Rocking and a rolling

18th February 2012

Now we had been told yesterday that we needed to be up early and the morning call confirmed this. However, the weather had taken a turn for the worst and we were now bobbing around in the ocean like a cork. Showering was an interesting experience, upper body was easy, but washing your feet was a art. You had to time the action with the rolling of the ship, I found it best to wedge my head in the corner and hope for the best. Once done we made our way up to the dinning room to have breakfast, there was a lack of people up there. It appears that we are in the minority of people who have taken their sea sickness tablet. There where plates and cups sliding this way and that the sound of crashing china, it was really fun.

Chinstarp Penguins as named due to the line under their chin

We later found out speaking to the captain that he had been informed a 4am that there was heavy snow outside, but other than that all seemed calm. He was then called again just before 6am and was told the wind was building. Hearing this he immediately set off not wanting to get stuck where we were. The force of the storm as a storm force 8 and rose at one point to 10. so, if you were of a weak dispositions the inevitable was going to happen.
There wasn't to be the planned landings today and the majority of the guests spent most of the time in there rooms. We spent time watching the waves outside and enjoying the natural roller coaster that we were on. Part the way though the day we had a snooze and wear woken by the hotel manager who came in and shut our porthole. We reckon this was due due to the chunks of ice that where in the water and occasionally hit the side of the boat. If one hit the glass it probably would of broken it. The down side is we lost our view, which to day was really good. Sometime we where looking at the sky, other time under the sea!

A very lasy Weddell seal and a very dirty Gentoo

It did start to ease off in the afternoon and whilst chatting to the captain in the bridge, he hinted that he was confidant that we would get a landing that evening. Before this we received another lecture, this time on Penguins from Rodrigo. Sarah managed to fall asleep which wasn't the best idea seeing we where sat in the front row, she wasn't the only one though. After this we found out that we would be making a landing on a small island in Nicholson Harbour part of Trinity Island.

A stark reminder!

Once again we dressed in our warm cloths and headed up to where we boarded the zodiacs. Once on land we were given a quick welcome from Rodrigo and he refreshed our memories on what we can and can't do, then we followed Bob off up a snow ridge. Wildlife as abound, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins where everywhere and seemed pretty tolerant of our presence. Antarctic Fur seals lounged around occasionally raising their heads to pear a the strange orange and red creatures that where wondering past. There were a couple of Weddell seals too which made little effort to acknowledged our presence. One the far side of the island we were taken to an area which gave a stark reminder on how destructive us humans are and have been. Piles of whale bones littered the area and two rotten water boats lay disused. It was a somewhat haunting place, I took the time to sit in silence to really feel the wildness of the place.
We where give a nice amount of time before Rodrigo announced that we needed to head back to the ship. So we all trudged back to the zodiacs and headed back for our dinner, which was waiting for us. Another beautiful sunset and after the rough day we had had it was a null end.

A perfect end!!