Live from the Wind(s) of Antarctica. Dec. 19, 2023.

[twangster]

Finally my group was called.

 

 

The kayakers had another outing today.

 

 

 

Once around the corner we could see the Silversea redcoat highway snaking up the mountain.

 

 

[twangster]

Dry landing onto the rocks and then the climb began.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost there...

 

[twangster]

The views were pretty spectacular.

 

 

 

 

 

There is a Chinstrap penguin colony up here.

 

 

 

 

Some of the penguins climb higher than we did to reach their nests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a few minutes it was time to descend the slip and slide but if penguins can do it...

 

 

 

 

 

Back to the ship!

 

 

 

[twangster]

360 Camera photos.

 

Orne Harbour View in 360

 

Orne Harbour Path in 360

 

 

 

[twangster]

Data from my watch.

 

Right around a one mile hike.

 

 

345' elevation gain

 

[twangster]

Daily briefing

 

Chiriguana Bay and Cuverville tomorrow.

 

 

and in between...  

 

[twangster]

Sunset took a long time to progress tonight well after 10pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Day Fifteen - Chiriguana Bay and Cuverville Antarctica

 

Position report:

 

 

We've been doing laps overnight in the Gerlache Strait.

 

 

[twangster]

Day 15 Chronicle:

 

2 JAN - Chiriguana Bay and Cuverville Antarctica.pdf

[twangster]

I'm pleased to report the internet has been stable at the consistent speed for the premium plan.

 

[twangster]

Our morning starts with opening the curtains to see... whales.

 

 

 

 

I'm going to miss this breakfast view.

 

[twangster]

Every zodiac rides starts and ends with a visit to the mud room to retrieve your boot and exchange for your ship footwear.  Here is the mud room on the Silver Wind.

 

 

[twangster]

This morning's zodiac tour of Chiriguana Bay is less about marine life and more about ice.

 

 

Kayakers had another outing this morning.

 

 

Beautiful weather again today makes the mountains pop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marcus brings a piece of ice into the zodiac.  We discuss various characteristics and the factors that shaped its features.

 

 

 

 

They point out a crevice on the glacial face and how these can be hidden from view when walking on a glacier but they are a danger that can easily trap a person.

 

[twangster]

Penguins are never far in Antarctica.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some zodiac selfies from my 360 camera.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 2 by twangster

[twangster]

Emily is our Geologist on the ship and today's she is our zodiac captain.  She talks about the volcanic history of the mountains all around us and the factors that shape some of the patterns we see on the icebergs such as this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After 75 minutes or so it was back to the ship.

 

[twangster]

We were on the ship just long enough to contemplate life and consider this next challenge.

 

The Polar Plunge.

 

They gathered victims, I mean participants by deck number.

 

 

Too late to back out now.

 

 

 

 

 

I survived!

 

 

Back in my suite I was able to watch some other participants enjoying the plunge.

 

 

 

[Tothesunset]

Just one question:

 

WHY??!! 

[twangster]

2 minutes ago, Tothesunset said:

Just one question:

 

WHY??!! 

It is premised entirely on peer pressure.  

[drron29]

Not for me. It was fun. i did the Arctic Polar plunge and 5 months later the Antarctic polar plunge. The Best was the Arctic plunge as my rope came adrift and I was able to go for a bit of a swim.

[twangster]

360 Photo from this morning's zodiac ride

 

Chiriguana Bay 360 Photo

[taxatty]

2 hours ago, Tothesunset said:

Just one question:

 

WHY??!! 

To see how fast you can get yourself out of the water once you're in. After many visits over the years to the freezing water at Sliding Rock in Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, the polar plunge was no big deal. It was lots of fun, especially with the warming bourbon afterward. 

[twangster]

Over lunch the ship repositioned to Cuverville Island which is close to where we were yesterday.

 

We've made it just ever so slightly more South than Orne Harbour.

 

[twangster]

After lunch I was waiting for the first zodiac groups to be called when this vessel sailed past.  Clearly smaller than the Wind bit still a respectable sized motor vessel.  More on that in a bit.

 

 

Clouding over.  Where are those beautiful blue skies?

 

 

So many interesting looking icebergs.

 

 

 

 

 

The pool has been open today and while not as warm as the hot tubs it was pretty warm today.   Steam was rising from the pool.

 

 

Always good to see the zodiacs being unloaded.

 

 

That respectable sized motor vessel now looks tiny next to the face of the glacier.  That is how big these glaciers are.

 

[twangster]

When it was my group's turn I headed down to the mud room and put my boots on.  This is another wet landing with a walk on land so the expedition team will be further sanitizing our boots left in the mud room overnight.

 

The ship has repositioned from earlier due to ice clogging up the bay.  The wind had shifted and increased in strength.  The zodiac ride was a little bumpy and didn't leave a lot of desire to take pictures.  However once we got closer the water settled and we had a magnificent view of that arched iceberg,

 

 

The redcoat highway was visible from our approach.

 

 

Look at all that ice in the bay.

 

 

 

 

The Silversea redcoat highway was distinct and separate from the penguin highway they have worn into the snow.

 

 

Gentoo penguins on the nest!