Antarctic Peninsula to Falkland Islands

Southern Ramblings has had an all too short  but very busy season down south this year and it has now come to an end. We are heading North and are already in the Warmer water  Buenes Aires and Montevideo somewhere over the horizon to the west.

Rothera Memorial Cross

Our stay at Rothera Base was mostly taken up with Cargo work at the jetty.  A lucky few people managed to get on the odd guided trip down a crevasse or two which most appreciated by all who participated.  The Weather, though not bad, was pretty grey for most of our stay which does not make for particularly inspiring Photography.  The Base commander invited some the ships staff and passengers up to the Base for some end of season celebrations this included a Gaelic Ceildih. This is traditional dance moves down en masse with a caller. It sounds rather intimidating but was lots of fun and not taken too seriously.  Very soon all were up there making fools of themselves and having fun. In-between some of the dances we were treated to some wonderful poetry readings.   Tales of Scotland and the Yukon Gold rush era entertaining and chilling our bones.  

Mother-ship

Third Mate and Weddel Seal

The favour was returned the following evening when the Wintering team was invited by the Captain to the ship for a final off base meal before their months of isolation commences.  Our catering staff produced a stunning Indian curry evening to remember.

The next afternoon Saturday 23^rd March we slipped our ropes and departed leaving the winterers waving us goodbye with a few smoke flares.  All on board were looking forward to a potential trip through the La Maire Channel but once rounded the southern point of Adelaide Island the weather picked up significantly, which sent a sizeable proportion of passengers to their cabins with buckets.

We approached La Maire in the early hours of the next day and glided slowly through this narrow gap, between steep the sided, ice encrusted mountainsides. Unfortunately, once again the visibility was not that good and we could only speculate at the view. 

We spent the rest of the day sliding up the inner channels of the Peninsula and eventually broke out the next morning. Horrendous seas were are unfortunate reward and those poor passengers who had briefly shown their faces disappeared rather rapidly once again.  The crossing of the Drake passage was not pleasant at all and we were all pleased when we finally approached the lee of the Falkland Islands and the waters began to calm down. We berthed at Mare Harbour on Friday 5^th April. We were alongside for only about ten hours having to discharge some cargo there before moving on to Stanley.   

 All the passengers made the most of the brief stop and the opportunity to get back on to terra firma.  Bertha’s beach being a popular destination where some lucky folk were treated to Dolphins swimming in the surf just off the beach, a couple of us tried to join them but they were having too much fun on their own and we were dutifully ignored.  

 

Rotherea Base

 

 

 

We slipped our ropes in the early evening and headed off for Stanley arriving in the small hours of the morning.  Suddenly it was all over for the passengers their bus arrived and they were all off to the airport for their flights back to wherever via Santiago in Chile. The ship suddenly became a lot quieter and we, as sailors do, got on with the job of moving cargo about.  The Cargo was completed by Sunday evening and the crew were given some time off to relax in Stanley before we headed north.

On Tuesday morning 9^th April we departed Stanley and headed slap bang back into bad weather again which got progressively worse the further north we went. This did not go down very well with us as we have had our fair share of battering this trip. Finally on Saturday morning it started easing as the wind came around.  The relief on the bridge was palpable and we eased into what we hoped would be a relaxing quiet weekend. This time it turned out to be so and by Sunday lunchtime there were already a few deck chairs out with Lilly white sunbathers trying to change their hue.

So that is pretty much our season south this year....

Have you seen God in His splendours, heard the text that nature renders?

(You’ll never hear it in the family pew)

The simple things, the true things, the silent men who do things –

Then listen to the wild – It’s calling you....         R.Service

Fare travels to you all.