Tuesday, 21 January 2014
We were awakened at 6AM this morning by the Captain making an announcement that we had passed the storm, and arrived at the opening to Hope Bay, where we planned to explore and get a closeup view of Esperanza Research Station. It didn't quite work out as planned because the winds and currents during the night had moved a huge region of pack ice from the Weddell Sea into Hope Bay and it was blocking our entrance. You may recall earlier this month the events surrounding the Russian Cruise ship and the Chinese rescue ship that both got stuck in pack ice in another area of Antarctica. Well our captain didn't want to go down in history as having stranded 1500 passengers in Antarctica ice so he chose to not enter Hope Bay. Minutes later he came back on the speaker and told us that the pack ice had begun to move toward us from both directions and that we needed to leave there immediately. It was fascinating to see just how quickly a situation can turn for the worse down here. The swift movement of the pack ice was clearly visible to us and it was coming straight for the ship so the Captain did a quick turn around and moved away from Hope Bay. Mother Nature put on an excellent show, reminding us who's really in charge. The first 5 photos show the ice pack quickly moving in around our ship. The rest of the photos show some of the beauty of Admiralty Bay and King George Island.
We were underway for just a few short minutes when suddenly everyone heard the fire alarm alert sound throughout the ship. Once again, we hear the Captain speaking to us and advising that smoke and a fire had been detected. He ordered the crew into alert status and to respond immediately to the fire area. Over the next hour we were kept well advised of the situation and where the incident occurred. Apparently, a forward thruster in the front of the ship had caused a small fire, but lots of smoke. We were told after an hour or so that the fire was under control. The entire crew acted very responsibly as did all of the passengers, although many were somewhat concerned, given where we are located geographically. It all added up to be a very exciting start to a beautiful day.
Since we couldn't get into Hope Bay the Captain altered the day's plans and headed across Bransfield Strait and into Admiralty Bay, surrounded by King George Island. Now this was a superb decision because the weather cleared up to give us crisp blue skies, incredible mountain and glacier vistas surrounding us, and lots of ocean wildlife all around the ship. We saw dozens of whales, some of them actually feeding on krill, some Crab-eater sea lions, and hundreds of Chinstrap, Adelie, and Gentoo penguins along the shore and many swimming and jumping alongside the ship. It all made for a spectacular afternoon. We also had time to enjoy an informative lecture on our next land destination, Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands. But we first have to successfully cross the Drake Passage again, which will begin a few hours from now after we pass by the last of Antarctic Islands, Elephant Island. This crossing will take all night, all day tomorrow, and all tomorrow night. We hope for good weather and calm seas. The reason this body of water is so dreaded is that it completely circumvents Antarctica with no land masses to slow it down or divert it. This allows huge rogue waves to form in these waters, some as high as 150 feet, with nothing to stop them.
Dinner tonight began with a delicious fruit cup garnished with avocado slices, then chilled apricot soup. Marla's entree was another chicken salad, and mine was the most tenderful braised beef brisket I've ever had. Dessert was a Peach Melba Sundae for Marla and I had another delicious fruit cup. I've tightened my belt one more notch!!!!
We're over half way now and we can see the calendar slipping by. We have mixed emotions about that, but even though we're having a wonderful time, we also recognize that life still goes on and we must return to it. So, please keep the home fires burning for us and we'll be home soon.
Love to all,
Tom and Marla
We were awakened at 6AM this morning by the Captain making an announcement that we had passed the storm, and arrived at the opening to Hope Bay, where we planned to explore and get a closeup view of Esperanza Research Station. It didn't quite work out as planned because the winds and currents during the night had moved a huge region of pack ice from the Weddell Sea into Hope Bay and it was blocking our entrance. You may recall earlier this month the events surrounding the Russian Cruise ship and the Chinese rescue ship that both got stuck in pack ice in another area of Antarctica. Well our captain didn't want to go down in history as having stranded 1500 passengers in Antarctica ice so he chose to not enter Hope Bay. Minutes later he came back on the speaker and told us that the pack ice had begun to move toward us from both directions and that we needed to leave there immediately. It was fascinating to see just how quickly a situation can turn for the worse down here. The swift movement of the pack ice was clearly visible to us and it was coming straight for the ship so the Captain did a quick turn around and moved away from Hope Bay. Mother Nature put on an excellent show, reminding us who's really in charge. The first 5 photos show the ice pack quickly moving in around our ship. The rest of the photos show some of the beauty of Admiralty Bay and King George Island.
We were underway for just a few short minutes when suddenly everyone heard the fire alarm alert sound throughout the ship. Once again, we hear the Captain speaking to us and advising that smoke and a fire had been detected. He ordered the crew into alert status and to respond immediately to the fire area. Over the next hour we were kept well advised of the situation and where the incident occurred. Apparently, a forward thruster in the front of the ship had caused a small fire, but lots of smoke. We were told after an hour or so that the fire was under control. The entire crew acted very responsibly as did all of the passengers, although many were somewhat concerned, given where we are located geographically. It all added up to be a very exciting start to a beautiful day.
Since we couldn't get into Hope Bay the Captain altered the day's plans and headed across Bransfield Strait and into Admiralty Bay, surrounded by King George Island. Now this was a superb decision because the weather cleared up to give us crisp blue skies, incredible mountain and glacier vistas surrounding us, and lots of ocean wildlife all around the ship. We saw dozens of whales, some of them actually feeding on krill, some Crab-eater sea lions, and hundreds of Chinstrap, Adelie, and Gentoo penguins along the shore and many swimming and jumping alongside the ship. It all made for a spectacular afternoon. We also had time to enjoy an informative lecture on our next land destination, Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands. But we first have to successfully cross the Drake Passage again, which will begin a few hours from now after we pass by the last of Antarctic Islands, Elephant Island. This crossing will take all night, all day tomorrow, and all tomorrow night. We hope for good weather and calm seas. The reason this body of water is so dreaded is that it completely circumvents Antarctica with no land masses to slow it down or divert it. This allows huge rogue waves to form in these waters, some as high as 150 feet, with nothing to stop them.
Dinner tonight began with a delicious fruit cup garnished with avocado slices, then chilled apricot soup. Marla's entree was another chicken salad, and mine was the most tenderful braised beef brisket I've ever had. Dessert was a Peach Melba Sundae for Marla and I had another delicious fruit cup. I've tightened my belt one more notch!!!!
We're over half way now and we can see the calendar slipping by. We have mixed emotions about that, but even though we're having a wonderful time, we also recognize that life still goes on and we must return to it. So, please keep the home fires burning for us and we'll be home soon.
Love to all,
Tom and Marla
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