(By Jen)
This morning we are at Damoy Point; another stunning location. Once again we haven’t been picked for snow shoeing. Kayaking didn’t happen yesterday afternoon, because of the choppy water, so that group took today’s spot, so kayaking wasn’t an opportunity either.
After breakfast we were off in the zodiacs to see another British historical hut at Damoy Air Facility and an Argentinian rescue hut. The Damoy hut was established by the British Antarctic Survey in 1975 as a summer transit station to support the airstrip on Damoy Point. The 400m ski-way was marked out along the spine of the glacier on which a Twin Otter aircraft was able to land.
The hut was used annually to enable personnel and stores arriving by ship to be flown on to Rothera Research Station on Adelaide Island. This was especially important in early summer when sea ice prevented direct access to Rothera by ship. Without this facility fieldwork could not have started until much later in the summer. This continued until 1995 when direct inter-continental flights started operating to Rothera.
We also walked to a large Gentoo penguin colony. Some birds are sitting on nests constructed of stones. Others are walking around collecting more stones, or stealing them from other nests, to enhance their nests. Walking in the thick snow is quite hard work and on a lovely sunny morning we soon became very warm in our many layers of clothing.
Once back on board the ship, lunch wasn’t far away. Everyone tucked into a large suckling pig, which was delicious.
Our afternoon excursion took us on a zodiac cruise around Port Lockroy, another historic British base which is occupied in the summer by a team from the British Antarctic Heritage Trust. An organisation which exists purely due to donations. They carry out research into the number of penguins there and run the world’s most southern Post Office.
During our cruise around the base we saw many nesting penguins, Weddell seals and humpback whales.
Back on board we had a talk by the staff from the Lockroy base. They had bough with them may articles for sale together with the post box. We purchased and sent cards to a number of family members and friends.
Later we had the evening brief on tomorrow’s activities and a talk by Michael about a Brazilian explorer, Amyr Klink, who sailed a home made boat from Brazil to the north and south pole. Then a lecture about the different countries who have bases in Antarctica and the agreement to keep the continent pristine, without mining, hunting, etc.
After dinner we were to sail through one of the most scenic and well known routes in Antarctica, the Kodak Passage. We tried but our way was blocked by ice. We had to turn around in a relatively narrow channel. A move easily performed by our talented crew.
After a session on the exercise bikes, we returned to our cabin to find a note telling us we have been picked for kayaking tomorrow morning, Am not sure if I’m excited or terrified!
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