ember 2023

I’m due to be dropped off in the morning. Guys at PL already, will come on board and we’ll set up the post office and shop for the guests.

Its been a busy couple of days visiting sites in zodiacs. Just come back from the biggest colonies and gentooo penguins on the peninsular. Good that birdflu has not hit, so hopefully will remain this way. Penguins were waddling around and had a highway that they used to get from colony to colony. It was so good to see them waddling along. Have to say the the cruise ship are taking biosecurity measures very seriously which is good to witness. 5m distance from penguins, boot washing and sterilising and making sure nobody kneels or sits on the snow to take photos. It is a differnt season this year with the heighted concerns about birdflu and making sure humans do not inadvertantly bring it to the peninsular. The most likely way through migrating birds particulalry those that scavenge such as skuas.

We spend the afternoon at Paradise Bay and it did not disappoint. There was an Argentinian summer only station “Brown” so the ship stopped in the bay we did some mooching around amongst icebergs and there were some magnicient chaotic glaciers reaching down to the sea, all quite twisted at the surface. The colours were quite special and there was some crashing of ice falling into the sea as lumps of ice carved off into the sea making waves.

Tonight I thought I was going to do a talk about my time at Signy but there was not enough time. tonight and I’m off tomorrow. The camping out that was planned for some was cancelled due to the weather. Instead of us remaining in Paradise Bay for the campers we moved through the Neurmayer Channel and I can see Wienke Island next to Port Lockroy. Its is around the corner and we have stopped so can go to pick up the team first thing.

My bags are packed, Im charging up gadgets so I’m ready for Port Lockroy. It is said that the solar panels and batteries at PL generate plenty of electricity for us but charging computers battery banks etc now, just seems sensible.

So after all these months (some will know I have wanted to do this for a whole lot longer than the last year) tomorrow is the day I get to Port Lockroy and get stuck in. Internet is sketchy and so will try to get blogs sent when working on the boat but I will see how easy that may be as the week progresses.