I keep waiting to wake up from this incredible dream I am having. In this dream, Antarctica is this place where each day, the next perfect thing happens.

Here is a little about my dream:

When we completed the Drake Passage crossing (which was extremely smooth for us), we saw our first iceberg. Of course it is one that is big and perfect, all alone and in the middle of nowhere. Next, we go through iceberg alley and the sights are so spectacular; it is like someone placed each of them in the most perfect place. Yet we know that Iceberg Alley is the remains of the Lawson Ice Shelf that disintegrated in a matter of months. As we slowly “moved” the packed ice in front of us, we hear a noise in the distance followed by the sighting of an avalanche on port side. We continue onward and this picturesque scenery keeps going on and on and on.

We are taken to the top of a spectacular ridge and in the middle of Nick’s LOTE (Leadership on the Edge) training, a third of a huge iceberg collapses. The iceberg rocks back and forth, deciding if it is going to tip over or not. The waves rock the ship violently and the waves crash on the other icebergs and finally ashore. It was true Mother Nature and the might she has.

I am on the bow of the ship when a pod of Orca whales cross in front of the bow and broke the surface all in unison like they have been practicing to show us. About an hour later, 2 breaching humpbacks put on a show for us. Later, we went to Paradise Bay. This place was like sitting in front of an artist’s greatest painting and it was right in front of us in EVERY direction.

There are so many incredible things we witnessed that it would take days to write about. However, we are about the start the departure of Antarctica towards Argentina. My dream ends knowing the saying that nothing in life is perfect! In my dream I have found one place I would say is the perfect place and it must be kept perfect!

However, if this is not a dream, then I have just found perfection and we ALL have a part to keep it that way.……………..

All,

Happy Eastern, after our Eastern dinner we started our way back to through the Drake Passage. The weather forecast wasn’t promising but it would be a classic Drake Passage. Till we hit a storm and boot went up and down, rolling more than 45° ! This started as a fun trip ended in a roller coaster of 48 hours. We all slept very terrible and everybody was down or has a bruise somewhere. The ending of this great trip is nearby and all our check boxes are completed What a great trip this was !!!

Schatties,

Een gelukkige Pasen. We hebben onze terug reis aangevangen en binnen 48 uren ben ik thuis. Maar voor dat we thuis zijn moeten we deze storm (60-70 knoppen) nog overleven. Het is precies ofdat je op een rollercoaster zit maar dan voor 48 uren.Op eens zie je alleen maar zee en een fractie van een seconde later zie alleen maar lucht. Ik ben niet zeeziekte maar ik heb hier en daar wel een blauwe plek. De golven slagen over de boot en een golfslag van 10 meter.Maar de skipper heeft ons verteld dat we op tijd in de haven zullen zijn. Wat is dit een prachtige reis geweest en ik ben al gestart met het opkuisen van de 2000 foto’s. Hebben jullie een goede Pasen gehad ?

Ik mis jullie, kusjes en tot zo.

Geert.

We all said an emotional goodbye to the Antarctic yesterday in glorious sunshine. Like most days we still had a wind chill of minus 30, but the more time we spend here we somehow seem to get used to it. The crew who have been travelling here every Summer season for years kept saying that we had been so lucky experiencing the best of everything that the Antarctic has to offer – smooth crossing over the Drake Passage, perfect weather, sightings of every wildlife we could wish for…..so I guess it was inevitable that we had to experience a true Drakes Passage crossing on our way home, and that is exactly what happened last night. I have now had no sleep for nearly 48 hours so a quick note from me to everybody who´s still checking out what we´re up to.

We tried to have some dinner and all linked hands at the table but still couldn´t stop ourselves falling over. We had spend most of the day hanging onto the most secure parts of the ship but had now resorted to crawling everywhere to prevent more accidents. When a 10m high wave hit the boat side on in the middle of the night I was well prepared as I´d been hanging on to the metal post supporting our bunk beds since 10pm. The winds were gusting at 90mph, this was extraordinary, even for the Drake Passage and George our Captain who would normally be tucked up in bed stayed awake all night to keep us on course. The crew have not been able to serve any food in these rough conditions, but we´re still hopeful for dinner tonight before the Pirates of the Antarctic farewell party. Everything on the boat that is not tied down was thrown across the boat when the huge wave hit us, so now only 40 miles to go before arrive at Cape Horn and have some protection from land. Now I can´t wait to step onto dry land!

Tuesday about tea time.

Yesterday evening and last night was very exciting. We are now at Sea in the Drake Passage having powered through hurricane conditions, with winds of over 90mph and waves of 10m, the ship rolled all over the place, exceeding 45 degrees at times as the waves pounded us from the side. The worse point came when we were hit by a rouge wave at around 3am which swamped the ship almost bringing us to a standstill, chairs equipment and people were thrown all over the place. We have come through the worse now but the swell still rocks us badly. What a way to leave Antarctica. It is hard to imaging that in a few hours we will pick up phone coverage and sight land, everything that past so slowly now seems such a distance away. Important information has been shared and lessons have been learnt. We all have important stories to tell and messages to deliver when we get back home.

To my family you will be pleased to know that over 200 years of naval tradition have not been eroded away as I have come through this journey without being sick, although I must admit it got pretty close last night. Love to you all and sea you soon.

Luke