Chile to Antarctica

Oktober - November 2024
  • Lorna Spaas
  • Paul Spaas
Chile to Argentina and Antarctica. The start of an adventure! Baca lagi
  • Lorna Spaas
  • Paul Spaas

Senarai negara

  • Argentina Argentina
  • Antartika Antartika
  • Chile Chile
  • Sepanyol Sepanyol
  • Belanda Belanda
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  • 20.0rbkilometer perjalanan
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  • Portal Point, Charlotte Bay, Antarctica

    31 Oktober 2024, Antartika ⋅ ☁️ -2 °C

    Paul was awake when my blue group was called to go ashore. I’m glad he was because it was a beautiful and sunny day!

    We managed to touch a rock of mainland Antarctica, not just an island in Antarctica. Wow!

    We had a lovely walk up the peninsula hill with a nice 350° view of the bay and mountains. There was also 2 sleeping seals in the far distance. At first they look like oblong rocks but one of the moved, and the snow between the two seals had been disturbed.

    Staff absolutely loved the snow and it was heart-warming to see them having fun, more so for those who have never seen snow in their lives! They work so hard, and I am just grateful that they are allowed off the ship, in between duties, to relax and enjoy themselves.
    Baca lagi

  • Sea Ice Walk

    31 Oktober 2024, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ -4 °C

    In the afternoon the Captain managed to pilot the ship into a shelf of sea ice off the mainland coast. During the first attempt, large cracks formed in the ice and a huge piece broke off. It took 2 or three goes before the ice was hard enough to withstand the force of the ship barging its way through, until there was enough distance past the gangway towards the back of the ship.

    Once that was done, someone was sent to test the ice, to see more or less how thick it was and how deep the snow was – for safety purposes. Then a small group of expedition team members set off carefully through the snow, from the gangway towards the bow of the ship and just beyond. They had a rope attached to the first person – in case he/she fell through the ice. But all was good, so the rest of the team set about trying to form a path through the snow that guests could walk through.

    Well, it didn’t quite work because we walked through slushy snow, often breaking through the top powdery layer and going through down to our needs to a harder layer of snow.

    Each colour group went out in turn, and even the staff got off. It was a fantastic time for everyone, to walk on a thick plate of ice. Crew set up a rope from the bow of the ship and people took turns to have a photograph of themselves ‘pulling’ the ship.

    Once everyone was on board, the Captain reversed the ship out of the ice sheet and we headed back out into the channel.
    Baca lagi

  • Polar Plunge, Gerlache Strait

    31 Oktober 2024, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ -4 °C

    Very soon afterward the ice walk, the ship was stopped so that guests could do the polar plunge.

    A team of staff were in 2 or 3 zodiacs on the water for backup and a zodiac was tied up next to the ship. One by one, guests disrobed in the boot room and a belt harness was wrapped around their waists, and then once on the zodiac, a rope was attached for safety and the guests could jump into the icy sea. A stiff drink was offered afterwards! There was a jolly atmosphere, music played, and all the staff were having a great time and the medical staff were to hand, watching but waiting in case of emergency, with an AED to hand. Paul slept through it all so I did the polar plunge without ‘backup’. It didn’t matter. I still enjoyed it! Unfortunately the lady trying to take my plunge didn't manage to. She got a photo of me with my back, being hooked up to a rope but that was it. It doesn't matter though.

    Unfortunately time was running out and the ship had to leave in time to reach her next destination, so staff didn’t have time to go for the polar plunge. Hopefully they will get an opportunity over the next few weeks/months that the ship is in Antarctica.

    Once everyone was on board, it was time for a recap and a briefing for tomorrow. I managed to have a very quick shower and dashed down to the Expedition Lounge – only to discover that I hadn’t washed the conditioner out of my hair. So I ended up having another shower. But I didn’t mind. The lovely warm water….
    Baca lagi

  • Deception Island - Whalers Bay

    1 November 2024, Antartika ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C

    The weather hadn’t been good during the night with icy conditions and strong winds, so the ship was a bit behind with her arrival for Whalers Bay in Deception Island.

    The passage through the Bellows (the opening into the volcano caldera) wasn't great as there was snowy conditions and fog.

    Paul had to go to a meeting so I went ashore on my own. It wasn’t nice outside – windy and snowy.

    Deception Island is a horseshoe shaped island which is the caldera of an active volcano. We were able to take a zodiac to the black volcanic sand shore and take a walk to see the remains of whalebones, boats, buildings, rendering pots, tanks and a warehouse; a stark reminder of early 20th century whaling and sealing operations. Most of the area was blanketed by snow and we could only imagine the harsh conditions people had to work and live in.

    We saw small groups of penguins as we walked along the coastline. The coastline steamed from sea water below being warmed from the depths below.

    I was quite glad to get back to the ship - I was feeling a bit chilled and wet from the driving wind and rain. Walking through snow can be hard as well, if you are not used to it.
    Baca lagi

  • Deception Island: Telefon Bay

    1 November 2024, Antartika ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C

    At noon the ship made its way out of Whalers Bay, into the main caldera, and up towards Telefon Bay.

    Paul had gone back to sleep after his meeting but woke up in time to come ashore with me at around 3:30pm. Guests had the opportunity to walk up to the ridge of a volcano (within the walls of the massive Deception Island caldera), and take in the views.

    The weather was a bit better by then, without the snow blowing into our faces.

    Well… there was snow and more snow but the backdrop of black volcanic walls against the snow was very pretty. It has been hoped that guests could do a 3.5km circular (but challenging) walk but with the snowy conditions, it was too slippery and dangerous so we could only walk as far as it was safe to do so before the slopes got steep. Back near the black sandy beach there were 3 seals. One had a suckling cub, but it was more a ‘teenager’ than a total youngster. A few Gentoo penguins also joined them.

    Tomorrow is another day but we will be sailing through Drake Passage to Ushuaia, a 2-day crossing.
    Baca lagi

  • Farewell to guests & arrival in Ushuaia

    3 November 2024, Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Yesterday was a sea day as we cross the Drake Passage towards Ushuaia. There was quite a bit of motion of the ocean and I thought it best that I rest and catch up with myself a bit. Paul has been catching up on sleep from his night shifts so I had a bit of sleepy company.

    Today the sea was calmer. Paul caught up on more sleep and I caught up a bit on my blog.

    Around 5pm there was a farewell reception for guests, and a final staff 'goodbye'. They all came out in full force to say goodbye, after which a video of the journey was played. The camera team had captured things beautifully and so well.

    The Pursuit arrived in Ushuaia ahead of schedule. We were supposed to dock tomorrow morning but sea conditions were our favour and, as there was a berth available for the ship, we arrived around 6pm, and that meant guests and crew could go ashore for dinner or hit the bars.

    We will stay overnight here and in the morning guests will disembark and head home.

    Our next journey to Antarctica will begin tomorrow evening.
    Baca lagi