Thursday, January 18, 2018 <br><br>
Before starting on today’s blog – a HUGE thanks to all our readers and those commenting – we read all the comments that you post – thanks to Brad’s mom, Lydia, Bill, Ron, John, Van S, Bill and Connie, mom, Gayla, Will Gates – thanks to you all, we read your comments!! keep them coming. And any German readers – feel free to comment in German!!!! <br><br>
<b>Where to Start?</b>
Where to start? This is only our second day aboard and already I am feeling completely at home and integrated into the shipboard community and routine. On the first night out, Rebecca and I came up for our 2-4 AM watch and immediately saw two humpback whales off the port bow. Most of the watch was spent dodging icebergs and smaller pieces of ice. We felt well qualified for this duty from our seasons of dodging lobster floats in Maine. The job of avoiding the bergs was made infinitely easier by the fact that here it never gets totally dark and that the seas were very flat. <br><br>
Yesterday morning we arrived at Enterprise Island, an old whaling site and one of the most protected anchorages in the area, where we tied alongside the partially submerged wreck of a hundred-year-old whaling boat, along with several other boats. After these three boats departed, we had the anchorage to ourselves. We spent the morning cruising around the coast in the inflatable dinghy with a stop ashore to inspect the wrecks of lifeboat-size vessels used to shuttle fresh water to the whalers. The afternoon was spent trekking to the summit of one of the nearby islands. This was made difficult by soft snow into which we often sank to our thighs. Returning to warm and cozy OCEAN TRAMP for coffee, cold beer and snacks was a delight. This was followed by, yet another fantastic meal created by the young Spanish adventurer, Manuel, who is the cook/deckhand. <br><br>
Overnight, ICEBIRD, the other yacht that had been anchored at the King George anchorage, tied up to the other side of the submerged wreck. In the early morning, there were several loud crashes as huge chunks of ice broke off the adjacent island and crashed into the sea, just where we had been cruising in the dinghy, earlier that morning. <br><br>
Because our intended next anchorage is exposed in the winds predicted for tonight, Fede, the skipper, elected to stay put for the day. The entire morning was spent again cruising the vicinity looking for whales and other wildlife. Whales were not to be, but we did find penguins and a number of seals, one of whom was basking on his own private ice-flow which was only slightly bigger than he. We made several stops ashore to check out relics from the whaling era. These included additional water-boats, steel tanks and barrels, all well preserved. <br><br>
As we sat down to a delicious empanada lunch, a French yacht came screaming in and tied alongside. I was surprised to see a butchered side of lamb tied to the flagstaff and another, covered in burlap, tied to the port side of their pushpit, along with a very long string of sausages. <br><br>
The afternoon was consumed by a fascinating presentation by Brad, the climatologist who is aboard doing a month-long research project. As I write, some of the crew are out in the dinghy, again looking for whales and gathering ten-thousand-year-old ice for our gins and tonic. The others are engaged in a most serious game of Rummy Kub. <br><br>
– Sid
