Blogs from Antarctica, Antarctica - page 4

Reached land late on 3/7. A very smooth crossing in good weather. Spent 3/8 in zodiacs crusing among the bays around South Shetland Islands with a wet landing (all landings are wet)at Roberts Is, 1st up close and personal encounter with Chinstrap Penguins and Fur Seals. Climbed around and chased by the more aggressive fur seals and at top of Is found a glacier and a beautiful lake, a surprise! March 9, Marathon Day. Woke to a stormy cold generally dreary day, rain and very windy. Got to the race via zodiac, and quickly removed all rain gear and set up to run. The course was 3 loops out and back from Russia's Bellinghausen station to Uruguay, back to Russia and west to Chile and finally China's base before turning around and doing it 3 more ... read more

We sailed from Ushuai across the drake passage for two days, then landed at on the south shetlands Islands. We continued to head south for the Antarctic circle, which we eventually got too All the penguins, seals and wildlife and the shear scale of the place were breathtaking Here's a snapshot of my best pics... read more

Perfect travels with no complications. Arrived in Ushuaia and spent few hrs before getting on boat. Went up to a glacier viewing perfect day. Have a Tea House there, something out of Alice in Wonderland. Great tea and hot chocolate! On the ship 24 hrs now and in the Drake passage. Slept like a baby! Today a bit rougher. Feeling great with scopolomine patch. Saw vultures and whales but most interesting site was watching a small boat chase us last night around 9pm and thinking they were pirates, I was very excited only to find out we had a Pilot on board from Ushuaia that only stays on board until we are outside the country boundrys and in the open ocean. The pick up boat runs along side us and we dont' slow down and we ... read more

Heading north now to The Fauklands 17th January The day before yesterday was a blue day – perfect for photographs and we saw the most majestic scenery in bright sunlight. There were whales, penguins a plenty and seals to photography and most of the people on board spent the whole day outside. Needless to say there were sunburnt faces last night. No protection from pollution here. We cruised past two research stations down the passageways to Decepcion Island, the South Shetland Island, Half Moon and Livingstone Island. The sea is full of small icebergs that the ship is negotiating and gently pushing aside and avoiding the huge ones that look like white/blue palaces in fairytales. Photography does not do credit to what we are seeing but I’ve taken hundreds of images. Last night, being a clear ... read more

16th January half Moon Island, Decepcion Island, South Shetland Island. Yesterday was a blue day – perfect for photographs and we saw the most majestic scenery in bright sunlight. There were whales, penguins a plenty and seals to photography and most of the people on board spent the whole day outside. Needless to say there were sunburnt faces last night. No protection from pollution here. We cruised past two research stations down the passage ways to Decepcion Island, the South Shetland Island, Half Moon and Livingstone Island. The sea is full of small icebergs that the ship is negotiating and gently pushing aside and avoiding the huge ones that look like white/blue palaces in fairytales. Photography does not do credit to what we are seeing but I’ve taken hundreds of images. Last night, being a clear ... read more

HEAR COMES THE SUN at least for now. The blue sky does indeed enhance the dramatic, rugged, snow covered peaks. Pintata petrels sour in the wake. These birds have a black and white checkerboard pattern to their feathers. I forgot to mention that I observed my first ever glacier calving last night while enjoying a drink and the Ocean Bar before dinner. Jan, Gloria, Fred and I who met on the cooking tour, meet in the evening before dinner to chat about our day. I also forgot to mention that as I walked around the ship yesterday, everyone had these silly, happy smiles on their faces. We are indeed, despite the weather, a happy ship. The scenery today is so dramatic that I have been popping out on the balcony in my bathrobe while writing this. ... read more

15thJanuary We made it to 65 degrees yesterday afternoon before being forced to turn round because of fog and ice in a narrow channel. We got just beyond Palmer station, which is a US research facility. We have 16 of their scientists on board who came by two zodiacs from the station yesterday afternoon. They came aboard up a rope ladder apparently to deck 3! - I don't know how, or if, they are going back to their station, as we are cruising away from it now. They gave a talk on their work yesterday and we are being encouraged to approach them where ever we see them around the ship but you know what we British are like - we would not even talk to them in the dining room (where they were eating for ... read more

Actually going to Palmer Station which is not on the list. Friday 13th January 2012 A quiet passage across from Patagonia (the southern area of south America) and we woke to calm waters and grey skies. We must have escaped the bad weather. Everyone is very excited on the ship about the prospect of seeing Antarctica later today. Its much colder now – below zero outside and everyone wrapped up even though they are still marching round the deck. Last night it was still light at 10.30pm and tonight it will be even later. We are now well inside Antarctic waters at 62 degrees south and 061 degrees west. We have been told to not allow light through our cabin windows so I expect the decks will be dark tonight. All to do with birds being ... read more

We flew from BA on the 7 December down to Ushuia a port town where we will board a ship the following afternoon. Ushuia is also known as the end of the world being the most southern town before the pole. The next day we decided to take a trip out to Tierra du Fuegio national park to have a look around being departing for Antartica. Boarded the Polar Pioneer at 4 pm and were cleared through customs and under way by 6 pm. It was a lovely calm trip up the Beagle Chanel for the next 5 hours and everyone were in a very excited mood. Once we left the Beagle we entered the South Antartic Ocean which can be unforgiving but we had a dream run with large rollers pushing the boat from side ... read more

The text for testing...... read more