In The Gerlache Strait, Culverville Island, Antarctica
Another try for a morning landing on Danco Island but there was still too much ice. Impossible for the zodiacs to get through the ice and land the passengers safely. Culverville Island was substituted instead. The M/S Andrea is moored off-shore landing their people and we'll have to wait until they are finished. Remember, the IAATO rules, only one ship at a time can be in a harbor and/or on land. Because of bad weather, the Andrea's passengers have been unable to make a single landing for five days and were desperate to get off the ship. Understandable.
The Expedition team usually attempted an average of two landings per day depending on the prevailing wind, ice, weather conditions and wildlife behavior. The word "expedition" is not used lightly. Any trip to Antarctica really is an "expedition." You never know what you'll see, where you'll land, if you'll land or what the weather conditions will be. It makes no difference what time you go during the summer season. As noted earlier, this Austral Winter had unusually heavy snow and ice. The situation changes by the minute.
There was almost a traffic jam of ships today. The M/S Clipper Adventurer is behind us waiting their turn to land on Culverville Island.
Today will be our last landings on the Continent...only sailing from tonight on...
Did I ever tell you that the M/V Lyubov Orlova is named after a famous Russian silent movie star?
Back to the boat for lunch...starving from all the crisp, cold air...
...and there was always room for one of the extremely delicious desserts... Other choices were fruit, ice cream and sherbet but why eat that...when you can eat this!
The M/S Fram went by (Hurtigruten Line), a new luxury ship built for cruising arctic waters. It sure looked fantastic.
OTHER FACTS:
- Approximately 27,000 people visited Antarctica last season.
- The bigger ships are not allowed to land. They may cruise the waters but don't land. You want to be on a ship that holds 100 passengers or less.
- It usually takes 36 hours at sea to get used to the motion.
- Prepare to spend four days in total crossing the Drake Passage. Two days there and two days back.
