The crossing

18th March, 2008

The anticipation has been building in the last couple of days since we left Ushuaia. Today we have been rewarded with sightings of whales, albatrosses and our first iceberg – great excitement – and yes they are really blue and beautiful. I am still mastering my camera but luckily there are lots of people on board who are very proficient to capture these memories (and if required can always pretend their photos are mine). The crossing of the Drake Passage was extremely calm but my body was not in agreement so spent most of Sunday in bed, but today I am getting my sea legs with the help of serious sea sickness drugs! The length of the journey makes me realize quite how far away the Antarctic is. Already the outside world is becoming further away as it is a struggle to realize what day of the week it is. Occasionally I think of something such as is Beth watering my plant, and how was Harrison’s driving lesson with Peter, how wrong Sophie was about my croc shoes and they are just perfect for these conditions, and what a godsend Sam’s down jacket has been as it is now so much colder now that we are in Antarctic Waters. Tomorrow we land at the e-base at Bellingshausen to meet with Robert and his team, and hopefully see Penguins and Seals too.

Comments (1 Comment)

  1. Charlie, We have been watching your progress daily which has been a lot of fun and rewarding at the same time. We’re delighted you posted an account, we actually were wondering how you were doing with the sea crossing and whether that put you out, and it did. Glad you have some pharmacological help and are out and about. A couple of things: 1. no matter how ace they are at the moment crocs are the ugliest shoes on the planet and not acceptable footwear in M&S even in an emergency. 2. We’re looking forward to some penguin pictures. Photographically capturing pheasants at Blenheim is proof of your skill.

    We will continue to track your progress and enjoy your posts. Today we feel a link to the poles as we just have had 6 inches of new snow and colder weather. We’ll go for a walk and think of you.

    P+R

    Posted by P+R in the USA on 03/22/08, 7:15 am

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