How better to start a new year than to wake up in Port Lockroy surrounded by glaciers and welcomed by a blue sky? Not too many better ways. After our fun New Year’s Eve, we took the morning slow and enjoyed Blueberry muffins, French toast, and bacon. After filling our bellies we spent the morning writing post cards (as we were going to visit the penguin post office that afternoon).
We had spent the night with our bow into the ice winter sea ice and our anchor dropped from the bow onto the ice. Then on our stern, which h ad been open water in the evening, with the temperatures dropping just a bit below freezing there was an ever so thin layer of ice around the stern of the boat. Thin enough that we could “skip ice”. We have some chunks of ice onboard from the previous night’s gin and tonics and we were able to skim the pieces ever so lightly across this thin new layer of ice. The ice was so thin it looked like it was actually the water, but then a bit of an optical illusion when the chunk of ice would skim the surface and not actually go into the water, but instead stay on the surface. The small cool things in life.
As we gathered on the stern of Ocean Tramp to prepare to go over to Port Lockroy, 5 gentoo penguins amused us with their antics of getting in and out of the ice. It was just like in the nature films with them jumping / popping up onto the ice. You can surely create a soap opera by just watching these penguins. At some point one got mad at another and chased him off the ice and into the water, the other 3 waddled away appearing to want to be out of the action. The way we watched and giggled you would have thought it was our first penguin sighting.
We then boarded the dinghy to go visit Port Lockroy – it’s a living museum. They have the hut set up exactly how it might have been for the scientists and men there in the early 1950’s. The science equipment, the clothes, even the kitchen. Plus they have the penguin post office and a shop that supports their mission. We all sent a good number of post cards – expect to see them in 4-6 weeks! The post cards go by way of the Falkland Islands, then up to the UK, then out to the world. A big thanks to the amazing staff at Port lockroy – you all could not have been more welcoming and helpful.
Once back on board we gobbled down some lunch and then picked up our anchor out of the ice to head around a small peninsula to Dorian Cove. It’s a short sail, so some were in the water kayaking the way over. Wendy watched a decent size of ice fall off the glacier from her kayak (don’t worry she was a good distance away). Once tied to shore, most of us went ashore to walk up a small hill, to visit a fairly quiet gentoo colony, and to visit a small restored British hut that used to serve as a base for air operations from the mid 70’s to the mid 90’s (Damoy Hut). Then we played a game of snow kubb! Only to be followed by amazing homemade cannelloni by Miguel (he made the pasta / pancakes for the cannelloni!!!) back onboard Ocean Tramp. Another amazing and satisfying day. Sadly we are getting close to the end. Tomorrow we motor up to the Melchior Islands and then it will be time for the Drake!!!
We can’t say thanks enough to our loyal blog readers during this trip. We read your comments around the breakfast table and just like you are getting to know each of us a bit from the posts, we are learning a bit about you from your comments (and the follow up around the breakfast table about you you all are!)
