18th March, 2008
Today is St. Patrick’s Day. I celebrate not for the holiday, but for the fact that I can get out of bed for more than 2 minutes! I spent all of yesterday in bed very seasick. The seas were calm compared to what they could be, but for me, the seas were like a continous rolling earthquake! I was taken care of by my wonderful cabin mate who brought me bread, bread, and some more bread. I was able to eat lunch today, but at the end, we ran from the dining room and saw our first iceberg! It was brilliant. At first, it seemed as if we were going straight for it, but of course we did not hit it and we watched it go along side of us. We have also seen whales today, and many birds. We are excited as the time comes to meet the advanced team at Bellingshausen. We arrive tonight. Tomorrow, we take the Zodiac boats to shore and we will spend about 10 hours on land!
18th March, 2008
By the time you read this we would have reached the EBase, having crossed the notorious Drake Passage. Everything I had expected from this part of the expedition, 15m+ waves, strong winds and being violently sick didn’t happen and we have sailed through, in what the captain has described as ‘ideal’ conditions. MV Ushuaia is a small ship but she is now starting to feel like home, albeit a little on the cramped side. We have past our first iceberg about the size of a large house, spotted several whales and have been followed most of way by an albatross. I am starting to really look forward to first spotting land and then landing in Antarctica tomorrow, something which I am told is a life changing experience. For those of you still at school thanks for your support I know Robert has appreciated our engagement in 2041. Spread the word and keep posting comments on the website. For Sally, Josie, Lola and Keir I miss you all and love you very much.
10th February, 2008
Luke’s initial thoughts on climate change…
My local area has experienced higher rainfall and severe flooding in the last two years.
10th February, 2008
Wendy’s initial thoughts about climate change…
I work with young people, and they are very worried about what the future will hold for them on our planet. I am aware of the hole in the ozone layer in the Antarctic, and of the melting of ice in both poles, and this concerns me greatly. I know that extreme weather is happening more frequently, and that I have been affected by scorching heat in the summer in England in 2003 and in Romania last summer. Both instances were very unusual. The weather has become so unpredictable, and this is very worrying.
