It's been a busy week on Macquarie Island as we prepare for the arrival of the L’Astrolabe and five new summer expeditioners, as well as the departure of a few of our team, including myself.
We held an end of winter dinner and farewell which included a gourmet feast of confit duck ravioli, slow braised pork belly and lemongrass risotto, finished off with brioche summer pudding and vanilla bean panna cotta. Speeches were made and toasts were raised.
The team have also been busy conducting boating practice in the surf in the lead up to the L’Astrolabe arrival to ensure they get us to the ship safely.
It’s a bittersweet end to my time here, saying goodbye to this glorious island and to this great adventure. In reflection I have written a few words about Macquarie Island. Sung sweetly in the voice of Julie Andrews, of course.
Snowflakes on cabbage and whiskers on fur seals,
Cuddling penguins and soaring giant petrels,
Albatross soaring with the sun on their wings,
These are a few of my favourite things.
Snow covered mountains and Nick's gourmet cooking,
Finding mud wallows without even looking,
Royals and Rock hoppers… and of course Kings,
These are a few of my favourite things.
Auroras and hailstorms, sunshine and fogbows
Tussock grass dancing, as the wind blows,
A ready-made family and the love that they bring,
These are a few of my favourite things.
Icicles glistening, tradies crafting,
Seal pups playing and penguins rafting,
Plants regenerating as spring begins,
These are a few of my favourite things.
At the end of this wonderful trip,
As we ready to board the ship,
when I’m feeling sad,
I simply remember my favourite things,
And then I don’t feel so bad.
