because I didn't have the trusty dramamine I had to take care of things the old fashioned way.  Some of my remedies are slightly 'no duh' worthy - even if its only a mental remedy it's still worth it if it makes me feel a little better! 

Here's what I do:

  • Drink lots of water.  Water feels fresh and clean as it goes down.  I avoid drinking anything that might make me feel 'sluggish'.  Go easy on that dairy!
  • Double up on vitamins.  This way, if I get sick my body is slightly less depleted.  I have no idea why I think this.
  • Saltines.  They seem to be the perfect 'stomach coater'.  They keep your belly full without over-stimulating.
  • Keep cool.  Literally.  I've never passed out but, I feel like I've been close.  You know that feeling you get where you start to feel overly warm and slightly woozy?  Avoid it.  Crack a window and let in some winter air.  Turn down the thermostat in your stateroom.  Don't over bundle.  Wash your face with cool water.  You get it.
  • Let your hair get a little wind blown.  Otter left a message that I should enjoy a little fresh air (thanks Pops!).  It gets a little tricky when it's blowing 50 knots and raining - but we'll pretend that conditions are mellow - in which case - Get some fresh air!  It will do wonders!
  • Now bring me that horizon!  Jack Sparrow was on to something.  You'll be amazed how much better you'll feel by just looking out a window - the results are even better if you can manage to be out on deck while looking at the horizon.
  • Take a little cat nap.  Laying down and closing your eyes sometimes provides instant relief.  Sadly, we can't stay in our racks all day long.  If you are at sea for pleasure (i.e. a cruise or a fishing expedition, etc.) then you really don't want to stay in your rack all day!  I find that even 20 minutes of horizontal relaxation can do the trick.
  • GINGER.  This probably should have been first on the list.  I can't stress enough the miraculous power this little root contains.  I asked the Steward (he's in charge of the galley) for two chunks of ginger.  I mostly prepare it in the tea form.  Just slice up a bit (or a large chunk) and pour hot water over it.  If you are able to bring it to a boil even better.  Lots of times I add lemon and honey just to trick it out a bit.  If I'm really feeling yucky then I chew on a bit.
  • Don't pull the trigger.  Being seasick is not the same as being hung over....although it does feel a little similar....you will not feel amazing after one good yarf.  I do my ultimate best to not throw up.  I have found that once I vomit I won't stop.  In all seriousness, this can be dangerous.  It can very, very quickly lead to dehydration and a whole slew of other issues. 

Here's what I DON'T do:

  • I don't do dairy.  It just makes me feel mucous-y and gross.  That sounds disgusting...but it's true!
  • I don't do sweets.  There seems to be a lot of downtime during rough weather - lots of 'waiting it out'.  Sweets need to be burned off and you won't be able to do that....you'll just end up with too much energy.
  • I go easy on the coffee.  Too much caffeine on an empty belly makes you feel queesy on a normal day - why do that to yourself on a yucky day?
  • I don't take showers.  Okay, I know this sounds weird.  For some reason when I take a shower I become completely disoriented and can't tell up from down.  If the ship is rockin' and rollin' and I let water pour over my head I suddenly feel like Alice in the Rabbit Hole.  If the weather lasts for more than a day then I sit on the toilet and use the shower wand to wash my hair only.  I don't stand in the shower in rough weather - ever. 
  • I don't sit in front of the computer.  Think reading a book in a car - same thing.  It takes about two nanoseconds for your eyes to be exhausted and your stomach to be rolling.

For some reason I find it glorious that the french word for seasickness contains my initials!  Which only makes sense since my initials mean ocean in french.  Mal de Mer.  It almost sounds lovely.  Which reminds me of the quote:  'Merde.  Shit always sounds better in french.'.  Too true.

Storm photos are being sorted and edited and will be up soon!

 

 

The Motion of the Ocean

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Sorry for the lack of posts BUT.... We're currently getting the shit kicked out of us by a winter storm.  We're exhausted.  Staying upright in heavy seas takes a lot of work and, trying to sleep when things are banging around and you're rolling around in bed just ain't easy.

PLUS, I'll admit it - I get a little seasick - staring at my computer screen just isn't on the agenda....neither is anything else that is yarf inducing.

I've been taking lots of photos and hopefully when things mellow out I'll get them posted.  I have a feeling that they will look incredibly mundane and you will all wonder what the big fuss was about!

In the meantime, I'm off to strap myself to my rack for a little cat nap.