Some might argue that we’re not there yet, since today we’re in South Shetland Islands, but who would argue that Manhatten wasn’t on the American Continent because it’s not actually attached?
Semantics aside, we’re here, back below the 60th parallel for the second time in our lives. This time, because our ship is smaller than 500 peeps, we’re going to get ashore each day - weather permitting.
Each cabin is given a random colour grouping, and we are green so our slot is 15:30 today, the last group of the day. As the weather has thus far improved by the hour that would seem to be fortunate but of course tomorrow it could be the opposite- indeed the weather just changes every 10 minutes.
Already we’ve done our 10 miles, and as we walked we enjoyed glorious sunshine and freezing cold fog plus the odd bit of precipitation. Happily hot chocolate, and later gluwein, were in plentiful supply to stoke the furnace. Indeed the sweet cinnamon smell wafting up to deck nine from the bar below has become a comforting carrot dangling at the end of our 160 laps these last few days.
After a lovely lunch under the heaters at the Collonade restaurant, we’ve prepared with multiple layers, and everything is packed in anticipation of our call to the boot room.
Finally we’re on a Zodiac, rubber inflatables with huge cylindrical sides. We sit on these sides and hang on as we speed from the ship towards dry land. The journey is fairly calm and only takes 15 minutes before we make our ungainly exit.
Instantly a penguin walks past us, within a few meters. Officially we must give them a five meter birth, but as they tend to walk in odd routes, if one comes up to you the rule is different - stand still and just let it pass. In practice they are rather blasé about our presence so a slow and cautious movement is fine and doesn’t ruffle any feathers.
There are dotted in groups all around the area, mostly about two to three dozen family units per group, each unit at least one of the parents plus one or two chicks. They all look adorable, but let’s be clear - than goodness Apple hasn’t created an olfactory chip yet, the stench of guano is in the air and it is rotting fish!!
Further up the beach right in the middle of a group was a huge elephant seal, basking in the sun and busily moulting. Further yet we found mama and son, all doing the same. It takes two week to change overcoat during which time they can’t swim so live on reserves.
After a gentle wander we headed up the spurr towards our departure point, watching Skuas, a giant petrel and more penguins on the way. After using the “guanomatic” to clean our boots we jumped back into a Zodiac and took the roller-coaster route back, complete with freezing sea-water-flume!
A very quick change and it’s time to get to the jacuzzi and enjoy a few more gluwein. Soon after it’s the briefing on tomorrow’s plans, then home to dress for dinner - we decided champagne and caviar was a good idea at this time.
We went up the the pool and had a fabulous rib-eye in sub-zero temperatures accompanied by a few other hardy types. Even the heaters struggled to keep off the cold but the experience is one well not forget in a hurry!
Finally sorted out today’s photos and reduced to 55 “must post” ones, sorry to all my followers! ... Actually they didn’t upload so I’ll try again tomorrow.
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