Antarctica in the Rear View Mirror

We sailed north overnight from Paradise Bay (Green) through some deteriorating weather to Admiralty Bay (Red) in King George Island, leaving our glorious sunny blue skies behind. A large well protected bay used in the past by whaling factory ships it is now home to multiple research stations operated by, among other nations, Brazil and Poland.

This bay, being so far north, freezes over last as Winter approaches and melts open soonest in the southern heliosphere’s Spring. Being so close to the Drake Passage, it has, by Antarctica standards, a more benign climate and there are a number of other Research Stations elsewhere on King George Island. The proximity to South America also simplifies the huge logistical support efforts need to keep these bases operating, with a Chilean Air Force base that has a runway suitable for C130 Herc aircraft that makes an airbridge operation possible

We are at the end of the Antarctica portion of our trip. The last 3 days have been intensely wonderful, mind boggling, eye opening and sensational all at the same time.

Our northbound transect of the Drake Passage starts in an hour or two. We had the Drake Lake calm waters on our southbound leg and it looks like we will get mostly Lake style waters going north.

Things that make Nancy smile😎Read more