ANTARCTICA!!!

Well, we made it!!! The initial (for what it’s worth) plan was to have one group (us) land on shore while the other half took a Zodiac Tour for 90 minutes, then switch. But, no suitable landing on the Continent was possible at 6AM, so they fell back to two Zodiac Tours. Ours was still first, so we departed at 6AM. Theresa was up at 4AM, so we went up top to see the view. It was supposed to have been about 4-6 10ths of ice. They grade the amount of ice coverage in tenths, so you can imagine about 50 percent of the surface being water, and 50% being ice. Strangely, there was almost NO ice in the Antarctic Sound. One person who was here last year, but a week later, said it was so choked with ice they couldn’t even get into the sound. So, strong winds must have cleared most of them away. However, the landing sites were clogged with icebergs. So, during our Zodiac tour, some of the crew worked with Zodiacs to clear the bergs away (tow and push). It worked! After about an hour, they made (and held) a clear spot to land.
All of the expedition crew carry radios, so we often get to hear them chattering with each other. But, this time, we heard the Expedition Leader talking to the Captain, and it was clear that they both shared the priority of getting us to make a Continental Landing. That probably impressed me as much as anything on this trip: their sincere interest in making this cruise everything the guests hope for it to be. For that, I have to give Silver Seas the highest marks. Well, almost…if they could fix the weather, THEN I’d give them TOP marks! :)


But, we had a rough and choppy approach and disembarkation from the Zodiac. Hats off to the landing crew! Four guys were standing in waders up to their chest (in water up to their stomach), catching the Zodiacs and turning us around and helping people out. But, we stood on the actual soil of the Continent of Antarctica (and a number of ice blocks). We were right in the midst of an Adelie (A-Day-Lee) Penguin colony. There seemed to be a few rookery areas, or perhaps it was just one big rookery with several neighborhoods. Anyway, as in any big “city”, the penguins were bustling about with their business of the day. Many took the time to stop on stare at the strange things coming on to their beach. But, there were long lines of commuters, a few busily gathering stones (they build their nests using pebbles), including stealing pebbles from each others nests. It was really funny watching this one guy sneaking up on another, and trying to steal a pebble, but getting caught, and a little squawking between them. We had a rough and bouncy ride back to the ship, but stayed dry almost all the way. When we arrived back on ship, they had Champaign waiting for us (what a treat!).














Theresa speaking here :-) Our second landing of the day was supposed to be Paulet Island. This is the location that Anton Larsen and his 17 men stayed in 1903 when their ship, the Antarctica, was crushed in pack ice. As we approached the island, however, the wind picked up to 60 knots, so, the captain made a u-turn and after discussion, decided to pull in between Joinville Island and Dundee Island. It was an interesting voyage there, passing an Argentinean research base on the way. After our cold and wet arrival and departure to Antarctica (Bill said we stayed dry almost all the way, which is true, but the final 2 minutes of the Zodiak ride back to the boat SOAKED us – well, at least me), I took one look at the white capped waves, and the wind stirring up the waters between us and the landing sight, and I decided to stay dry and warm. Bill bundled up in his attire and headed off to shore. Another Adelie penguin rookery waited, with some Gentoo penguins in the mix. I did a bit of laundry, then went up to the observation lounge and looked at the scenery and read a book while sipping a Pina Colada. Now, that is a vacation!