Most of us were up around 5AM for our intended 6AM landing
at Deception Island. But ‘mother nature’ intervened and we had to modify our
plans. The strong head winds, approaching storm levels and the heavy fog, made
it too risky to enter Neptunes Bellows, the narrow opening into the caldera of
Deception Island. The only prudent alternative was to continue northeastward
and onward toward our next landing at South Georgia Island.
South Georgia Island is distant as it is nearly two and a
half days away. During our transit time to South Georgia and on northward we
will have several sea days for the Expedition Staff to present a wide variety
of lectures.
This morning Ralf lectured on the Belgica expedition. This was
the first expedition to over-winter in Antarctica. Led by Adrien de Gerlache
this expedition was the training ground for Roald Amundsen and Frederick Cook
and as we know both of these men went on to long careers in polar exploration.
Bob’s talk was built around the photographs from his 1960’s glaciology and
engineering work at the South Pole and McMurdo stations.
Later in the day our lectures by Tomas and Frieda focused on
the species of whales that are common in Antarctic waters. Manuel told us the
untold story of Cormorants and Rudolf told us the about the scientific goals
and financial costs of several national Antarctic research programs. In general
operational and maintenance costs are greater than the funds spent on
scientific research.
By dinnertime the navigation screen showed we were passing Elephant
Island where Shackleton’s men took refuge while he and four others sailed to
South Georgia Island. This evening it was too foggy to catch even a glimpse of
this fabled island.
