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We had a very relaxed day at the ship yesterday, farewelling our remaining summer Davis expeditioners, and then tinkering around the ship until 1615 when the returning winter expeditioners made their way out to the ship. Some walked out, others took the Hagglund taxi. After a group photo at the front of the ship, it was all aboard for the masters induction, trying on an immersion suit, and a quick walk around. Following dinner, the Aurora churned into action. Our Captain executed a textbook 3-point turn (OK, 5 point), and we were charging out the way we had come in, following our icy rubble back towards open water. It was an amazing evening, with hardly a breath of wind and an almost mirror smooth open ocean once we were clear of the fast-ice. The horizon merged perfectly with the sky, making it impossible to discern the horizon, and playing tricks with our eyes: icebergs looked like they were mirage well above the horizon, floating impossibly high in the sky. Penguins "porpoised"* near the ship, and the water was so still and clear that we could see them swimming beneath the surface, before breaking free and gulping a quick breath while "on the wing" before diving underwater again. "All we need now are some whales" said our comms tech George. Almost unbelievably a pod of Orcas obliged. As I type, we have just entered the heavy ice band being fed from the West Ice Shelf to our east, which slowed us a bit on the way in, and may do so again on our way out. There are no guarantees down here in Antarctica, but the predicition is nothing much has changed, and we should be through this by tomorrow morning. Tonight we will have a gathering on the trawl deck, with a few drinks around the heat beads as we watch the amazing Antarctic world go by, and raise a glass to a successful resupply.
Cheers! Doug & Andrew
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.