February 3 - An evening update

 While we still have internet connection, I thought I'd provide an update.  We never got to go ashore in Ushuaia.  The Argentine authorities were slow to give clearance for tender operations, and to boot the wind never really moderated.  The cruise staff had to quickly come up with some pre-dinner activity.  Around 7 PM the captain came on to explain what was happening and to tell us what to expect tomorrow as we cross to Antarctica.  We'll weigh anchor and depart around midnight and the expectation is that from 6 AM to early afternoon it will be very rough. Then it should moderate.  While I was eating dinner the cruise director came over the PA system to tell us that they would be passing out some kind of medication stronger than whatever the usual one is at the guest services desk. If we got this pill, she explained we should take it at 5 AM, one hour before we hit the rough water.  One of my dinner companions was a retired anesthesiologist who told us whatever it is would make us very sleepy. Maybe that's the plan; we'll all sleep through the rough seas.  Anyway, I think the announcements did manage to get everyone's attention and the people I've passed since seem subdued.  We shall see how it goes.