One of our most southern positions
Whale bones
Penguins in the foreground, mountains in the background
Port Lockroy
Views from the ship
Views from ship
Clear skiesThursday, March 3rd
Our final day in the Antarctic. We got an early wake-up call over the announcements as we were transversing the Lemaire Channel. This is a 7-mile by 1-mile passage that runs from False Cape Renard to Cape Cloos, separating Booth Island from the Antarctic continent. Kurt and I threw back the window drapes and watched the scenery. This area reminded me of the Norwegian fjords. Towering peaks in excess of 985ft on either side of the ship. The highlight was seeing a couple Minke whales breeching out our window. Incredible!!!
We made it through the Channel and on to Petermann Island, southwest of Hovgaard Island, in the Willhelm Archipelago. It was discovered by the Dallman expedition of 1873-1874 and named after August Petermann, a German geographer and supporter of polar exploration. The French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot and his vessel overwintered here in 1909. On the beach near the cove is an abandoned Argentinean refuge hut, built in 1955. There is also a memorial cross nearby for 3 British scientists who died near here in August 1982. Petermann island is home to Adelie penguins (500 breeding pairs), the most southerly colony of gentoo penguins in Antarctica (2,000 breeding pairs), and blue-eyed shags.
This island was incredible. This will be the furthest south I will ever be in my entire life. There was a huge rock that overlooked the sea where we captured some incredible pictures. Our whole group got together for the memorable shot. (to be posted later). We saw a few of the Adelie penguins - the 3rd species so far on the trip.
Back to the ship for some lunch. The afternoon found us in Pleneau Bay. Here we found an iceberg graveyard, where both large tabular icebergs and older, rolled icebergs have run aground. Many of these have originated from as far south as the Ross Ice Shelf. We took a 1-hour zodiac ride around these amazing icebergs. This trip was our last and most fun zodiac ride of our journey. When we got into the boats, the seas were relatively calm. By the time we were ready to return, the wind gust had picked up dramatically. The seas were angry - and I'm not over-stating this. Huge waves were crashing over the boat. We were getting soaked --- and loving it. The zodiac driver was holding on to me so she wouldn't go overboard. She said: "I hope you don't mind" I said - "You can do whatever you want to me - just stay in this boat". It was great. Better than the best roller-coaster I've ever been on. A few folks were getting a little scared - but it was a major adrenaline rush for me.
Late afternoon - we were supposed to be given the option of doing a Polar Plunge - jumping into the ocean. Due to the heavy winds, they called it off. I was bummed - I would have did it.
It's 10:10pm now, I'm sitting in the conference room catching up on the blog. We are heading back through the Shetland Islands right now, and will be enteriing the Drake Passage within the next 8 hours. We have been warned that we need to prepare for the "Drake Shake". On our trip here, the waters were relatively calm we were told - maybe a 2 on a sclae of 10 (I still almost fell out of bed). Tonight, we are to expect an 8 on the scale of 10. We should be seeing waves in excess of 30 ft. We're already jumping waves and we haven't even made it to the really bad stuff. I just put on the patch about 3 hours ago. This could get very, very interesting. The staff are all taking medication as well.
Here's to calm, peaceful waters ---- and a well-constructed ship ---------------------------- Keep the faith!!!!!!!!!!!
Our final day in the Antarctic. We got an early wake-up call over the announcements as we were transversing the Lemaire Channel. This is a 7-mile by 1-mile passage that runs from False Cape Renard to Cape Cloos, separating Booth Island from the Antarctic continent. Kurt and I threw back the window drapes and watched the scenery. This area reminded me of the Norwegian fjords. Towering peaks in excess of 985ft on either side of the ship. The highlight was seeing a couple Minke whales breeching out our window. Incredible!!!
We made it through the Channel and on to Petermann Island, southwest of Hovgaard Island, in the Willhelm Archipelago. It was discovered by the Dallman expedition of 1873-1874 and named after August Petermann, a German geographer and supporter of polar exploration. The French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot and his vessel overwintered here in 1909. On the beach near the cove is an abandoned Argentinean refuge hut, built in 1955. There is also a memorial cross nearby for 3 British scientists who died near here in August 1982. Petermann island is home to Adelie penguins (500 breeding pairs), the most southerly colony of gentoo penguins in Antarctica (2,000 breeding pairs), and blue-eyed shags.
This island was incredible. This will be the furthest south I will ever be in my entire life. There was a huge rock that overlooked the sea where we captured some incredible pictures. Our whole group got together for the memorable shot. (to be posted later). We saw a few of the Adelie penguins - the 3rd species so far on the trip.
Back to the ship for some lunch. The afternoon found us in Pleneau Bay. Here we found an iceberg graveyard, where both large tabular icebergs and older, rolled icebergs have run aground. Many of these have originated from as far south as the Ross Ice Shelf. We took a 1-hour zodiac ride around these amazing icebergs. This trip was our last and most fun zodiac ride of our journey. When we got into the boats, the seas were relatively calm. By the time we were ready to return, the wind gust had picked up dramatically. The seas were angry - and I'm not over-stating this. Huge waves were crashing over the boat. We were getting soaked --- and loving it. The zodiac driver was holding on to me so she wouldn't go overboard. She said: "I hope you don't mind" I said - "You can do whatever you want to me - just stay in this boat". It was great. Better than the best roller-coaster I've ever been on. A few folks were getting a little scared - but it was a major adrenaline rush for me.
Late afternoon - we were supposed to be given the option of doing a Polar Plunge - jumping into the ocean. Due to the heavy winds, they called it off. I was bummed - I would have did it.
It's 10:10pm now, I'm sitting in the conference room catching up on the blog. We are heading back through the Shetland Islands right now, and will be enteriing the Drake Passage within the next 8 hours. We have been warned that we need to prepare for the "Drake Shake". On our trip here, the waters were relatively calm we were told - maybe a 2 on a sclae of 10 (I still almost fell out of bed). Tonight, we are to expect an 8 on the scale of 10. We should be seeing waves in excess of 30 ft. We're already jumping waves and we haven't even made it to the really bad stuff. I just put on the patch about 3 hours ago. This could get very, very interesting. The staff are all taking medication as well.
Here's to calm, peaceful waters ---- and a well-constructed ship ---------------------------- Keep the faith!!!!!!!!!!!
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