Day 18: Antarctica Archipelago, Peninsula and Sound, Brown Bluff Island and a drive-by of Gourdin Island

Day 18:  Antarctica Archipelago, Peninsula and Sound, Brown Bluff Island and a drive-by of Gourdin Island

Weather: Cold, so cold that ice forms on the kayak paddles and the side of the HebSky is covered in slush

Quote of The Day:  That’s sea ice, right?

Department of Counting: When DB and THB disembark from the Zodiac onto Brown Bluff Island this morning we complete the circuit of visiting all seven continents. THB is still missing one state (Alaska), is short quite a few of the National Parks (the completion of that circuit is out of range), THB is a Life Master in bridge, and of course has been to all the current major league parks (Texas is opening up their new park soon, so that’s a trip for THB and LB to start planning).

THB sleeps in after a night interrupted by some rockin’ and rollin’ accompanied by something loose on the top deck banging around. At least one other couple on the 6^th floor heard the banging as well. Apparently the winds were upwards of 50 knots last night; THB is fairly proud of himself for sleeping through most of it and not feeling at all seasick.

Kayak #4 this morning on Brown Bluff was easily the most spectacular kayak of THB and DB’s kayaking career (and we’ve kayaked in many a place around the globe). Of course, it was by far and away the coldest kayaking we’ve ever done, paddling amidst icebergs (some with penguins on top) and sea ice. It was so cold that THB didn’t take many pictures as his hands were freezing seconds after taking off his gloves and hand warmer packets to get the camera out. It was so cold that the paddles had ice on them.

The paddle is abbreviated as our leaders are closely monitoring the weather and decide that if the wind shifted more in our direction we would be hard pressed to get back to our Zodiac and unload without being in some difficulty. Safety first!!

Pics from near Brown Bluff:

Pics from Brown Bluff:

Adelie's

How the island got its name

After lunch, the ship heads to Gourdin Island. As we arrive it is clear we aren’t kayaking or Zodiac’ing: the wind is a’blowin’. The ship is listing and the winds are rising well above the 30 knots we had been experiencing. Afternoon excursions are cancelled. THB and DB attempt to stand outside: on the windward side, it is impossible. THB is not exaggerating: it is literally impossible. It is almost impossible to open a door on that side of the ship, either from the inside or outside. On the sheltered side, it is possible to open the door. After that, proceed at your own risk. Scareeeeeeeeeee!

As one of the replacements for the afternoon excursion, our kayak leaders Sophie and Ewan give a presentation of a trip they made 5 years ago: two weeks kayaking through the Antarctic Archipelago, just the two of them. It is fascinating: they took 18 months to prepare, a cruise dropped them off and picked them up 100 nautical miles later, and now they are hoping for a final edit of a 30 minute documentary called ICEolation. THB is the only one who showed up wearing a life jacket.

THB special

How hard was it blowing: some were holding on inside the HebSky

And, while we were eating Argentinian fare at dinner: snow, snow, snow.........