Antarctica.

[drron]

Mawson's hut,first some of my pics-

 

[drron]

Mawson must have felt lucky to winter in that hut after surviving his antarctic trek. When you where there drron could you imagine spending a year there?

Absolutely not-but then i am acclimatised to the Sunshine coast!
Now mrsdrron's pics-

Frank Hurley's dark room.

Mawson's room

 

[drron]

And a few more assorted pics-

Unrecognisable in my layers.

 

[drron]

Time for the penguins-never ceased to fascinate me.Sit down or lie down and they would often walk right up to you wondering what the heck you were doing there.You are meant to observe a 5 metre rule with wildlife but the penguins just hadn't heard about it.At one point whilst I was walking down the hill from the memorial cross for Mertz and Ninniss I was following a penguin-if it stopped I stopped-it would then turn around and watch me.The ones coming from behind though would continue on often stopping beside me and looking up.Truly fantastic so you will have to put it on your bucket list.
So now prepare to be bored with penguin pics.

drron's queue.

 

[drron]

One of the rookeries at Cape Denison-these are Adelie penguins.

Monument hill.

The Orion in the distance.

looking towards the South Pole.

Penguins as far as you can see.

Looking down on Mawson's hut from Monument Hill.

 

[drron]

Then there were the chicks-

And now for mrsdrron's pics,first how drron got his closeups-

Then she caught this one,an Isabelline penguin,not an albino as it has some pigment.looks like a shadow or a ghost penguin-

 

[drron]

As we left to go back for dinner we saw Mrsdrron's little friend again-

And plenty of friends on the way back-

And looking back-

And our reception committee-

We left at about 1930-zodiacs continued to shuttle until 1am-no darkness.However we were tired,knees aching after walking on snow so it was dinner and off to bed.Dinner again great with a mixed seafood entree,osso buco and a warm chocolate pudding.
Next cruising the pack ice.

 

[jandj]

So enjoyable following your adventure... what a magic find Mrsdrron (the Isabelline) such a contrast to the rest of the pack !

I don't want it to and anytime soon and I'm not there !!
Are you finding the cold a challenge ? Is it very windy ?

 

[drron]

As the boat was at anchor and no swell with several kilometres of pack ice between us and the open sea we slept soundly awaking at 0730.Breakfast with the lieut commander and then a zodiac cruise amongst the pack ice.Yes it is cold but with the layers that is not a problem.Also very little wind for these 2 days which is excellent.The ice truly is majestic so all there is to do is continue with the pics of mrsdrron.

Leaving the coast.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

let me say I think IT IS COLD. You dress in layers, undies, thermal singlet, thermal long -johns, wool leggins, thermal lining socks, wool socks, over this goes waterproof pants and gum boots, on the top half - after the thermal singlet, a thermal long sleeve top, an alpaca jumper and then the red thermal parka ( provided by the Orion- yours to keep !) thermal gloves and then waterproof gloves. Neck gaiter, headband and beanie complete the picture. It takes me half an hour to get dressed in this gear, then we have to put on a life vest for the zodiac ride.

The one thing I did miss was not having possum fur boot liners as my feet froze

 

[drron]

Some more ice pictures-

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

And back on the boat-changing clouds and light were intriquing-

 

[drron]

Back on board and it was time for lunch.Again dined with the Ice Captain.For lunch we had whole suckling pig.As most of the crew are Fillipino it was done beautifully.After lunch it was back to Cape Denison as conditions there were way better than any alternative.I was one who did the walk across the moraine line to John O'Groats then back along the coast to Cape Denison-the 50 of us are the first tourists to do this walk-half went from John O'Groats the other half started from Cape Denison.
It is also the First Day of Use for a new postmark for Cape Denison-the first new postmark for many years so we all will have quite a rare postal collectable.
on the walk once again many interactions with penguins-one seemed quite taken by me-hope it was female.We also saw a lost Emperor penguin-they are all meant to be out at sea now.Then there were the birds including nesting Snow Petrels.So some pictures along the walk.

A melt lake.

More penguin rookeries.

You should see the other guy!

 

[drron]

Our lonely Emperor.

Lying down on the job,but then he/she decided i needed closer inspection-

And rushed over getting too close to photograph.

But then felt rejected.

Messy fellows though.

John O'Groats.

 

[drron]

Life is not easy here-

But when one of our number decided to photograph the corpse the other penguins were wondering why-

But that was not the only casualty-

And this seal carcass was said to have been recorded by the Mawson party.

down to the coast we went though I had fallen behind.

But catching up downhill was easy.

 

[drron]

We then passed the group going the other way-

And got up close to some more chicks-

The coast is certainly not smooth going but a rugged beauty-

But in other places the ice goes to the sea-actually more dangerous-

Then the quarters of those working on conserving the hut-

And I'm sure this fellow was smiling at me-

 

[drron]

At the end of the walk we were serenaded by a penguin-

And an opera singer-

But could see dinner waiting-

But first had to pass the Weddell seals who eat,sleep and pass wind-

We then leave the continent-

And it is only when I get back on the ship I remember to take my tag out of my pocket,duh-

Next Mrsdrron's pictures around Mawson's hut.

 

[Dougo]

Wow

what a great Antarctic experience you had. Thanks very much for your TR and the photos - they are fantastic. The penguins you saw are different to the ones we saw when cruising from Sth America (although we didn't step foot on Antarctica we saw quite a few floating by on icebergs as well as on land in the southern areas of Sth America).

I might have missed it .. but how many days was your cruise all up and how many days were spent cruising / landing in Antarctica?

 

[drron]

Thanks Dougo.The original plan was for 4-5 days in the Commonwealth Bay area.Turned out to be 3 as you will soon find out.The cruise was 18 nights duration and they advertise 19 days but really 17.Start late on Day 1 and finish early on Day 19.
Back to the ship and time for dinner.Vegetable chowder,Oven roasted Spatchcock with mushroom stuffing and lemon sauce finishing with an Apricot frangipane with lime sabayon.Delicious as usual.As dinner is served we steam towards Cape Jules hopefully for another landing.We have already heard from the French base that was on the program that it will be impossible to get in there.The ice and lighting are fantastic.
First though some of mrsdrron's pics at Cape Denison.

Now which is my bag?