Our first stop was Deception Island. The red flag denotes a walking path.
As
the anchor was dropped we could see a house and fuel containers for a
whaling station and a British research station. They were here
until 1968 when a mud and debris flow (called a lahaar) destroyed most
of it.
Our Expedition Team went first to make sure the coast was clear from all those penguin gangs ready to mug us.You can
visualize the steam from the underground thermals at the waters edge.
This
was also our first opportunity to go zodiaking. First things first, so lets get them in the water.
Our skilled crew were experts at moving them from the top of the ship into the water
Loaded with passengers and with a driver determined to get us to land
When we get to our destination there is a team waiting to unload us
This
is what happens when your motor does not restart. After several tries
it was determined they forgot to fill up with gas, so we left them
there. No worries, we threw them the book "Endurance "by
Ernest Shackleton. We figured they might need it as we waved good bye.
The weather can change instantly, and one time our driver had to navigate
through mini icebergs to pick us up
There is a specific
procedure for entering and exiting the zodiak, all under the watchful
eye of Jannie (he's that mean- looking guy at the top of the gangplank). If you didn't do it exactly
to protocol you would get an earful from Jannie- don't fool with him!
Another successful (nobody fell in) unloading to the mothership.
Gerry spotted this huge jellyfish on one of our zodiak outings
Our first time on Antarctic terra firma. You can see the steam rising around
me from the thermals at the waters edge.
The first wildlife we encountered were fur seals. They were just as curious about us as we were about them.
Our first chance to get up close and personal with penguins. This is a chinstrap.
The remains of the Biscoe House as it was when the lahaar hit
We
could hike the island to the far end and get a nice view. The
Biscoe House and fuel storage tanks are now visible at the far right, along with the steam for our Antarctic hot tub excursion.
Hot
water from the thermal springs at the edge of the beach was just warm
enough to enjoy. If you moved just a few inches either way you would
feel the full impact of the icy waters and your you-know-what would freeze!
Those of us that took the dip are official members of the Antarctic Hot Tub Club
