Day 14--Cut Short

One of the changes in the itinerary added Deception Island, an active volcano, collapsed just enough on one side to fill with sea water and let ships enter.  Back in 2008 we had the chance to “swim” in the caldera.  Not this time.  It was too cold and winds too high.  Regardless, we got out there and checked out the remnants of a century old whaling base, and a defunct research station.  Two parts of the station were quite interesting.  Initially, we heard there was a hangar there, and it was the first airfield in the Antarctic.  They fashioned an airstrip, and finally actually built a hangar for their Vega.  It was nice checking things out there.  Also, they were a fuel storage facility that was, uh, a little rough around the edges.  We also saw a few penguins.  It was nice.

Back on the ship, they had assorted German sausages, bratwurst, knockwurst, weisswurst, etc.  It was awesome!!  But they coupled it was Bass Ale, which, while also awesome…and also British.  It seemed incompatible with the German food.  Anyway…

The afternoon’s plan was to head to the Shetland Islands, and visit a colony of Chinstrap penguins.  They told us a few times it was going to be rough.  High winds, very cold, and we would definitely get wet getting back and forth to the island.  Theresa was sold…on not going.  She opted to stay here on the ship and stay warm and dry.  About four groups in (there are ten groups and we were to be #6), they ceased.  The winds exceeded the safe limit for Zodiac operations.  We went up top and sure it enough, the wind was pretty fierce!  Also, the whole group was huddled together on the shore, sort of taking cover behind a rock!  It was something between funny and pitiful!  At length, they started bringing people back.  Theresa saw a few…drenched!!  Like a dog pulled out of a pool, maybe?  Regardless, it was interesting watching them retrieve the Zodiacs and lift them back onto the ship. 

But that was the end of the excursions, and we are heading back across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas.  Of course, we don’t get there for two days.  Anyway, we went to a very nice dinner.  Afterwards, there was a “Parka Party” on the Pool Deck.  We spent about 4 minutes there, and concluded that 40 MPH 30F wind wasn’t where we wanted to enjoy a drink.

FYI…we haven’t been able to upload pictures because the connection has been really poor.  But we hope as we go North, we can connect to the satellite more reliably and catch up.