Day 114. Saturday 21st December. Day 7 on SH Vega. Antarctica

On waking this morning at 6.30am the scene outside the window was surreal. It was as if we were in an icefield, Our destination Mudge Passage. A marine passage that took us into a bay, with the objective of exploring the ice flows for marine life. Seals, whales etc. It’s a beautiful setting with icebergs in amongst the pack ice.

There is no notice in our “post box” outside our door, to say we are kayaking. Again we miss the cut.

Maybe it’s a blessing as neither of us are completely well. Both starting to suffer from a cold. I guess the proximity to so many people. We had gone months without the slightest problem.

Regardless, we set off in a zodiac after breakfast to explore. There are whales surfacing among the ice. A seal lazily reclining and oblivious to our presence. It’s cold. Minus 1degC and the wind, cutting but the sun is shining. After an hour, we return to the ship for lunch. I’s a challenging life…:)

Eating far less at dinner last night paid dividends, I slept without discomfort, though took a panadol for a sore throat. Jen woke this morning after a poor sleep, she was too hot, I not so. She with a cold sore developing.

During the day we move again. We are in ice free waters now and the coastline fascinating. There are tall mountains behind snow shelves, The mountains snow and ice but reflecting a different light. They are intersected by glaciers. It’s a surreal scape.

There are no lectures today. A pity, as those we have had, have been brilliant.

It’s going to be a challenge, when we get wifi again. Which of the dozens of photo’s we have taken, will we post, keeping in mind the potential to over display.

So, there being no events and after lunch, we head for the gym to try and stay in shape.

The two pair of long trousers we bought from the UK, were too big for me, around the waist. Now they’re not…:) Jen was just reminding me that after cycling across Europe for 4 months, she had to tie her long pants up with string, she had lost so much weight. Now she doesn’t need to…:)

So, to try and do something about that, we have just cycled 5 miles on the exercycles in the gym, had a dip in the plunge pool, then spent 10min in the sauna. It’s a hard life …:)
We have the option of going for another zodiac ride to explore, but it’s not at all appealing and in fact, it’s just started snowing. We’ll read a book or watch a movie, in our room.

Did we consider taking a Polar Plunge, from a door in the side of the ship? No sir. No chance, though a number have. They have a harness around their waist and were trying to climb up the harness rope as soon as hitting the ocean. We both watched clutching a hot chocolate to keep our hands warm…:) I’m sure their social media accounts will benefit immensely. ..:)

It’s too choppy for the kayakers and we also decided, being in a zodiac wasn’t so attractive either, so passed up the opportunity.

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