Location: Elephant Island
We had our first iceberg siting this morning, but it was flat and boring. So here’s a later iceberg.
We made good time crossing the Drake Passage. After lunch we arrived at Point Wild on Elephant Island. We did not have time to zodiac out there, but the ship came within 400m of shore. I don’t have the space to properly tell you about Shackleton and the failed Endurance expedition. But here on Point Wild 22 men waited four months in the hope that the five who that left on a row boat could cross 800 miles (1300 km) to South Georgia and bring rescue. But you should read about it.
After that, we were surrounded by up to 50 whales of different types, mostly Fin Whales. No good pictures, tho. They kept me running all around the decks, to no avail. Every time I put the lens cap on all of them surfaced and laughed at me.
However, the landscape is amazing. The clouds covered the top of the mountains, but the mix of snow and rock made it look like some kind of marble.
This first, stay-on-the-ship adventure proved a great chance to test my gear in the Antarctic environment.
First there is the water bottle, metal within a plastic shell. I assume there is an air insulator between the metal and plastic.
Next are the backpack (kind of standard) and the bag holding my parka.
We need to get a parka large enough to allow for several layers.
I’ve been a fan of Gore-Tex-type rain jackets since my time in the Army, but this parka is easily double the thickness and has a zipper/button-attached liner.
Lastly is my waterproof trousers. Nothing amazing, just like what you’d wear skiing. I’ll spare you pictures of my modeling my base-layer long underwear. You’re welcome.