tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41038524206447190802024-02-18T19:25:20.540-07:00Mindy's Antarctic AdventuresThe travelogue of a sustainable geologist seeking enlightenment, engagement and WARMTH.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-68045703792475334212018-07-26T04:37:00.001-07:002018-07-26T04:37:54.951-07:00Another View<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of Mindy's colleagues recently published her perspectives on the same trip:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rocksandpenguins.wordpress.com/">https://rocksandpenguins.wordpress.com/</a><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-44976570877031827622013-03-06T16:03:00.000-07:002013-03-06T16:03:46.277-07:00Yay! More eyeballs!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello to all of you coming from the <a href="http://sustainability.asu.edu/news/gios-news/student-spotlight-mindy-kimball/" target="_blank">article about Mindy</a> at sustainability.asu.edu! As you can see, we're only about half-finished uploading Mindy's pictures and video from the trip. More to come!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-59094004003896081412013-01-28T11:01:00.000-07:002013-01-30T14:38:14.270-07:00UPDATED: Mindy's Footsteps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We're beginning the process of building in some of the photos and other artifacts from Mindy's trip. We'll start with the GPS data from Mindy's camera receiver. The data isn't a complete path, as she only had partial reception during some of the sea voyages. But it should give you a sense of where she went.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the Google Earth plug-in doesn't seem to be working right now - but if you cut and paste the link below, it <i>should</i> open in a Google Map.<br />
<br />
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4OUtXspasIhMlNoTzZxX0FQcE0/edit<br />
<br />
UPDATE (30 Jan): For those not wishing to engage in the GooglePlex, you can download the KMZ file here with no login, registration, or other pesky identifying info:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.box.com/s/3b1kgab10h2vskvono03">https://www.box.com/s/3b1kgab10h2vskvono03</a><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-70306777939530742602013-01-23T12:49:00.001-07:002014-01-28T13:32:36.474-07:00Journey's End (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
From Mindy, dated 19 January:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwELRcCb46EB1qcdLnwzUcS14APy7zlBfMd4K8rzb_uRA-jdV05k9Ku2cmGQIT-8FdCLUnQDSq0Nqe9yDaRXAj2Ptdm8xYbae7UGtjKMsxGvVPBIfjvruR0j8fXP3umm2VWmEF73MWRs/s1600/19Jan_Argentina_Coastline_morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwELRcCb46EB1qcdLnwzUcS14APy7zlBfMd4K8rzb_uRA-jdV05k9Ku2cmGQIT-8FdCLUnQDSq0Nqe9yDaRXAj2Ptdm8xYbae7UGtjKMsxGvVPBIfjvruR0j8fXP3umm2VWmEF73MWRs/s1600/19Jan_Argentina_Coastline_morning.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Argentina coastline (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had a beautiful sunrise this morning, and got to watch the rugged mountains along the coastline pass by as we slowly made our way back to civilization in Ushuaia, Argentina. At about 6:30 am, we heard our last wake up call from Ted Cheeseman ("Goooood morning, shipmates..."). The ship was making about 7 knots speed, Mount Olivia was dead ahead of the ship, and a few miles to go before we docked. The air temperature was 11 degrees C, water 9.5 C, with a light breeze and the barometer at 1008.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_u722QLF9NB2tXESGQ8PUhQkY33m44DhyphenhyphenfRFDRRO4_CO3aMfgPj_sNSqIfE_wsI3UnihVw6jpFCHXFdpQSdHwVx-NCEAASfhcYLovhRHl6cFk-RCSyFPBI0KvK8TpLOSwim43hN2KVc/s1600/19Jan_Ushuaia_Dave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_u722QLF9NB2tXESGQ8PUhQkY33m44DhyphenhyphenfRFDRRO4_CO3aMfgPj_sNSqIfE_wsI3UnihVw6jpFCHXFdpQSdHwVx-NCEAASfhcYLovhRHl6cFk-RCSyFPBI0KvK8TpLOSwim43hN2KVc/s1600/19Jan_Ushuaia_Dave.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ushuaia (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavThER2Jv8_mNJpG2-IKBfAEI4E92BR43P68NIDJM2jF4VbZkYv-GEX0t_0EBbHwnP7KDOtoYhyphenhyphenuvfGcDJifTc8OeeBcPt1oPbYbdFZds5MHPMtivKqcy9sgf5ut1mK0EpqPz3j7NHw8/s1600/19Jan_Ushuaia_port.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavThER2Jv8_mNJpG2-IKBfAEI4E92BR43P68NIDJM2jF4VbZkYv-GEX0t_0EBbHwnP7KDOtoYhyphenhyphenuvfGcDJifTc8OeeBcPt1oPbYbdFZds5MHPMtivKqcy9sgf5ut1mK0EpqPz3j7NHw8/s1600/19Jan_Ushuaia_port.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ushuaia (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The port at <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=ushuaia+harbor&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=QzwAUYWDGIS-2gWG6oCICw&ved=0CEQQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=955" target="_blank">Ushuaia</a> is a very quaint little harbor, picturesque against the southern tip of the Andes Mountains. The tree line on the mountains was unmistakable, and the summer weather made the town look so inviting. A handful of people on our trip had decided to spend an extra day or two in this part of Argentina just exploring (I wish I had more time to do the same...) (<i>Ahem - Ed).</i><br />
<br />
It was a morning of goodbyes, to the crew and to our fellow passengers. We each had a truly amazing adventure and ended the trip with about one hundred new friends. While the Group was heavy on U.S. travelers, we also had folks coming from Canada, Scotland, England, Sweden, India, China, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, France, South Africa, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia! Our most energetic passenger was Abdulaziz from Saudi Arabia, who almost didn't make it on the trip (because it was sold out) but held out hope and got all of his visas in order just in case. It was lucky he did because there was a cancellation about 3 or 4 days before the trip and Abdul joyfully claimed his spot. What a pleasure he was to have on the trip, too... so much zest for life, and he constantly reminded us of sticking to your goals and having faith that things will always work out in the end.<br />
<br />
The group flight back to the U.S. (there were 62 of us going back to LAX) was long, but most of us were still in a daze from our adventures. 3 hour flight to Buenos Aires, 2 hour fiasco of a transfer to the international airport in Buenos Aires (but I was humming the Buenos Aires song from the musical Evita the whole time), dinner in the airport (great bruschetta and even better company), 5 hour flight to Lima, 9 hour flight to Los Angeles, 2 hours at customs, then for me a 1 hour flight to Phoenix. My parents and my sweet son picked me up at the airport (<i>I was slacking elsewhere - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
A few things that I already miss (as I type up my notes a few days after returning) are:<br />
<br />
- Knowing that no matter what time of day or what location we were at we could always look outside and take in beautiful scenery worthy of taking our breath away.<br />
<br />
- Hearing Ted Cheeseman's voice as an alarm clock each morning (towards the end of the trip several of us joked that we need to get Ted to record a "back to reality" wake up call telling us it wasn't a dream, but that we do have to get out of bed and go back to work).<br />
<br />
- Letting somebody else plan our entire day, and knowing for sure that no matter what eventually happened would be once-in-a-lifetime amazing and awesome (<i>It's sort of like living with Mr. Belvedere - Ed.)</i>!<br />
<br />
- Spending time with new friends that quickly melded into folks you felt like you had known for a decade or more.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5iRpGdozmGj8-jMLx2VuY7bASwsfKRpal-XRVQw1ECjMjnzcCXsTSflmKMaj4rPTdMtP13ViEOsvlANclCJHQBxN9lkxcoONmN2AomYNbMUxOyqU9Ad1wiEYJcyyGieZUNgRVPG8SuI/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5iRpGdozmGj8-jMLx2VuY7bASwsfKRpal-XRVQw1ECjMjnzcCXsTSflmKMaj4rPTdMtP13ViEOsvlANclCJHQBxN9lkxcoONmN2AomYNbMUxOyqU9Ad1wiEYJcyyGieZUNgRVPG8SuI/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New friends (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
- Seeing penguins, hearing penguins, and a tad bit even smelling penguins. Just when I thought I was sick of taking pictures of another penguin, I would see another penguin and immediately giggle and melt, saying "aww, it's so cute!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nIVnrUVYW38?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
- Being around geologists... I almost forgot how much I love geology (almost...), and it warms my heart to hear beautiful geo words woven into conversation like strata, hinge, turbidite, greenschist, serpentinite, batholith, Scotia Arc, chevron folding, ophiolite, Sandebugten, cirque, tabular, and yes even dike... (<i>Welcome to my dinner table. - Ed.)</i><br />
<br />
<br />
To all those who read this blog, thanks for sharing the adventure with me. Thanks to my wonderful husband for being my "webmaster" and providing comical editorial comments (<i>Thank you very much! Tip your waitresses! Try the veal! - Ed.)</i>. And if any of you are planning on taking any "trips of a lifetime" in the near future, I wholeheartedly recommend trying to do it with Cheeseman's Ecology Safaris (www.cheesmans.com )... You'll feel like your favorite relative is bringing you along on an amazing adventure that is one for the history books!<br />
<br />
As our ship's bartender, Joaol, would say at happy hour each day... Tooloo!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QsYsRodpWRaRSXX4JV795kIcW6QI4MZxXwNtd0QWp9lwfHmXtcBWjAAZvfpx7zOm8ZcDPnnEnrPHaw3yXk-Vi7qXIUqxuxO66Z1VGsa88FU8ULOMU9Wy6KEGJtoPDHvozZO5a3mL8AM/s1600/Antarctica+and+Scotia+Arc+Tectonics+JSG+GSA+Group+photo+(2)+(1024x683).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QsYsRodpWRaRSXX4JV795kIcW6QI4MZxXwNtd0QWp9lwfHmXtcBWjAAZvfpx7zOm8ZcDPnnEnrPHaw3yXk-Vi7qXIUqxuxO66Z1VGsa88FU8ULOMU9Wy6KEGJtoPDHvozZO5a3mL8AM/s1600/Antarctica+and+Scotia+Arc+Tectonics+JSG+GSA+Group+photo+(2)+(1024x683).jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole group (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-59554627849037987992013-01-22T10:23:00.001-07:002014-01-28T13:25:01.945-07:00Die, Rats, Die! (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
From Mindy, dated 18 January:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGWQ_ScQsuS2ReyneC7Usid7jldDO9yWyBkDD-KCMk4dxdLMcPKL-f7aje5g4uUk0Rqyg6T9kGQNXQOisv_9ijrfMmVQidXT03O5zP5TShBCgxuxwjh87G7CGrV0a289Or4UtBigzHio/s1600/18Jan_CapeHorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGWQ_ScQsuS2ReyneC7Usid7jldDO9yWyBkDD-KCMk4dxdLMcPKL-f7aje5g4uUk0Rqyg6T9kGQNXQOisv_9ijrfMmVQidXT03O5zP5TShBCgxuxwjh87G7CGrV0a289Or4UtBigzHio/s1600/18Jan_CapeHorn.jpg" height="158" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Horn (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This morning we will sail around Cape Horn, and after we make the turn the captain has promised calm seas (we'll then be on the leeward side of the tip of South America). As we woke up in the morning (58 miles away from Cape Horn) the ship was sailing at 12 knots, there was a 2 meter swell, 20-25 knot winds, barometer rising at 1005, air temperature 8.5 degrees C, water temp 7.2 C.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEleGAvIb1iRspAqZlUaEpzGqWgiuUBgJfSfasU7blFOD6qWgH1ymFVQeZc9iyT_W_30_3jVFP9M0gzGVMOsSf_U5ULCRLZhPHVs9rg0hy7N46DPfxa-xNLs4swuthWCQz7bNHJ2AnoDA/s1600/18Jan_navigation_room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEleGAvIb1iRspAqZlUaEpzGqWgiuUBgJfSfasU7blFOD6qWgH1ymFVQeZc9iyT_W_30_3jVFP9M0gzGVMOsSf_U5ULCRLZhPHVs9rg0hy7N46DPfxa-xNLs4swuthWCQz7bNHJ2AnoDA/s1600/18Jan_navigation_room.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ship's Navigation (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the morning we tackled some logistics for ending the trip, settling accounts, packing, and making sure everyone has the right information for traveling home. A small group from our trip will be spending an extra week going to Tierra del Fuego with the some of the geology trip leaders (<i>think of it as "reverse snowbirding" - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Photographer <a href="http://www.tmurphywild.com/store/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=7" target="_blank">Tom Murphy</a> shared some amazing photos with us from his 35 years of Backcountry Skiing in Yellowstone National Park. He has published some coffee-table books and a 2013 calendar that show his amazing work. With Tom giving us insights on how the photo was taken, and the lengths he went to in getting to these locations, you really get an appreciation for how utterly amazing these images are!<br />
<br />
Richard Alley gave one last talk on "highlights from 4.6 billion years of climate change." He did an excellent job of explaining and summing up so much climate history so clearly and succinctly. I will really miss having the privilege to hear his lectures in person (as well as the other amazing brain power on this ship)! He treated us to an encore of his song The Great Penguin Waltz, complete now with penguin photos from our trip.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/lYgMj4xZ9Z8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjHzmiXGUMonjsEAYrEMZ4w_wCvK7pFDNb86Iug9T39pWs6bE5rQm97gkwzx8eqsRaNFKvpk_qeJ9VuQ_Bktg5fIAJZmnMmlZCg5ocWPwq51HiHelKyRCjjbJgg3P10x13SgQhzHpN8k/s1600/18Jan_dolphins_on_ship_bow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjHzmiXGUMonjsEAYrEMZ4w_wCvK7pFDNb86Iug9T39pWs6bE5rQm97gkwzx8eqsRaNFKvpk_qeJ9VuQ_Bktg5fIAJZmnMmlZCg5ocWPwq51HiHelKyRCjjbJgg3P10x13SgQhzHpN8k/s1600/18Jan_dolphins_on_ship_bow.jpg" height="153" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolphins on the ship's bow <br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the afternoon, we held a silent auction to raise money for rat eradication on the South Georgia Islands, being done by the <a href="http://www.sght.org/Habitat-Restoration" target="_blank">South Georgia Heritage Trust</a>. The story here is that South Georgia is one of the places we visited on this expedition, and they have an organization who began to work on preserving the natural ecosystem several years ago. South Georgia used to be abundant in many species of birds who would use the islands to nest and in part of their migration pattern. But, over the years whalers and explorers inadvertently brought rats with them on their ships, and the rats thrived on the islands. The rats eat the eggs from nesting birds, and have become a real problem. As areas have been cleared of rats, the birds have slowly started to return to the islands. About $145 US dollars can ensure that one hectare of land is cleared of rats, and they are just a few years away from complete rat eradication! <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT1aW14CQFQdwLVXMqbolhjs_6uZ1g3-RwEqz-yboMRzKm5TMk3kfmvA8Axm-_TI-Sh06ZpeEcI7HbT9rhnqLjex2X0LKjVYHhukMcA-vsXJDi1ILY6B7IAcBFJtp14FE78kg_UCb67E/s1600/18Jan_whaling_vessel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT1aW14CQFQdwLVXMqbolhjs_6uZ1g3-RwEqz-yboMRzKm5TMk3kfmvA8Axm-_TI-Sh06ZpeEcI7HbT9rhnqLjex2X0LKjVYHhukMcA-vsXJDi1ILY6B7IAcBFJtp14FE78kg_UCb67E/s1600/18Jan_whaling_vessel.jpg" height="106" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whaling vessel (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before we all came on this trip, we knew about this auction and were encouraged to contribute unique things to auction. I brought some hand-made note cards (the kind I send as my Christmas cards each year), some wine gift certificates from the first carbon neutral winery in the U.S. (<a href="http://www.parducci.com/" target="_blank">Parducci </a>in Mendocino County, CA), and I also crocheted some scarves (during the trip) that we named based on the yarn colors and how they mimicked the rock formations we had seen on the trip (Sandebugten, Blue Schist, Green Schist, and Serpentinite) (<i>Yes, my wife crochets rocks - you got a problem with that?! - Ed.)</i>. Other really cool stuff in the auction (just to name a small few) included a South Georgia flag flown over Grytviken, historic books, artwork, a hand-made penguin quilt wall-hanging, 1915-era cigarette cards (sort of like baseball cards) of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition, rare rock samples from the Sudbury Impact Structure in Canada, and so many other special mementos from the trip. A new friend of mine from this trip, Natalie (who you might recall from an earlier blog post has a fear of fur seals) knitted a miniature fur seal complete with toothpick-fangs, red eyes, and red-yarn "blood" dripping from its mouth! The fur seal went in the silent auction for near $200! By the end of the auction, we had collectively raised over $14,000 for the South Georgia Heritage Trust Habitat Restoration Project. Another organization pledged to match funds up to $10,000 and some anonymous donors pledged several thousand dollars outside of the auction. So, all told we were able to send nearly $30K for rat eradication. This amount is enough to clear rats from land the size of Elephant Island (<i>if you don't think this is way cool, you're dead inside - Ed.)</i>!<br />
<br />
After the auction we had a special dinner with the Captain of the ship, and after dinner we all watched the group photo slideshow (collected and culled by Scott Davis). Then it was time to pack and get some last visiting in with friends at the ship's bar. At about midnight we went out on the deck to see the night sky (we hadn't had true darkness for a couple of weeks) and a couple of us got to see the tug boat greet us and drop off the pilot who would take over sailing the ship for its final approach into the port at Ushuaia. In the morning we will be flying home... can you believe we just went to Antarctica??? None of us can still believe it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MbC5so0mY4E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-64802789670671719392013-01-21T08:17:00.003-07:002014-01-28T13:34:15.670-07:00Coming Back (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
From Mindy, dated 17 January:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQiaVQA7BGjlU0qC-P4O5DUVkuLewUaiUPEPX7FDIDdxL_Jodg86pFlvyDh2NuzklQdAJkAVGFVBfQJvOHybyyplnpT0S1uyxwzIJC0LPmp1-9DfeYGm7d8TBKsJFB-qw4NCn3aghwu4/s1600/Enjoying_Southern_Ocean_17Jan_Antarctica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQiaVQA7BGjlU0qC-P4O5DUVkuLewUaiUPEPX7FDIDdxL_Jodg86pFlvyDh2NuzklQdAJkAVGFVBfQJvOHybyyplnpT0S1uyxwzIJC0LPmp1-9DfeYGm7d8TBKsJFB-qw4NCn3aghwu4/s1600/Enjoying_Southern_Ocean_17Jan_Antarctica.jpg" height="126" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the Southern Ocean<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Rough days at sea ahead as we go back through the Drake Passage. I shouldn't complain, because we are actually experiencing rather calm conditions for this notoriously violent section of ocean. As we get our daily wake up call from Ted Cheeseman (who has such a calming and optimistic voice that it makes you excited about the day as soon as you hear him) (<i>what else would you expect from a guy named "Cheeseman"? - Ed.)</i>, we have a thick fog and the ship is navigating by radar. The water temperature is 1.5 degrees C, air is 3 C, barometer at 994, and there is negligible winds with 1-2 meter swells.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M93rRxdbZMT40V_DsVlCm2V0FsbdRUYV2Q2x8W5N1XHB7iM8pU3UU-v35bzkX8XS1ub87zt8S_MhWTL48BAA6W4XCUvmguZVr8TuC1SvZbUsYyk4IiLo-Jzh61-RuD8lfn69hmSbY3M/s1600/Leaving_Antarctica_17Jan_sea_sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M93rRxdbZMT40V_DsVlCm2V0FsbdRUYV2Q2x8W5N1XHB7iM8pU3UU-v35bzkX8XS1ub87zt8S_MhWTL48BAA6W4XCUvmguZVr8TuC1SvZbUsYyk4IiLo-Jzh61-RuD8lfn69hmSbY3M/s1600/Leaving_Antarctica_17Jan_sea_sunset.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough sea at sunset<br />
(Click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you read the blog post for Jan 8, you might remember that we had some rough seas going through Drake passage the first time. Well, last night we found out that a whopper of a storm came in right behind us that day. Sometime shortly after there was another cruise ship of similar size taking the same route... They got caught in the monster storm, and the windows were blown out on the bridge (several people were injured by shards of glass, and the ship returned immediately to Ushuaia, canceling that cruise and the next scheduled cruise for that ship)! With that shocking story, we were all reminded of the luck we are having with weather, and I have nothing to complain about with today's ship jostling (I have at least been able to function for a majority of the day, although with somewhat of a green face).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We had several lectures throughout the day from our geology and ecology expedition leaders. I missed several of them because it is very easy to get queasy in the lecture room (it is on the bottom deck and right at the center of the ship with no windows). Pauline Carr shared stories of ocean explorers in a lecture called "Terra Becomes Cognita: the Heroic Age Explorers." Ian Dalziel spoke more about the geologic history in the region, summing up "Antarctica and Supercontinental Evolution." Rob Dunbar gave a talk on "Climate Change in Antarctica: Stories from Sediment Cores." Michael Moore gave a very insightful talk on "Penguins, Whales, and Climate Change." Finally, Richard Alley spoke about "How Glaciers use Earthquakes to Make Beautiful Scenery." (<i>Californians, take note - Ed.)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ukVyNk7H58c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
I only mustered enough energy to make it to Richard's talk (although I had to lie on the floor to calm my stomach), but I learned some unexpected things about glacial weathering... one of them being that glaciers can modify landforms quicker than rivers (but sometimes they don't). The Taku glacier in Alaska has been measured at 3 meters/year erosion rates, and the Riggs glacier, also in Alaska was measured at 30 meters per year sedimentation rates in front of the glacier! If you think about the Antarctic continent, and you just assume a 1 cm/yr erosion rate (the common average of all glaciers measured) the whole continent should be gone under the Antarctic ice sheets (and in fact the ice would have worn down to the earth's mantle by now), so something is moderating the potential behavior of the Antarctic ice sheets so that they are not eroding like other ice sheets. To stop a glacier from transforming the landscape underneath it, you can either have it frozen solid onto the bedrock, or have a thawed bed but no meltwater. Earthquakes can then play a significant role in shaping the landforms because they essentially allow hydro-fracking in the cracks in rocks (this explains how you have sharp "cliff-like" edges in glacial geomorphology (otherwise, the ice would have rounded everything and polished it much like river cobbles over the years). (<i>Got all that? - Ed.)</i><br />
<br />
Several folks on the trip completed a final drawing workshop with Edward Rooks to work on their pieces of art from the trip. Everyone feverishly edited and organized their photos (with the help of professional photographers Tom Murphy and Scott Davis) so that we could collect the best ones for a group slide show. We also turned in items for an auction to be held on the last day of the trip, raising money for a rat eradication project on South Georgia Island. More on that exciting tidbit tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Late in the evening there was a screening of a movie called "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Around-Cape-Horn-Johnson-Sailing/dp/B000W8MMO2" target="_blank">Around Cape Horn</a>" which was made by Captain Irving Johnson in 1929 during the last great days of sailing. I could not stomach watching a movie that was shot with a hand-crank camera on rough seas (and shown in a notoriously risky room for getting sea sick). But, I heard rave reviews from everyone who saw it, and I will definitely track down this movie when I get home. (<i>See link above - Ed.)</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-27458335982649813452013-01-19T14:05:00.001-07:002013-12-16T19:09:00.195-07:00Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 16 January:<br />
<br />
A bittersweet wake up this morning as everyone realizes this will be our last zodiac landing day. We are sailing along at about 10 knots speed, with negligible wind. The air temperature is 3.5 degrees C, water near 2 degrees C, barometer at 988 and clear skies. Looks like the weather will be kind to us again today with sun and balmy (<i>once again, I want it on record that my wife called 2C "balmy" - Ed.)</i> southern ocean summer winds.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKlg4HXPxtar2m8u2V59ioP6Z0O_Bkgxiv9zfsm9oPDVTKoYqkJRU3sf9vcUTJbgIzoxoaDr64squu-J1bKb6F6NW_3LDQkbNaiwCzbFW2y9i5EHiDr4FEFQ3BcBSMd86UMu9G1btviY/s1600/BinnsBluff_FalseBay_16Jan_beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKlg4HXPxtar2m8u2V59ioP6Z0O_Bkgxiv9zfsm9oPDVTKoYqkJRU3sf9vcUTJbgIzoxoaDr64squu-J1bKb6F6NW_3LDQkbNaiwCzbFW2y9i5EHiDr4FEFQ3BcBSMd86UMu9G1btviY/s200/BinnsBluff_FalseBay_16Jan_beach.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach at Binn's Bluff<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVXCRHZEVH4rW77M9ty9McdUF3mhgkNLXcBsyEeuugtLySycl2mh9LUT3x_HeYzwGgI-52nsSGFhfR2u46Y5rj2i48FdzGEG9H5dzZonEgQUnleaua0QxMvIotbal_slxCvfJ2eVNQCM/s1600/BinnsBluff_FalseBay_16Jan_bouma_and_flame2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVXCRHZEVH4rW77M9ty9McdUF3mhgkNLXcBsyEeuugtLySycl2mh9LUT3x_HeYzwGgI-52nsSGFhfR2u46Y5rj2i48FdzGEG9H5dzZonEgQUnleaua0QxMvIotbal_slxCvfJ2eVNQCM/s200/BinnsBluff_FalseBay_16Jan_bouma_and_flame2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bouma and flame (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For our morning landing, we set off on the Hurd Peninsula to Binn's Bluff in <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=false+bay+antarctica&hl=en&tbo=u&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=9wn7UM-8G8SE0QHM7IDwDw&sqi=2&ved=0CC4QsAQ" target="_blank">False Bay</a>. This is a relatively out of the way beach with not much wildlife, so it doesn't get much human attention. Many well-travelled Antarctic experts on our ship have never landed here. On the beach we found some copper deposits on large boulders. We also found some pretty nice examples of Bouma sequences in turbidites (a Bouma sequence is a characteristic pattern in rocks that indicates a series of underwater landslides over time). There were some nice flame structures in the sediments (good "way up" indicators), and even a dike about 20-30 cm wide.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2HI-z0-t9dfPpSYtHEztMnv0yg46QK3AeSa-AQfs2briUI3fcED-ea0k7U82hzCOsIyzNlhnG1p29uq5Znt6-ShW-J7mUQcaevzKXk19LDrd1cWpRr6diG1q8rvVER7VqK9gx1MB5EU/s1600/BinnsBluff_FalseBay_16Jan_lichen_fruiticos2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2HI-z0-t9dfPpSYtHEztMnv0yg46QK3AeSa-AQfs2briUI3fcED-ea0k7U82hzCOsIyzNlhnG1p29uq5Znt6-ShW-J7mUQcaevzKXk19LDrd1cWpRr6diG1q8rvVER7VqK9gx1MB5EU/s200/BinnsBluff_FalseBay_16Jan_lichen_fruiticos2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm "lichen" it (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkwj4nEoT5cDDFb33VVM9A2IhvFjuEBvQpyfPGgx6Ofcm9WNWv6rSr_pC0Gj94suQgKXwGgc-GZGVzOnmPMCMIElJ9xZdQc3gDVJxD0dZlfhMly43Fw6CzzDQwKR0nUKUAzvNaVTBnwY/s1600/BinnsBluff_FalseBay_16Jan_moss_scape2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkwj4nEoT5cDDFb33VVM9A2IhvFjuEBvQpyfPGgx6Ofcm9WNWv6rSr_pC0Gj94suQgKXwGgc-GZGVzOnmPMCMIElJ9xZdQc3gDVJxD0dZlfhMly43Fw6CzzDQwKR0nUKUAzvNaVTBnwY/s200/BinnsBluff_FalseBay_16Jan_moss_scape2.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss on the cape<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were some really nice looking lichens on the rocks along the beach and on the marine terrace. A fellow passenger, Cath, taught me about the three types of lichens: crustos (painted), folios (leafy), and fruiticos (bushy) (<i>good to know for all of us who usually just say "moss" - Ed.)</i>. In False Bay, there are two of the three kinds of lichens growing on nearly all of the outcrops (fruiticos and crustos). There are also some really cute little tufts of grass known as hair grass.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/06sASDFicHw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHcroGUniG8gwhmg2kQnvAlW9IJgBNCEXNbCQLSlPu-CtEs6XjSLUGDGQ14CQIEYOT-9_0F15tv7mUkpx2twsqQw5KH9Bs5IBVXbjosal-RqaVtxjC0i0G5hfcxcn_1C8SAut71YJhts/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_chalcedony_and_others.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHcroGUniG8gwhmg2kQnvAlW9IJgBNCEXNbCQLSlPu-CtEs6XjSLUGDGQ14CQIEYOT-9_0F15tv7mUkpx2twsqQw5KH9Bs5IBVXbjosal-RqaVtxjC0i0G5hfcxcn_1C8SAut71YJhts/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_chalcedony_and_others.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalcedony<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVPxaL2DAeC4ZLbQW682BhsFP84R6B-2vwVAW7lpqbIRbAF6OgcD_wItQIqvLmDz17GMx64kLvs6ei54MKgyT92IteIe8zLF256rz02u55KPh-2V09dciNXZoEWQzRl8E1FTBzChAOuc/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_pearlwort_deschampia_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVPxaL2DAeC4ZLbQW682BhsFP84R6B-2vwVAW7lpqbIRbAF6OgcD_wItQIqvLmDz17GMx64kLvs6ei54MKgyT92IteIe8zLF256rz02u55KPh-2V09dciNXZoEWQzRl8E1FTBzChAOuc/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_pearlwort_deschampia_1.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pearl Wort and Deschampia<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the afternoon we landed at Hannah Point on <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=livingston+island+antarctica&hl=en&tbo=u&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=IQr7UK30N6je0gGo5IDAAg&sqi=2&ved=0CEMQsAQ" target="_blank">Livingston Island</a>, which is one of the most biodiverse places in terms of wildlife on the South Shetland Islands. At the beach we could see the only two flowering plants in Antarctica (Pearl Wort and Deschampia Grass). The volcanic rocks in the area had a mineral called Chalcedony in them (pretty unusual here). Further down the beach from our landing site there is a grouping of large boulders where everyone collects any fossils they've found. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7mLwNwHyMrjYDXBAanUzrnSTO4Ko7XHFf3mkkO8CxchhsPGyUAA3I2xaBxsSfEMTjakal7OwiVvARSzmOQvh4ykw7gJJUj262Q4KCq3AxA1cNTtXwowW1Q6R6ZeeUCGYAoigBWVvEcE/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_interesting_specimens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7mLwNwHyMrjYDXBAanUzrnSTO4Ko7XHFf3mkkO8CxchhsPGyUAA3I2xaBxsSfEMTjakal7OwiVvARSzmOQvh4ykw7gJJUj262Q4KCq3AxA1cNTtXwowW1Q6R6ZeeUCGYAoigBWVvEcE/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_interesting_specimens.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collection of Specimens (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is against the law to take fossils from the beach (and in fact if any of us on the tour took fossils, it would be our tour organizer who would be prosecuted under U.S. law). The fossils were amazing! Petrified wood, fern leaves, marine fossils, etc.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/5Xw9by_mCII/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/5Xw9by_mCII&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/5Xw9by_mCII&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8WsL7cbnrGUQe1BuzU7GvERYBrn1UT9FwuNbgNO9IiD6L0lw1GKZ-22QyK3PBA-_fh17O4uq7qwXHSwKZkCEukqYMJ7dKNQUy3SQUX48ayq_FDO491L1ooMKzkHSKndJ3t9n7INhYJE/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_gentoo_nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8WsL7cbnrGUQe1BuzU7GvERYBrn1UT9FwuNbgNO9IiD6L0lw1GKZ-22QyK3PBA-_fh17O4uq7qwXHSwKZkCEukqYMJ7dKNQUy3SQUX48ayq_FDO491L1ooMKzkHSKndJ3t9n7INhYJE/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_gentoo_nest.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gentoo nest (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3J9HuYBj4N53EPT166qLl3ith0J6wpJ8lybJ8qjrz5dU0MrM_pv6WzzvSPaawRaa7hzMnboXXhdBDXp28xM2HdiEMCpuzL1I6QXmb7afgPdaOfqknqb9CUFAIWRYYsuRG-onM6cSwGY/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_elephant_seal_wrinkles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3J9HuYBj4N53EPT166qLl3ith0J6wpJ8lybJ8qjrz5dU0MrM_pv6WzzvSPaawRaa7hzMnboXXhdBDXp28xM2HdiEMCpuzL1I6QXmb7afgPdaOfqknqb9CUFAIWRYYsuRG-onM6cSwGY/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_elephant_seal_wrinkles.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant seal wrinkles (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi0KGLBVAOyRvTXpRoMQgrze1LORDhzAFqqd8xbjH1OE0-tpzkXLW04koTdHL3BOAUMv-aRe6Rr1No00plpVFD_dzp1YF39MVgfltU_-1hpG8hz5-YDpIdT2DVOSDH8GHnGspotrgBPc/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_whale_bones_closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi0KGLBVAOyRvTXpRoMQgrze1LORDhzAFqqd8xbjH1OE0-tpzkXLW04koTdHL3BOAUMv-aRe6Rr1No00plpVFD_dzp1YF39MVgfltU_-1hpG8hz5-YDpIdT2DVOSDH8GHnGspotrgBPc/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_whale_bones_closeup.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whale bones (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The animal life at Hannah Point was quite fun to see one last time on our trip. There were penguins and chicks (with lots of penguin poop!), elephant seals lounging (and making foul noises), and skua with skua babies. We even saw a skua steal a penguin chick and take it over to the nest to feed the skua babies (disturbing, but at the same time amazing to see the circle of life as they say) (<i>cue Disney music - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KYH9WKuGhnY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu__o74_I2uPsax3D9umPWPhCh_jm4Y5R3FhDFaJA_qQ0B0NvwQAlhB8a_rhmLwbBxZ-vUpKwQv0fCHt2Ew-jCK4dCuT97boNdbkHn5HvkVFs7OyfXAehECx7CyPgNFgpShMi9618ZrE/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_copper_deposits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu__o74_I2uPsax3D9umPWPhCh_jm4Y5R3FhDFaJA_qQ0B0NvwQAlhB8a_rhmLwbBxZ-vUpKwQv0fCHt2Ew-jCK4dCuT97boNdbkHn5HvkVFs7OyfXAehECx7CyPgNFgpShMi9618ZrE/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_copper_deposits.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper schist<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1SckH1QY2yC1jyob-Keeue6qzLIGLJPbjqpwBF73WjK6etD8HxJU1smAphykQ0h9a1nhvReWP6mJ-gBR35xXGzMVJ5XKsDWfDD8si4AXv_Cc-nzmUMqFlzT3heAfEcDX453KcfPjTZc/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_fern_imprints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1SckH1QY2yC1jyob-Keeue6qzLIGLJPbjqpwBF73WjK6etD8HxJU1smAphykQ0h9a1nhvReWP6mJ-gBR35xXGzMVJ5XKsDWfDD8si4AXv_Cc-nzmUMqFlzT3heAfEcDX453KcfPjTZc/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_fern_imprints.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fern imprints (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Db7ZX_8UJ62twdowoTYaSXMQM13ynyUOHyfeah6mFKdCsjc8IS1Gv4K2bJioDoFiYdEuypJGHoBHztCABg_3UwAXjgz7LPvvLul5qvWPWoLGrKWmf6Q1_MkxJNuzqh1aJT_VSun25d4/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_petrified_wood_trunk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Db7ZX_8UJ62twdowoTYaSXMQM13ynyUOHyfeah6mFKdCsjc8IS1Gv4K2bJioDoFiYdEuypJGHoBHztCABg_3UwAXjgz7LPvvLul5qvWPWoLGrKWmf6Q1_MkxJNuzqh1aJT_VSun25d4/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_petrified_wood_trunk2.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petrified wood (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Back to the ship for warm drinks and a hot dinner. It was sad knowing that this was our last landing, but happy because we had such a wonderful day. The sun was shining, the seas were relatively calm, and the winds were not that bad. In passing conversation, I heard Ted (our expedition leader) saying that luck actually happens all the time, you just have to be ready for it. What a great way to capture our trip and the serendipity of all of us geologists and scientists being together here!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZfJLSwew3gna3j4lH7faiHUQw-1flEhwajupQJDZffWV4Azuxv59vn5FTJPBVKnWHMxGvZ6vTnjve9YoAPTpRnLy5eJCmY2pKtWzU5YIZ07Us3e-E8XcwMHr7OKVAKhEOx53qmSvMxk/s1600/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_island_sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZfJLSwew3gna3j4lH7faiHUQw-1flEhwajupQJDZffWV4Azuxv59vn5FTJPBVKnWHMxGvZ6vTnjve9YoAPTpRnLy5eJCmY2pKtWzU5YIZ07Us3e-E8XcwMHr7OKVAKhEOx53qmSvMxk/s200/HannahPt_LivingstonIsl_16Jan_island_sunset.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Look (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At about 10:30pm, we were catching our last glimpse of the South Shetland Islands. Smith Island is about 7000 feet tall, and made of blueschist (one of the rock types that eluded us earlier in the expedition). This island was only mapped a few years ago, and Ian Dalziel told us how rare it is to actually have weather good enough to see the island. The sunset was beautiful, and silhouetted the snow-covered peaks in a beautiful pink light (with the moon rising to the east).<br />
<br />
<br />
And now it is two days at sea while we make our way to Ushuaia, Argentina for flights homeward.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-67415834137825957512013-01-16T15:16:00.000-07:002013-12-16T18:50:01.357-07:00The Solid South (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 15 January:<br />
<br />
This morning we reach our southernmost point in the cruise. The barometer was at 989, water at 1.8 degrees C, air at 1.5 degrees C, negligible wind.<br />
<br />
After staying up for the sunrise at 3:23 am, it was tough to get up early, but one look outside and I couldn't miss the view. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCcINbNtryOYcyqjHoTXeiQGftY_UO0xCZEbrj1gza21ZBFkMUESw0BC1gMjkbR7xTE_83efZFvDy87zqQQr_0HkCzM7Ya1O8V0leAV7Tw6RMRdpl2mpq8Q8LOCzbz9lcD5XbE7jNgQY/s1600/LemaireChannel_15Jan_Captain_on_Bridge_65South.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCcINbNtryOYcyqjHoTXeiQGftY_UO0xCZEbrj1gza21ZBFkMUESw0BC1gMjkbR7xTE_83efZFvDy87zqQQr_0HkCzM7Ya1O8V0leAV7Tw6RMRdpl2mpq8Q8LOCzbz9lcD5XbE7jNgQY/s200/LemaireChannel_15Jan_Captain_on_Bridge_65South.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain on the bridge (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS4FLNc_TQfPBwtHggAG0xPaB7W16LGRYSIUAonao1M5Fy1ugVxfJYoji8FzEsWwTDkU0Zs_dqQ6IJHtZr69zpIfAlXIJ79QNXEw75H2zkqOJqAU5pam_5_7Ub8LdbPx9EBs7ItaCHoo/s1600/LemaireChannel_15Jan_Mindy_65South.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS4FLNc_TQfPBwtHggAG0xPaB7W16LGRYSIUAonao1M5Fy1ugVxfJYoji8FzEsWwTDkU0Zs_dqQ6IJHtZr69zpIfAlXIJ79QNXEw75H2zkqOJqAU5pam_5_7Ub8LdbPx9EBs7ItaCHoo/s200/LemaireChannel_15Jan_Mindy_65South.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindy at Lemaire Channel<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We sailed through the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=lemaire+channel&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=xCT3UNSRE4HDigKhrICgBQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643" target="_blank">Lemaire Channel</a>, which is a very narrow and scenic channel at about 64 degrees West longitude and a little south of 65 degrees South latitude. At the southernmost point in the channel, the captain stopped the ship and turned the boat around. What a treat to see the channel twice! Next we sailed through Neumayer Channel to <a href="http://fromtiptotop.blogspot.com/2012/03/jougla-point-weinke-island.html" target="_blank">Weinke Island</a>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ONJQ6Bp-wBEGIhAlT2wisC2L0p6acR6LG1sQXnjQzKXFCGCYrqc9uFScCYDMalZdCpI6gv44uzLhzjSxXeoHx2ZBKi3y9KxHICUZjJiRDhIioXMc6fhWn1woJYYl6_eqgpE5X0RDzH0/s1600/PortLockroy_BaseA_Antarctica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ONJQ6Bp-wBEGIhAlT2wisC2L0p6acR6LG1sQXnjQzKXFCGCYrqc9uFScCYDMalZdCpI6gv44uzLhzjSxXeoHx2ZBKi3y9KxHICUZjJiRDhIioXMc6fhWn1woJYYl6_eqgpE5X0RDzH0/s200/PortLockroy_BaseA_Antarctica.jpg" width="183" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port Lockroy (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At about 10am we made it to <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=port+lockroy&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=DSX3UIbTCOXbiwLp_oHYAg&sqi=2&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643" target="_blank">Port Lockroy</a>, a former British Antarctic Survey (BAS) base in a sheltered harbor. The port was named by the French explorer Charcot in 1904, and is named after the French politician Edward Lockroy (who founded Chacot's trip). Cath and Ben, two of the staff from Port Lockroy, came on board to give us some background information about the base and the surrounding area before our landing. The geography of this bay lends itself well to whaling, and whaling was common here from 1911-1931. By 1931 the whalers could work off of ships and didn't necessarily need sheltered harbors to process the blubber. After World War II there was a secret British Navy operation to set up the BAS base. The sailors didn't even know where they were going when they left (Ben told us one sailor sent a letter to his mom saying that he was issued sunglasses so he must be headed somewhere warm!) (<i>Also known as the "mushroom method of personnel assignment" - Ed.)</i>. They meant to set up the base at Hope Bay (to monitor the naval activity around the tip of South America), but couldn't access it that year because the ice pack was too thick. Instead they established Base A at Lockroy. The first thing they officially established was a post office (in true British fashion) (<i>I'm betting a tea shop was second - Ed.)</i>. After the war there wasn't much utility to the base, so they handed it over to scientists and science was the main purpose of the base from 1945-1962. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBk7vMH9bVg6aFh_x0kSu-8HGZtRUHHUJVOBSgWPMb13_T5LHaS1P0mjPgIXuukDjQmTQPxiVjYO2VlG2-CwTYlE0HUXa4VuCLQpxC1CZPfkj9xqb29ASCxnXUvjRa87cbrEwrbgd35o/s1600/PortLockroy_15Jan_Gentoo_nest_JouglaPoint_AliceCreekCove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBk7vMH9bVg6aFh_x0kSu-8HGZtRUHHUJVOBSgWPMb13_T5LHaS1P0mjPgIXuukDjQmTQPxiVjYO2VlG2-CwTYlE0HUXa4VuCLQpxC1CZPfkj9xqb29ASCxnXUvjRa87cbrEwrbgd35o/s200/PortLockroy_15Jan_Gentoo_nest_JouglaPoint_AliceCreekCove.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gentoo Family <br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xCQ2EhsfSs2eqp3_Wx0ej-EnIGs7L9a6eoNPqwERQbUpfj3EMTzWOaFmFvOIWNUd9PxRR5H0s3idcWXoWhlgZZOYKKVRIruViQHH7n7x8SNRkK3Hg3Y4sMYV27G6QvSajgRjq842PVY/s1600/PortLockroy_15Jan_BritishBaseA_beastie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xCQ2EhsfSs2eqp3_Wx0ej-EnIGs7L9a6eoNPqwERQbUpfj3EMTzWOaFmFvOIWNUd9PxRR5H0s3idcWXoWhlgZZOYKKVRIruViQHH7n7x8SNRkK3Hg3Y4sMYV27G6QvSajgRjq842PVY/s200/PortLockroy_15Jan_BritishBaseA_beastie.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Beastie" <br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One particular machine they used daily was an ionosond, which was referred to by the men as "beastie" because it was huge, heavy, regularly caught fire, and often interfered with BBC transmission signals. Now the base is managed by the Antarctic Heritage Trust.<br />
<br />
At the base, there are only two small buildings, one is a museum and the other is where the staff live (maybe 4 of them?). You can mail a post card to anywhere in the world from here for $1 (the card goes to the Falkland Islands, then to the U.K., then it enters the U.K. postal system).<br />
<br />
At Port Lockroy, some scientific experiments have been conducted for 16 years evaluating the impact of tourism on the ecosystems. The area around the base has been split in half, with one half open the human traffic and the other an exclusion zone. The results so far indicate no major difference in biodiversity between the two zones, which either means that people are respecting the rules about minimal impact activities or that the management plans for Antarctic tourism have been effective so far. <br />
On the island at Port Lockroy there are sheathbills, penguins, roaming skuas, and an insect named Belgica Antarctica.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaK9b00lCYAUcDcKpSHfD13enxf_foEumSK6rU9SHCfNHDYnrDOITd_YG6Nu65EHtLBI0tFFbC6W3hhFiegbHbAHkQn5sp3HITm3IfNQmI4d519uQF4HSho10dWnP0MyLgM6I9aYbLBo/s1600/PortLockroy_15Jan_AndeanIntrusion_JouglaPoint_AliceCreekCove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaK9b00lCYAUcDcKpSHfD13enxf_foEumSK6rU9SHCfNHDYnrDOITd_YG6Nu65EHtLBI0tFFbC6W3hhFiegbHbAHkQn5sp3HITm3IfNQmI4d519uQF4HSho10dWnP0MyLgM6I9aYbLBo/s200/PortLockroy_15Jan_AndeanIntrusion_JouglaPoint_AliceCreekCove.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peninsula Group Volcanics<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRbQSq00oYpVB-GkBhZ36ivp_cFiDYT-l7LI3jxZT1IElWM9jO25IUbJmOJBObw3R_e_8Ze5xYGx9NPwtSLkwbn4T1J9NJAOh9GnDqk4BX4iyNVZxoIQ9QBlbcb1vE6FkQ9rusQQzFDo/s1600/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_NekoHarborDike_and_Gentoos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRbQSq00oYpVB-GkBhZ36ivp_cFiDYT-l7LI3jxZT1IElWM9jO25IUbJmOJBObw3R_e_8Ze5xYGx9NPwtSLkwbn4T1J9NJAOh9GnDqk4BX4iyNVZxoIQ9QBlbcb1vE6FkQ9rusQQzFDo/s200/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_NekoHarborDike_and_Gentoos.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jougla Point dike<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Across the bay from Port Lockroy we landed at Jougla Point in Alice Creek Cove. There was a Wedell seal lounging on the beach, some whale bones assembled on a bluff (supposedly from a blue whale, but more than likely a mishmash of several whale types). The geology here is a hybrid of Andean intrusion suites (igneous rocks) from the Peninsula Group Volcanics.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1ItdyVcWYvuaGxp7g1xQ-4tVwC2HYatk4ySa-IOq3kKTpEKmJtL3LJJRE-u1EDQJirCuzN2xyfUNMxU-y1tziOmbNxqoLq6-Nok_7o65RX2ki4KnPFvBcSvRPGpAFhqA-GhGJ3r2Yo4/s1600/PortLockroy_15Jan_WedellSeal_JouglaPoint_AliceCreekCove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1ItdyVcWYvuaGxp7g1xQ-4tVwC2HYatk4ySa-IOq3kKTpEKmJtL3LJJRE-u1EDQJirCuzN2xyfUNMxU-y1tziOmbNxqoLq6-Nok_7o65RX2ki4KnPFvBcSvRPGpAFhqA-GhGJ3r2Yo4/s200/PortLockroy_15Jan_WedellSeal_JouglaPoint_AliceCreekCove.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weddell Seal<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Upon return to the ship, we were treated to a BBQ lunch outside on the deck. True "southern" BBQ (becaus we are so far south...) (<i><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/larrys-real-pit-bar-b-q-enterprise" target="_blank">Larry's</a> would beg to differ - Ed.)</i>. We took a group photo and prepared for a quick jaunt over to Neko Harbor (our last chance to actually walk on the Antarctic continent). As we sailed we passed a harbor named Paradise Harbor, and the light and scenery really made it look like paradise! Our little <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=neko+harbor&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=TSb3UOGrL-7jigKYq4DYCQ&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643" target="_blank">Neko Harbor</a> is a bit more intimate though, and we had a delightful landing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9aYAk0DdKkw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oNvQNoFroCoZn3tIrzHz4ctiLy2AUuz00NC6vQUpPUsqWaxUAAsJTNrfU8WtXC3LFkytCozjSuylOl1hJJgVvAwy1Z7EHlzhRrPNQIfMjwRcyzRMowh0CSO2rc2JbTHtsIlJbIGjSM0/s1600/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_RealSouthernBBQ_AkademikIoffeChef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oNvQNoFroCoZn3tIrzHz4ctiLy2AUuz00NC6vQUpPUsqWaxUAAsJTNrfU8WtXC3LFkytCozjSuylOl1hJJgVvAwy1Z7EHlzhRrPNQIfMjwRcyzRMowh0CSO2rc2JbTHtsIlJbIGjSM0/s200/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_RealSouthernBBQ_AkademikIoffeChef.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real Southern BBQ<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Half of the ship decided to cruise in zodiacs while the other half landed for hikes and more penguins.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmm8KoPxORbppvoi-FMyKb-ad9dVeMcptP9fmwiTDI8DTPehetcBOMxlNysfdN-NQiBxC_w-BPXf0sJ_aM66sU3gleSVbyMvGlotMy7BjtRRKdgszbJGt0cvSqLYToDvx6PqMzh1RwwI/s1600/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_ParadiseBay_Humpback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmm8KoPxORbppvoi-FMyKb-ad9dVeMcptP9fmwiTDI8DTPehetcBOMxlNysfdN-NQiBxC_w-BPXf0sJ_aM66sU3gleSVbyMvGlotMy7BjtRRKdgszbJGt0cvSqLYToDvx6PqMzh1RwwI/s200/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_ParadiseBay_Humpback.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humpback Whale<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The zodiac cruisers were in for a real treat as they got up close and personal with several Humpback whales. One zodiac was even bumped by a whale (Paul's zodiac), and another zodiac got close enough to catch a glimpse of a whale with an underwater camera (Greg's videography skills and an icy cold plunge of the hands). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/v-qZ5ihyV0k?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvN5OYYkkbWdgsHEBw_HbMnYh9c8CaIjJ20PyElfm2DyrdHACjW34sBHU4QxtcADSQrLvPVabnrKcUAQFmfIUkPBOOZR7SppirIwOzlZJVumJxXxGvTEPUZdASp9eojOM_-VaGVrCr_g/s1600/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_NekoHarborMindyHeartRock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvN5OYYkkbWdgsHEBw_HbMnYh9c8CaIjJ20PyElfm2DyrdHACjW34sBHU4QxtcADSQrLvPVabnrKcUAQFmfIUkPBOOZR7SppirIwOzlZJVumJxXxGvTEPUZdASp9eojOM_-VaGVrCr_g/s200/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_NekoHarborMindyHeartRock.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindy at Neko Harbor<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The hikers were greeted by beautiful pink granites on the beach, a really nice dike, and gentoo penguins. I was with the hikers, and we hiked up a rock face and snow slope to get a good view of the glaciers coming out of the mountains. The beach here is dramatically different than it was just a couple of years ago (it has been shaped by tsunami-type waves created when the glaciers calve off the cliff face). This landing was our last chance to set foot on the Antarctic continent. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We hiked up a snowy rock face to get a good view of the glaciers surrounding the bay, and then slid down the snow in dramatic glissade form (<i>"Glissade" is apparently geologist-speak for "sliding on your butt like a five-year-old" - Ed.)</i>. The glissade was quite fun! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aAhcYweoDpE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAntqoi_5w8WUxgqrV1t4VEwjODWRpKQ5fQc4oWSFv-55GuAPUmT-_6uKJ4gfUllMuTaYh-PZyuuiJW-Jswv1D5ZXTsnPp-NPdsfte5hXmJ838gCN0KUu5pUm1bM8Kwq2bff00nfZtCA/s1600/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_BlackIce_Mindy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAntqoi_5w8WUxgqrV1t4VEwjODWRpKQ5fQc4oWSFv-55GuAPUmT-_6uKJ4gfUllMuTaYh-PZyuuiJW-Jswv1D5ZXTsnPp-NPdsfte5hXmJ838gCN0KUu5pUm1bM8Kwq2bff00nfZtCA/s200/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_BlackIce_Mindy1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun with Black Ice<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0v0hb4nS-Sz8TqzfwiXs0hWWwcY4E8RHrUlIym16Eb-pqrkSdPt8GF_kQ8FzH6kC1e5dE6XuFxIIRHRrResx-5zE7i9P_gdb42ZT9A2egiqJ0gFj2nBdIVSAxXAleO0JVhvCS7h-aU4/s1600/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_BlackIce_DeadlyFurSeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0v0hb4nS-Sz8TqzfwiXs0hWWwcY4E8RHrUlIym16Eb-pqrkSdPt8GF_kQ8FzH6kC1e5dE6XuFxIIRHRrResx-5zE7i9P_gdb42ZT9A2egiqJ0gFj2nBdIVSAxXAleO0JVhvCS7h-aU4/s200/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_BlackIce_DeadlyFurSeal.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natalie's Knit Fur Seal thru Black Ice<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the way back in the zodiac we saw two humpback whales fairly close by, and one of our passengers (Heather) found a really cool chunk of ice that you could see through (and there was much fun taking photos of our faces in the ice like a funhouse mirror). Upon return to the ship, the crew had hot chocolate and brownies waiting for us outside the mud room.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4J3hj7SyPbnCFlM_k3NPGec6lvPY1rmbnUbi3jhUaDNudgaH8gqO7wfswkHicw06ZnEwtzfTt8AzaodQSwEdZ3x-lrz7fxqjzg5f5NUui27GMIm0krMmgQc-Y-wOnEhEtIvunAxNBtM/s1600/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_ParadiseBay_PinkSunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4J3hj7SyPbnCFlM_k3NPGec6lvPY1rmbnUbi3jhUaDNudgaH8gqO7wfswkHicw06ZnEwtzfTt8AzaodQSwEdZ3x-lrz7fxqjzg5f5NUui27GMIm0krMmgQc-Y-wOnEhEtIvunAxNBtM/s320/NeumayerChannel_15Jan_ParadiseBay_PinkSunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paradise Bay at Sunset, Leaving Neko Harbor<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
All in all it was one of the best days so far... But there is one more day of landings to go, so we'll see what it brings tomorrow!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-53544558448946013202013-01-16T08:39:00.000-07:002013-09-03T21:55:38.264-07:00Gentoo and a Hard Place (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 14 January:<br />
<br />
As we approach Cuverville Island, we are sailing in the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=gerlache+strait&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=18f2ULyjKOqdiAKrkoDACg&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1356&bih=621" target="_blank">Gerlache Strait</a> with 20-25 knot winds, barometer at 991, air temp at 1.5 degrees C, water temp 1.8 C. Today will be a very long day, with two landings and staying up until the sun sets at about 11 pm. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYuxgtNRlU-JD1RrLtS9BT8pOb2hOsoqwTTB0xHTnnBBfGcVEk9qxJjbMKF3lcJGFbEhclVbl2NCu7RIxPMhMRjKw49HD5QoOJpMdRQFQL54WsqGz3tR4QIq5fLTLsxsgQRZbUOmX-8A/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsland_gentoo_feeding3_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYuxgtNRlU-JD1RrLtS9BT8pOb2hOsoqwTTB0xHTnnBBfGcVEk9qxJjbMKF3lcJGFbEhclVbl2NCu7RIxPMhMRjKw49HD5QoOJpMdRQFQL54WsqGz3tR4QIq5fLTLsxsgQRZbUOmX-8A/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsland_gentoo_feeding3_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gentoo feeding (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ytHnYc5cCe7CEmU0Mb1-nGTnVaDXaI8zgRovYUtX1Q9TWd2EyJto5cPptux3GG9u3Je0WdDHLROroPJhv0AgLDSDldTd4uEUE4OOW_DGSUCgSnrkuI5aFmlIZo-T1__HI-7RfWLwZUk/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsland_gentoo_egg_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ytHnYc5cCe7CEmU0Mb1-nGTnVaDXaI8zgRovYUtX1Q9TWd2EyJto5cPptux3GG9u3Je0WdDHLROroPJhv0AgLDSDldTd4uEUE4OOW_DGSUCgSnrkuI5aFmlIZo-T1__HI-7RfWLwZUk/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsland_gentoo_egg_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gentoo nest <br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At our first landing we saw Gentoo penguin colonies on bluffs above a granite cobble beach. Many of the Gentoo were making nests out of rocks and feeding their newborn babies... watching their antics was quite amusing. The penguins would gather rocks for their nest by carrying them in their beak and building a pile one pebble at a time. Basically, each nesting couple has about 1 meter radius for their "territory" and they defend it by squawking and nipping at those who get too close (<i>almost like living in New York City, but more space - Ed.)</i>. Sometimes they would try to take rocks from another penguin's pile, and a squabble would ensue. It was so fun to watch, and could captivate one for hours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TrkdtIZRGQs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0p7YM8vEE_6iP2j-E4cItx2Fv2n-qmOa9Wp88u8iXx4wDJcj2589EE8Zwoj_KwlZQ3_RXgITHnoUyjqQj4ibod5fYfq0QzwHmN5IUCMROh2IpjPMEx-dwsu0mhKn2tdStD9USMnRUzg/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_Seal_feet_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0p7YM8vEE_6iP2j-E4cItx2Fv2n-qmOa9Wp88u8iXx4wDJcj2589EE8Zwoj_KwlZQ3_RXgITHnoUyjqQj4ibod5fYfq0QzwHmN5IUCMROh2IpjPMEx-dwsu0mhKn2tdStD9USMnRUzg/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_Seal_feet_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea1 Feet (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-nQseIxOg5FBGWY3ICCxHOVu1R2wbQlHlK2KRugCVc_nsUmYQmo8zZzx4p2AbPiy_u7riXJkmtwB4gL_j7WfAAGX6-XrVJuYfFrQkklyl4m9NKafmN7hejZo79QdAyI-stKDHYyGzSk/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_leopard_seal3_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-nQseIxOg5FBGWY3ICCxHOVu1R2wbQlHlK2KRugCVc_nsUmYQmo8zZzx4p2AbPiy_u7riXJkmtwB4gL_j7WfAAGX6-XrVJuYfFrQkklyl4m9NKafmN7hejZo79QdAyI-stKDHYyGzSk/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_leopard_seal3_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leopard Seal (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllSRSvn6mb46NHGtE75ZvpsNVfcLKLKaFzr5PjaIxOM2FJlDKbhe2h6_zUJ-qQZNwrwUXE6TmT_d3Bve1RNdE4Z5xP2sk2ce36Qf1e-EMvWlVCIWs_rv7mHS4ow1Q9LxmEKg0_0Y-jXI/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_zodiac_friends_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllSRSvn6mb46NHGtE75ZvpsNVfcLKLKaFzr5PjaIxOM2FJlDKbhe2h6_zUJ-qQZNwrwUXE6TmT_d3Bve1RNdE4Z5xP2sk2ce36Qf1e-EMvWlVCIWs_rv7mHS4ow1Q9LxmEKg0_0Y-jXI/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_zodiac_friends_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zodiac Cruise (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We took zodiacs out to cruise around <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=cuverville+island&hl=en&tbo=u&biw=1356&bih=621&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=X8n2UNfPC6S6iwLv_4EI&sqi=2&ved=0CEUQsAQ" target="_blank">Cuverville Island</a> and saw very cool icebergs (<i>Hah! - Ed.)</i> in the water, fallen from glaciers on the coastline. We cruised past one leopard seal lounging on a berg in the water, and gave him a wide berth as he swam around and near our zodiac (leopard seals are known to bite zodiacs for fun, which is not fun for humans). On the bluffs above the water line we spotted some blue-eyed shags nesting with their chicks (<i>it actually sounds dirty if you say it in a British accent - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD-Vt6iX7E8W3j2gHMvvL4evv9bEUdygx-eZ_JyfkdIABIlcfciujiHf8f8QJHtj20U8i680LaTnuSng7_-Fm5SAAdzLEmQbi1IxR_aCxQvGboKHMAX_ivO9LXEhh56z4WaAq3mjChSs/s1600/Gerlache_Whales_Antarctica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD-Vt6iX7E8W3j2gHMvvL4evv9bEUdygx-eZ_JyfkdIABIlcfciujiHf8f8QJHtj20U8i680LaTnuSng7_-Fm5SAAdzLEmQbi1IxR_aCxQvGboKHMAX_ivO9LXEhh56z4WaAq3mjChSs/s200/Gerlache_Whales_Antarctica.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gerlache whales (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the afternoon the ship cruised south through the Gerlache Strait. The captain was kind enough to slow the ship while we watched about 8 Orca whales surround about 3 Humpback whales. We weren't sure if the Orcas were on the prowl, but all of the whales put on quite a show. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/fyOWc_JlZU8/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/fyOWc_JlZU8&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/fyOWc_JlZU8&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
Almost all of the passengers went out to the deck to watch, and you'd think we were the whale paparazzi with all the clicking going on! (<i>Insert Lindsay Lohan joke here - Ed.)</i> Nearing the end of the Gerlache Strait we passed by some distinctively shaped rocks that are named Una's Paps (after a barmaid in the Falkland Islands long ago) (<i>Boy, the Brits really know how to leave their mark on the world, don't they? - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd5156lIhZ0bPkzA4VqFTw1v5v1qlNvv1WZf9ZaJDPERzIukh5rilqesd1GuzXb3VWzGDMNOUUNbTabbDrj2PNgBfUhW1X6vmiDdfwTT5MdANmfVVhizdwdWVCBrIXjLb_A6-eXJrQSI/s1600/GerlacheStrait_Iceberg_underwater_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd5156lIhZ0bPkzA4VqFTw1v5v1qlNvv1WZf9ZaJDPERzIukh5rilqesd1GuzXb3VWzGDMNOUUNbTabbDrj2PNgBfUhW1X6vmiDdfwTT5MdANmfVVhizdwdWVCBrIXjLb_A6-eXJrQSI/s200/GerlacheStrait_Iceberg_underwater_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underwater Iceberg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcm5lSX4zfyZar4pNrw8BoBiWJCx47Q2ODJdusn0dS6_QTC0LYAxx4R0r9FMoBjGwa1g8FbO6DPlTS_VAEvdNa7jZqbYJ07jScdY-ZDzMXYRotLsakUqu0Q5lXCc9ftLJrHfIXtHRz1I/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_iceberg_keyhole_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcm5lSX4zfyZar4pNrw8BoBiWJCx47Q2ODJdusn0dS6_QTC0LYAxx4R0r9FMoBjGwa1g8FbO6DPlTS_VAEvdNa7jZqbYJ07jScdY-ZDzMXYRotLsakUqu0Q5lXCc9ftLJrHfIXtHRz1I/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_iceberg_keyhole_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iceberg keyhole (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS8-SWfWSMWvroXQdNLkHQ6MWIowFBYJlNNaiWJ3wHIhvolpgCbciacnXfJxvoi8fyaAce0DjVjK1g_QO2gpP5eBQHGDmvEgLuTC6prSIHQkCW-z801LOQdtI7sR2Ncc4nl7kSgL3Jzo/s1600/GerlacheStrait_Iceberg_heart_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS8-SWfWSMWvroXQdNLkHQ6MWIowFBYJlNNaiWJ3wHIhvolpgCbciacnXfJxvoi8fyaAce0DjVjK1g_QO2gpP5eBQHGDmvEgLuTC6prSIHQkCW-z801LOQdtI7sR2Ncc4nl7kSgL3Jzo/s200/GerlacheStrait_Iceberg_heart_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iceberg heart (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the early evening we did a landing at Port Chacot on Booth Island. Booth Island is the western edge of the Lemaire Channel, where Gentoos, Chinstraps, and Adelies (all penguins) (<i>sounds like something out of West Side Story - Ed.)</i> are known to nest together. We hiked a short distance to a high point with a rock cairn at the top and saw a beautiful sunset over the water and icebergs in the distance. The icebergs floating in this small inlet were in sort of an "iceberg graveyard" and were either pinned to shore, grounded, or had no place to drift.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3_bibIpooHCOlyHOCMFB3qRJ_SMnwxPUtM1-_hurk7pTkMiFstiFSjAijPSbzCT1AhyA3Dak8QmnjQzH6Ke8B3BMHGZJr6EzoPkDcYw1PO9QXUqwhgARgMcntxlOprY2NtlKxczhb08/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_Mindy_sunset2_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3_bibIpooHCOlyHOCMFB3qRJ_SMnwxPUtM1-_hurk7pTkMiFstiFSjAijPSbzCT1AhyA3Dak8QmnjQzH6Ke8B3BMHGZJr6EzoPkDcYw1PO9QXUqwhgARgMcntxlOprY2NtlKxczhb08/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_Mindy_sunset2_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindy at sunset (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlDUKDYJm46rlJPfGc5xVuIEtWY7KrOYKl3Bjx4hsA82GFSDlk911K-yuCGAUFanks3MnUkHHkwOPoUOFxxQzM4R6d2abvwc8o5LRydVhtlyUe7r6E5U0lFiPXOnRQ3EymQI9IOhfhSE/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_sunset4_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlDUKDYJm46rlJPfGc5xVuIEtWY7KrOYKl3Bjx4hsA82GFSDlk911K-yuCGAUFanks3MnUkHHkwOPoUOFxxQzM4R6d2abvwc8o5LRydVhtlyUe7r6E5U0lFiPXOnRQ3EymQI9IOhfhSE/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_sunset4_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset cruise (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCe9kydeckKXGews5S6aI6p2rKe23Lif9G_OzlDpFpxEX4enO7ORpdpwIsWi65GV5fr6CMwrNPMGtfQv0Pj2qe6Oo1Sx7DPQ7mJj669FEjWIcLQ0fKbbeQnjL_U9AVZQIQnm7QUZDq-s/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_metamorphic_berg_whole_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCe9kydeckKXGews5S6aI6p2rKe23Lif9G_OzlDpFpxEX4enO7ORpdpwIsWi65GV5fr6CMwrNPMGtfQv0Pj2qe6Oo1Sx7DPQ7mJj669FEjWIcLQ0fKbbeQnjL_U9AVZQIQnm7QUZDq-s/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_metamorphic_berg_whole_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metamorphic iceberg (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5RBOXAPIMeDNezWDhADXnd4gq_TZ2eeekbFsqGFZ-4yx2ms6zTYypIti-6hq-d3ExFS9AP4_8EUVwGdLzGZTzwJMXyFXaK_blkm8V4JvVSFDUzLKnXvlm7F_UhcVwXXl4CuiHKerLcE/s1600/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_berg_IRD1_Jan14_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5RBOXAPIMeDNezWDhADXnd4gq_TZ2eeekbFsqGFZ-4yx2ms6zTYypIti-6hq-d3ExFS9AP4_8EUVwGdLzGZTzwJMXyFXaK_blkm8V4JvVSFDUzLKnXvlm7F_UhcVwXXl4CuiHKerLcE/s200/GerlacheStrait_CuvervilleIsl_berg_IRD1_Jan14_2013.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iceberg! (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At 10 pm, we loaded zodiacs to do a sunset cruise around the icebergs in the water. We saw another leopard seal on a small piece of ice, and it just watched us closely as we cruised by. The icebergs in this place are beyond description. The minute you think an iceberg is "just normal" you notice a detail that captivates and distracts you then you realize how beautiful and unique each one is. Towards the very end of our cruise we stumbled upon an iceberg that was truly amazing... The ice itself looked like an outcrop of metamorphic rock! We saw folding and faulting and several shear zones in the ice and everyone in the boat was nearly speechless!! (<i>"Speechless" and geology don't normally go together, you see - Ed.)</i> Those photos were the talk of the ship when we got back around midnight that evening.<br />
<br />
<br />
A few of us hardy souls decided to stay awake to see the sun rise. It was difficult to keep our eyes open after such a long day, but it was worth it and we got some great photos. Until tomorrow... happy reading!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/5M050-Rv_hY/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/5M050-Rv_hY&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/5M050-Rv_hY&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-13731888456809859122013-01-15T07:00:00.000-07:002013-08-14T11:22:10.333-07:00How to Get Warm on Antarctica Without Really Trying (updated with pix, links, and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 13 January 2013:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwY5JZya8syPMHsNI8M6xd1RUIKhn2uJgZFIdVcoRslVN154dE0kLQ2jrvuyy_s0v-477Fdr62s2ZEtBPFrwI-49srGw2iZxOBduwhJQ-VhvhAvZ6oWgJiKtIPWz65HnN3bpM7MxDnudY/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_ship_in_bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwY5JZya8syPMHsNI8M6xd1RUIKhn2uJgZFIdVcoRslVN154dE0kLQ2jrvuyy_s0v-477Fdr62s2ZEtBPFrwI-49srGw2iZxOBduwhJQ-VhvhAvZ6oWgJiKtIPWz65HnN3bpM7MxDnudY/s200/Deception_Isl_13Jan_ship_in_bay.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deception Island (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We have a very exciting day today. Early wake up to watch from the boat as we sail through Neptune's Bellows, which is the entry into an active volcano known as Deception island. Overnight we cruised at about 12 knots. This morning we have overcast skies, 2.5 degrees C air (<i>still warmer than Arizona - Ed.)</i>, 1.5 C water, and 20-25 knot winds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jGiCpOKX9IM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAvOJKEqlO9VkN9xdOg7pNxPWGVb80BbxQJT8rUgK48qVt0HuQcJezgEZklEjOoH6v6Rer-TpN8pbztACWDon3svr0qqB1bL_Z2LGclNoAaiA-mzGYOUkUiHEfCQ9DikXrPfJlL3Eq3o/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_whalers_bay_steamy_beach3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAvOJKEqlO9VkN9xdOg7pNxPWGVb80BbxQJT8rUgK48qVt0HuQcJezgEZklEjOoH6v6Rer-TpN8pbztACWDon3svr0qqB1bL_Z2LGclNoAaiA-mzGYOUkUiHEfCQ9DikXrPfJlL3Eq3o/s320/Deception_Isl_13Jan_whalers_bay_steamy_beach3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stormy bay (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As we sailed through Neptune's Bellows, it lived up to its name. I went outside at the level of the bridge and had trouble standing upright from the wind. Throughout the day we contended with the wind, those who hiked high had hurricane-force gusts, and those of us who stuck a little closer to shore still had 35 knot winds!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwsdp9nVYf864LNVWtNPjHbPev7N1vJMTW0GSNmZJy2wfvBpcwGJrkVcGE8k4CvOFW-jnxkk_z4OGZ1Cqykq9vGAsI1jYEwMH_JH3O9-94dXGXxJxsrPtYTtSZZH4XuAeh6MRxAXIE6k/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_red_lava_face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwsdp9nVYf864LNVWtNPjHbPev7N1vJMTW0GSNmZJy2wfvBpcwGJrkVcGE8k4CvOFW-jnxkk_z4OGZ1Cqykq9vGAsI1jYEwMH_JH3O9-94dXGXxJxsrPtYTtSZZH4XuAeh6MRxAXIE6k/s200/Deception_Isl_13Jan_red_lava_face.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red lava face (click to enlarge) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ew-JNX8aezsG0TebGe6NcHuOcSFJlE7Y6znE0ta6J4s5PB08GlbgO8BY4xnTbbBGxHw-xhzc1Ikzf9CbnkJTdNOrzi7QqD8O17K7Xgqspbr6sE0GhMyYpPGjPxN-GlyEKYkupC2AupI/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_volcanic_boulder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ew-JNX8aezsG0TebGe6NcHuOcSFJlE7Y6znE0ta6J4s5PB08GlbgO8BY4xnTbbBGxHw-xhzc1Ikzf9CbnkJTdNOrzi7QqD8O17K7Xgqspbr6sE0GhMyYpPGjPxN-GlyEKYkupC2AupI/s200/Deception_Isl_13Jan_volcanic_boulder.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcanic boulders (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Deception Island is a broken-circle shape, with the break at the southeast. The volcanic rocks that make up the island are Cenozoic age (younger than 65 million years old) (<i>awww - baby rocks, how cute! - Ed.)</i>, and there have been large eruptions as recently as 1969. There are geothermally heated sands and waters along the shore. More on the water in a minute...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha41ZwZfstWHhnYvGAhYpAd26oJYOpOTt0tvKfGavas_f69ILLsrxOfiOY7PIV3aqbTc8_D8wUwGJZ5S3Cf5HlSMnKevtG1p-jZHOKGX4zjYAkAe-P1GGtEWC6j72h4zlMfdqMQhrUGCQ/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_lichens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha41ZwZfstWHhnYvGAhYpAd26oJYOpOTt0tvKfGavas_f69ILLsrxOfiOY7PIV3aqbTc8_D8wUwGJZ5S3Cf5HlSMnKevtG1p-jZHOKGX4zjYAkAe-P1GGtEWC6j72h4zlMfdqMQhrUGCQ/s200/Deception_Isl_13Jan_lichens.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lichens (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWcsgX2JNWNvXTkVr_ucu5GeH-1oNnhg-nJsM594ZfNW74wC_x5jCGKN57nM-wrqfEHFSlrBp6QjhHSsq1bKxVMhfQM32SPmeEb64QfOf8F8vChlyNnBrIZR95qZjLbzCJ01OS5S-P5k/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_sprouting_grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWcsgX2JNWNvXTkVr_ucu5GeH-1oNnhg-nJsM594ZfNW74wC_x5jCGKN57nM-wrqfEHFSlrBp6QjhHSsq1bKxVMhfQM32SPmeEb64QfOf8F8vChlyNnBrIZR95qZjLbzCJ01OS5S-P5k/s200/Deception_Isl_13Jan_sprouting_grass.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprouting grass (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFTxLjYqTDOMwl3HI-P3C8jPX8KU0mCBPVhN7Qh9QGT1iyY8zslvkSRLMlEiFHtbrVrSz7zpKxidaahr9As0mw8Cl9qt7FxamX5mKBCaFZlyPH1c64WKnGY-62VMjGdiMYjNQUJQS9kM/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_chilean_base_bar_twisted_metal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFTxLjYqTDOMwl3HI-P3C8jPX8KU0mCBPVhN7Qh9QGT1iyY8zslvkSRLMlEiFHtbrVrSz7zpKxidaahr9As0mw8Cl9qt7FxamX5mKBCaFZlyPH1c64WKnGY-62VMjGdiMYjNQUJQS9kM/s200/Deception_Isl_13Jan_chilean_base_bar_twisted_metal.jpg" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilean Base (click to enlarge) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHpES6hR-rfnsVtg6pDO3kGRGFwRoC1LpvNqMS5TUlJRUEUeWTSFFIMDXHiYIEfQXrT9wPjirwOfxldfbu0BK6CcTFQa2kcwZ589rvEpCdDZtCliOaWmRBpZ_6vl_BAfUdsLvCgHF21M/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_whalers_bay_buried_tractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHpES6hR-rfnsVtg6pDO3kGRGFwRoC1LpvNqMS5TUlJRUEUeWTSFFIMDXHiYIEfQXrT9wPjirwOfxldfbu0BK6CcTFQa2kcwZ589rvEpCdDZtCliOaWmRBpZ_6vl_BAfUdsLvCgHF21M/s200/Deception_Isl_13Jan_whalers_bay_buried_tractor.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whaler's Bay Tractor <br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are two abandoned bases on Deception Island. One is a Chilean base that was destroyed in 1969 when hot mud flows came off of the glacier-covered mountain behind the base. Nobody died, but those manning the base were able to hike to the other side of the island and seek rescue from the British Antarctic Survey base. That base was destroyed later the same year by more volcanic activity. The old British Antarctic Survey base was a little more intact than the Chilean base. There is still a hangar building and several other buildings from the base (<i>somewhere out there, a British real estate agent is preparing a "fixer-upper" flyer - Ed.)</i>. Next to the base was an older whaling station, and in fact the bay here is called Whaler's Bay.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74LwlTn04oVWmVsBYwRokFFllhYl6t3t6s1zMuryNzAURmD6Tj-eFPkv6xCcBq2GxsDkL81njbOLUL-SSezgISsl99iUS_EJfKTiRVHteH-jlhD3N31PCi3VLwHHdEFUm_5tcXU42sB0/s1600/Deception_Isl_MindySwims_Antarctica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74LwlTn04oVWmVsBYwRokFFllhYl6t3t6s1zMuryNzAURmD6Tj-eFPkv6xCcBq2GxsDkL81njbOLUL-SSezgISsl99iUS_EJfKTiRVHteH-jlhD3N31PCi3VLwHHdEFUm_5tcXU42sB0/s200/Deception_Isl_MindySwims_Antarctica.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindy swims! (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgRuC7MvCYMtaag6y0vwRwtish6v7H8JOPinyOjHTiEOVJwGKGFgw4-ThvQzbMXQe6jJgfuxwIGCqIZ3tBCoPqT-MYNCPDwje7nPXyGLs09LQMGpiaF145Npp5R9Boy_cKqJxGqt932s/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_beach_hunter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgRuC7MvCYMtaag6y0vwRwtish6v7H8JOPinyOjHTiEOVJwGKGFgw4-ThvQzbMXQe6jJgfuxwIGCqIZ3tBCoPqT-MYNCPDwje7nPXyGLs09LQMGpiaF145Npp5R9Boy_cKqJxGqt932s/s200/Deception_Isl_13Jan_beach_hunter.jpg" width="184" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The black sand beach (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
OK, here comes the good part... At the end of the day, as the tide came in, about 20 or 30 of us stripped down to our bathing suits and swam in the thermally heated waters! The only slightly crazy thing is that the waters weren't that warm. The air temperature of the air was about 3 degrees C, and the wind was blowing at about 20 knots or more. The water that was moistening the black sand was maybe 90 degrees F or so, closer to 100 F if you dug your hands and feet into the sand. But, I wasn't going to let a little cold weather prevent me (<i>OK, who are you and what have you done with my wife?! - Ed.)</i> from dipping in a hot spring, so I ran into the surf up to my shoulders, then screamed up to the beach to warm my hands and feet in the sand (<i>Ah, there she is. Never mind. - Ed.)</i>. Now I can say that I have swam in the Southern Ocean! And inside of an active volcano! What an amazing experience, and I'm so glad I am warm again as I write this.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUrMzfc9eB1Fjp4qzIq1vD1j9RHrs75Pciahd3daBdplikWYb2XVYCSNjbZjfoV7UnxutvDJ_WIg1WNIbm1naby-mqbEsOEBO7ojy7WVzPvAecGeAWPLJu-iD1sMC21F2tGfJePB_BHQ/s1600/Deception_Isl_13Jan_mindy_above_crater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUrMzfc9eB1Fjp4qzIq1vD1j9RHrs75Pciahd3daBdplikWYb2XVYCSNjbZjfoV7UnxutvDJ_WIg1WNIbm1naby-mqbEsOEBO7ojy7WVzPvAecGeAWPLJu-iD1sMC21F2tGfJePB_BHQ/s200/Deception_Isl_13Jan_mindy_above_crater.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindy above the crater (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The hardest part was putting my 4 layers of clothes back on while I couldn't feel my fingers. Back to the ship for hot tub and then sauna!! Sailed out back through Neptune's Bellows and off to more adventures tomorrow!<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-41443007577668307412013-01-13T09:10:00.003-07:002013-08-14T11:05:57.858-07:00Land Ho! (updated with links, pix, and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 12 January:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8c6ccvOwEOI2Ebm08L9_EMYGGH4q-GsBy2HA-fpWc5PPzkd9lHwKsvdaDs6k6nDxx_axYv_CVbM33mrl26Kt9oO8V8PvPSuEg7d6yz0UlSLHBf3l0x_6xFOKbCqyeZBY5YAusYpIFLI/s1600/Hope_Bay_RainbowMist_Antarctica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8c6ccvOwEOI2Ebm08L9_EMYGGH4q-GsBy2HA-fpWc5PPzkd9lHwKsvdaDs6k6nDxx_axYv_CVbM33mrl26Kt9oO8V8PvPSuEg7d6yz0UlSLHBf3l0x_6xFOKbCqyeZBY5YAusYpIFLI/s200/Hope_Bay_RainbowMist_Antarctica.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow mist (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Woke up to calm swells in the Antarctic Sound. Quite significant head winds are keeping progress slow (20-25 knot winds). The air outside is right at 0 degrees C (<i>this is where I point out that Arizona is colder than Antarctica right now - Ed.)</i>, water temp -.7 C, and barometer at 981. We sailed through a storm earlier in the morning, and when we had our wake up call we were 25 miles from Hope Bay. The original plan for the day was to start by landing at Brown Bluff, but the ice and weather prevented us from doing that. So we sailed on, and got treated to a short lecture (what we call "opportunity training") by Richard Alley on ice cores.<br />
<br />
Richard Alley started his lecture with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYgMj4xZ9Z8" target="_blank">a song he wrote called the Great Penguin Waltz</a> (complete now with pictures of penguins from our trip). He reviewed several of the methods used to date ice cores, including radioactive isotopes, borehole temperatures, and fractionation of noble gases (<i>I prefer counting how many licks it takes to get to the center, but to each his own - Ed.)</i>. Good review for those who know of ice cores already, and neat summary for those who didn't.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZlhyphenhyphen2_VB8Wjq0BaWLVNYjOUD5MD2tdSRiJ9FNJ6GA3vdkkdiN_UT-BLWo9iRTcsxRiJlXfBp_fUT2lP6IcyXr4b5uI9b1DrPC6BR7pzznDwnpCehBO_coBm9LBcpTnnmGVWAMBlfaoo/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Esperanza_Base_close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZlhyphenhyphen2_VB8Wjq0BaWLVNYjOUD5MD2tdSRiJ9FNJ6GA3vdkkdiN_UT-BLWo9iRTcsxRiJlXfBp_fUT2lP6IcyXr4b5uI9b1DrPC6BR7pzznDwnpCehBO_coBm9LBcpTnnmGVWAMBlfaoo/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Esperanza_Base_close.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esperanza Base (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVIpQFLob-t9q0nBoLgUhJTErNgd7V_qUaaVq3U0UxWlU1mdGNM2KIX6GN33mTIPcajjIRZE7_TjamZ9mBu1qWcyLBIXbthbF4k565ql_NJokQvDdBKKjNM63CRMchdfTiO8w42Jtp14/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Mindy_Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVIpQFLob-t9q0nBoLgUhJTErNgd7V_qUaaVq3U0UxWlU1mdGNM2KIX6GN33mTIPcajjIRZE7_TjamZ9mBu1qWcyLBIXbthbF4k565ql_NJokQvDdBKKjNM63CRMchdfTiO8w42Jtp14/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Mindy_Beach.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindy in Hope Bay (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispruBp8qkdfUbda5-eHDHSDR4G_6dXHGhTfm2BGny3EblOE9NHRRgGrBQsR7vrkakdmU_WzT7i6GNe_pPkH3XvvAUe612mgVJyTbk3eoN5Bx5f3jNY6gr7iGqm5biKJaBwwKmopoVlxQ/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Joanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispruBp8qkdfUbda5-eHDHSDR4G_6dXHGhTfm2BGny3EblOE9NHRRgGrBQsR7vrkakdmU_WzT7i6GNe_pPkH3XvvAUe612mgVJyTbk3eoN5Bx5f3jNY6gr7iGqm5biKJaBwwKmopoVlxQ/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Joanna.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joanna (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After lunch we managed to land near an Argentine base in Hope Bay. The base is named Esperanza Base, and is where many Argentinians live permanently (as a way of establishing some political claims to land down here). Babies have been born on this base, weddings have been performed, and there is even a school here for the 20 or so kids that live on the base <i>Best field trips EVER - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPBG36d65-FBsgfk1yTxlzPP2xyX3IpxitM7C_guIAgu3FCadPOJ1KtLXnsFJ22xuSS1wlr5HImAlL0vGQEkpivu2mPJQiRcoaBastQ791R_hWbKA1mGirek5SYA5wKPsKvIFc_jBZzQ/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_turbidites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPBG36d65-FBsgfk1yTxlzPP2xyX3IpxitM7C_guIAgu3FCadPOJ1KtLXnsFJ22xuSS1wlr5HImAlL0vGQEkpivu2mPJQiRcoaBastQ791R_hWbKA1mGirek5SYA5wKPsKvIFc_jBZzQ/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_turbidites.jpg" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turbidite (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-c-LRQqrBury_xZXDQQiDQuJE1BWm49cxXZgNgGIVyyA0oSJRHU1c_c_USwhwDow7_6_MhI7ZVwdVwB5FZkc6ajrNJp886XnZrTLvRuQgTSX7C3vUtEsT3rGjj29HKv39pSJBcW8IHlk/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_trace_fossils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-c-LRQqrBury_xZXDQQiDQuJE1BWm49cxXZgNgGIVyyA0oSJRHU1c_c_USwhwDow7_6_MhI7ZVwdVwB5FZkc6ajrNJp886XnZrTLvRuQgTSX7C3vUtEsT3rGjj29HKv39pSJBcW8IHlk/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_trace_fossils.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trace fossils (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our luck with weather returned and we had a delightful afternoon<br />
enjoying geology and penguins. This is our first actual steps on THE continent of Antarctica! For many on board this marked the 7th continent they have visited. For me it makes the 6th (someday I'll make it to Africa to claim my 7th continent). On shore we saw some volcanic rocks from the Antarctic Peninsula Group (Cretaceous age), and turbidite sequences from the Trinity Peninsula Group (Triassic age). Mount Flora towered over us while we roamed the beach, then we cruised over to another section of the beach to see a large colony of Adelie penguins (<i>As opposed to Adele penguins, which sing soulfully - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jqIj1kn9ITM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/61cX2qxlkNc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_3H4jNOD8o8aFQkKHfo5f3dPjRwIRkcoewtORuFLvTY7yCM-m3npRDhyh5y99SYtImTrgCn6M9mxoWcjQ_xBBrYTGj3P5pLGqzPLc7wO9N6dhmmlj2YhA0o6wpvM8QN0qBEqZWG9dLE/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Adelie_baby_face2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_3H4jNOD8o8aFQkKHfo5f3dPjRwIRkcoewtORuFLvTY7yCM-m3npRDhyh5y99SYtImTrgCn6M9mxoWcjQ_xBBrYTGj3P5pLGqzPLc7wO9N6dhmmlj2YhA0o6wpvM8QN0qBEqZWG9dLE/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Adelie_baby_face2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adelie Baby (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-taqNLMdejHT-tYiOfcEXFGY7UwXuKzURMyaf8fIQ0Jhou3CB_G9wtk7wcGzPMm008ssB8UioRLGdbLFV5mxjpDZauaGx0-w80_AnkbB3xIRNH39JRK_vwwyigEFZm-lOTmpaHSBNmY4/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_adelies_dive2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-taqNLMdejHT-tYiOfcEXFGY7UwXuKzURMyaf8fIQ0Jhou3CB_G9wtk7wcGzPMm008ssB8UioRLGdbLFV5mxjpDZauaGx0-w80_AnkbB3xIRNH39JRK_vwwyigEFZm-lOTmpaHSBNmY4/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_adelies_dive2.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diving Adelies <br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-JMRZkvAGt04wKnP-N8l6sSiKoIX3qmBvglK4IKT4vS5IA0Eb3-YdUE0xrbjI3kLdtmqbFkzhZg63W9H9tAURPJT10ioHNnBRXby5F_0UfLIzsJvv2817TCR_ONxwTEc9DbpjF7xd0k/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_adelie_posse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-JMRZkvAGt04wKnP-N8l6sSiKoIX3qmBvglK4IKT4vS5IA0Eb3-YdUE0xrbjI3kLdtmqbFkzhZg63W9H9tAURPJT10ioHNnBRXby5F_0UfLIzsJvv2817TCR_ONxwTEc9DbpjF7xd0k/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_adelie_posse.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adelie posse (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Adelie penguins were very cute! They spent most of their time going back and forth to the coastline (on little penguin highways that were very orderly), picking up rocks to build (and maybe decorate) their personal spot of land in the colony, and looking after their babies that were not quite old enough to be left alone. Penguin antics get funnier and funnier as you spend more time with them, and I likely now have thousands of pictures of the little guys. I also kept thoughts in my head of how much my son, Daniel, loves the cartoon "Penguins of Madagascar" (in the back of my head I kept hearing "Rico, Kowalski!") (<i>"The Private probably won't survive" - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TKUA2Du-KxLa6sxWQdwjt_6Z55YP1e03RV7lf9MbJPO3lxMoMQshPWSUrmITYSQin9YXk2spWCO8mj6-3ToF2F0wOOaONGHKkuUIeWYO7C0TfgFo-ynH4Ah6grwJvsWo7FPNx1u9Juo/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Adelies_thousands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TKUA2Du-KxLa6sxWQdwjt_6Z55YP1e03RV7lf9MbJPO3lxMoMQshPWSUrmITYSQin9YXk2spWCO8mj6-3ToF2F0wOOaONGHKkuUIeWYO7C0TfgFo-ynH4Ah6grwJvsWo7FPNx1u9Juo/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Adelies_thousands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thousands of Adelies <br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6BXQIzr1j90Ahww8PF7i4HsJCpCrqiGytfkpQYBoQF12NbmuR1lsWIC-1HQnWc36U3JawWTjfnXdiSyJzt5zbDjD2jCg0n08FXu8EPSbUEnBO5cRtTEC6tuCufQ9fcBJA9BrqNIzyQ0/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Penguin_walk_away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6BXQIzr1j90Ahww8PF7i4HsJCpCrqiGytfkpQYBoQF12NbmuR1lsWIC-1HQnWc36U3JawWTjfnXdiSyJzt5zbDjD2jCg0n08FXu8EPSbUEnBO5cRtTEC6tuCufQ9fcBJA9BrqNIzyQ0/s320/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Penguin_walk_away.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking away (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After 5 hours of penguins, we were just about ready to head back to the ship (although many of us would have stuck on the beach for a few hours more). The ship captain was getting a bit nervous about the ice coming into the bay (<i>I like this guy! - Ed.)</i>, so we quick-like shimmied out of there while the sun was setting. <a href="http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/137209" target="_blank">The sunset lasted for about 5 hours</a>, and was still beautiful when I finally went to bed near midnight. This is likely our last shot at seeing tabular icebergs, and the Antarctic continent is beautiful, so nobody was keen on getting to bed.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yz2HrnPa3GDZ7iCgzH2Lzdlkov7Ka5UxyOppEZky-WZx9O5tIfOS8plfeGLNeA3RhWm2BMHaulW8usUALQJFCq0Oho_8HdE6Oo4AvX9fz-rQoL0B7Fh_v2-1GP0k2cAnikQy7yrcft8/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_adelies_sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yz2HrnPa3GDZ7iCgzH2Lzdlkov7Ka5UxyOppEZky-WZx9O5tIfOS8plfeGLNeA3RhWm2BMHaulW8usUALQJFCq0Oho_8HdE6Oo4AvX9fz-rQoL0B7Fh_v2-1GP0k2cAnikQy7yrcft8/s320/Hope_Bay_12Jan_adelies_sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adelies saying goodbye (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/uXn5nt7I3S8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Tomorrow is another exciting day, where we'll visit an active volcano, hope that it won't erupt while we are there (<i>Once again, things that were left out of the itinerary briefed to me - Ed.)</i>, and swim in some geothermal pools of water at Deception Island. Should be great!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLZVuxV4a7DOqNdoGyIWWqW3tWOnLsm32M0OEDzv6reIvFj6RZxjQX78fEzqMBxqweRGRJuQjeiZuJ6GjEH4V1jjesB95ctZKiziPlLPxy77chbHddZCHsIb0x8faj8uTJybmqI0-TmI/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_bacteria_snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLZVuxV4a7DOqNdoGyIWWqW3tWOnLsm32M0OEDzv6reIvFj6RZxjQX78fEzqMBxqweRGRJuQjeiZuJ6GjEH4V1jjesB95ctZKiziPlLPxy77chbHddZCHsIb0x8faj8uTJybmqI0-TmI/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_bacteria_snow.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bacteria in the snow (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf5GR_R8-s4VLsGnbY4yRw1l22k79kAC0Hwzdebk0OLcskxX7qWKzPblOEUwcXdqv1WeJKLAr13-VkzAPuyauqvkYpvFfP3PY9syVPLpI8hkxq2lMfF7cwiWUTmpbXfl662b9CbcPXr0/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_small_berg_adelies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf5GR_R8-s4VLsGnbY4yRw1l22k79kAC0Hwzdebk0OLcskxX7qWKzPblOEUwcXdqv1WeJKLAr13-VkzAPuyauqvkYpvFfP3PY9syVPLpI8hkxq2lMfF7cwiWUTmpbXfl662b9CbcPXr0/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_small_berg_adelies.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adelies on a berg <br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDcM7dHs1cTbSLX5xaBcnmDkFZmirBvM8M7tDcqg-CrmHr3V3-5Hu4SDrIsogvJC_xxhZmNdl7RvmOxbRXnuV3ZL7BOTX2a4FLJfho1WGI8BlDfE4THveERuZF25Tz6lnl1Wh3mTLyBo/s1600/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Adelie_footprints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDcM7dHs1cTbSLX5xaBcnmDkFZmirBvM8M7tDcqg-CrmHr3V3-5Hu4SDrIsogvJC_xxhZmNdl7RvmOxbRXnuV3ZL7BOTX2a4FLJfho1WGI8BlDfE4THveERuZF25Tz6lnl1Wh3mTLyBo/s200/Hope_Bay_12Jan_Adelie_footprints.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adelie footprints (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-45683454929357735422013-01-12T21:49:00.000-07:002013-08-05T11:14:30.787-07:00Earth, Wind and Fire (and Ice) (updated with pix)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
From Mindy, dated 11 January:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: -webkit-auto;">This morning we are socked in with fog and no visibility. We are navigating </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">slowly through large packs of ice, moving at 9 knots. Overnight the winds </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">were quite stiff at about 25 knots, but this morning there is no wind. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Barometer is at 986, air temp is 2.5 degrees C, water temp is -.725 C.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-0f615IXjFV9C0AsEDxG4m2TOOsIF17m1hAf_IX_wR4VZKOQKdQIdmSdzkzt-aohHH5nHsFv1e4cJWBIGO3HYZ6XbcLOPViioIMk9VsFQlYabqjlzjXpikL-vd31XPsRiyLh70ExdOo/s1600/Brown_Bluff_11Jan_too_windy_to_land_pintados.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-0f615IXjFV9C0AsEDxG4m2TOOsIF17m1hAf_IX_wR4VZKOQKdQIdmSdzkzt-aohHH5nHsFv1e4cJWBIGO3HYZ6XbcLOPViioIMk9VsFQlYabqjlzjXpikL-vd31XPsRiyLh70ExdOo/s200/Brown_Bluff_11Jan_too_windy_to_land_pintados.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The conditions at the time (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">We tried all morning to find a good landing at Cape Melville on King George <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Island. The group of rocks at Cape Melville is known as the Moby Dick </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Formation (<i>wooden legs optional - Ed.</i>). As we attempted to launch zodiacs a storm rolled in rather </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">quickly and we had to abandon the landing plan for safety. We couldn't see </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the beach and the winds were rising quickly off of the water. So, we </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">relaxed on the ship while our wonderful ship captain sailed along to a new </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">location.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCstmx1MjW4PvNsfXeKfrY9yuhAjjD7GUeins45fpIrDohq7rlKvT6_8K00Jg_mn4Zd0zO03cJ_N9hA-Xz8U3M0GnbXVgQCuZ9Vu1Dpl37Qs6lpUyBQ2G3y8Kfg7iYlOsmPsZ5svaEmI/s1600/Admiralty_Bay_11Jan_Ferraz_Stn_Natalie_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCstmx1MjW4PvNsfXeKfrY9yuhAjjD7GUeins45fpIrDohq7rlKvT6_8K00Jg_mn4Zd0zO03cJ_N9hA-Xz8U3M0GnbXVgQCuZ9Vu1Dpl37Qs6lpUyBQ2G3y8Kfg7iYlOsmPsZ5svaEmI/s200/Admiralty_Bay_11Jan_Ferraz_Stn_Natalie_sign.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Natalie and the markers <br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF56cj0mmrlviGXiItkPdniUIZJXbORSFt3X2VAWgEgM0JYPuGB145eroIlJLWQCFCl0a2vWjryRMnYBrz-lOLV2A3jKod1WK5hvlm_1uYkM3LyW5Odi_au7PkSRAH83yEZFjY0_Bmbs/s1600/Admiralty_Bay_11Jan_Ferraz_Stn_city_marker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF56cj0mmrlviGXiItkPdniUIZJXbORSFt3X2VAWgEgM0JYPuGB145eroIlJLWQCFCl0a2vWjryRMnYBrz-lOLV2A3jKod1WK5hvlm_1uYkM3LyW5Odi_au7PkSRAH83yEZFjY0_Bmbs/s200/Admiralty_Bay_11Jan_Ferraz_Stn_city_marker.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Admiralty Bay city marker <br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lunch, hot tea and coffee, and good company. Super awesome to just relax <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and have nothing to do. By the afternoon we managed to get near a Brazilian </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">base that gave us permission to land near them. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comandante_Ferraz_Antarctic_Station_fire" target="_blank">The base itself burned down </a></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comandante_Ferraz_Antarctic_Station_fire" target="_blank">last year</a> (<i>burning down a base in one of the coldest places on earth - strong work, Brazil - Ed.)</i>. We agreed not to take pictures of the base, but it was a dismal </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">sight. It still smelled of smoke, and there were piles of charred, rusty </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">metal strewn along the beach. The personnel manning the base now live on a </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">German cargo ship anchored in the bay, and get resupply from a Brazilian </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Navy ship.</span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uhM8lfo1Y7pbEteFy9VmI17gBYHRcUG4iqy5GrTov50eq4kr4Hp7PN6rKnITpYujdXhQbCKuld5KTjgkMtVfELht930wBwk2AJRwbLby3pQ6xRtnS8QDfo8eS7tB0XY3Dhbam8Ls-ew/s1600/Admiralty_Bay_11Jan_Ferraz_Stn_cousteau_whale_bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uhM8lfo1Y7pbEteFy9VmI17gBYHRcUG4iqy5GrTov50eq4kr4Hp7PN6rKnITpYujdXhQbCKuld5KTjgkMtVfELht930wBwk2AJRwbLby3pQ6xRtnS8QDfo8eS7tB0XY3Dhbam8Ls-ew/s200/Admiralty_Bay_11Jan_Ferraz_Stn_cousteau_whale_bones.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousteau's whale bones<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2RcfURuSP1dmi9iJK_SgzmiV-mgKaduWgcEUdY8s011kAox0umwGOXQRVOj1aN1S37F0XY8VrK-CBm_qMl6r__Y9RieEcp46O_MYN_EsL7RmAoATav8GmE6Mr1StLVXCLEyNOFJzpvo/s1600/Admiralty_Bay_11Jan_Ferraz_Stn_jellyfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2RcfURuSP1dmi9iJK_SgzmiV-mgKaduWgcEUdY8s011kAox0umwGOXQRVOj1aN1S37F0XY8VrK-CBm_qMl6r__Y9RieEcp46O_MYN_EsL7RmAoATav8GmE6Mr1StLVXCLEyNOFJzpvo/s200/Admiralty_Bay_11Jan_Ferraz_Stn_jellyfish.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jellyfish (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On shore at the landing sight we saw a nearly complete set of whale bones <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">that had been gathered and arranged by Jacques Cousteau many years ago. The </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">whale is sort of an "every whale" species because it is hard to definitively </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">say what species the bones are (or of they are all from the same whale) (<i>how do you say "smorgasbord" in French? -Ed</i>.).</span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf8yVe9mLNVX6N5WZg-JS1_9gi7O9k20Hk8WSkdBCfNuequi5JIUGQm7DtAoW0Gj-H_tQKBMpamLg6l4vZDrsw45MrZfvMKrw7KVFDNZaKpDW91Od2naeWGuFte725GFfiISx6BwF6E4/s1600/HotTubJan11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf8yVe9mLNVX6N5WZg-JS1_9gi7O9k20Hk8WSkdBCfNuequi5JIUGQm7DtAoW0Gj-H_tQKBMpamLg6l4vZDrsw45MrZfvMKrw7KVFDNZaKpDW91Od2naeWGuFte725GFfiISx6BwF6E4/s200/HotTubJan11.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hot tub team (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was nice to get off the ship for some exercise, but the steady rain and <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the fog made conditions quite miserable. So, it was back to the ship and my </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">roommate and I (together with a few others) hit the hot tub to warm up on </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the ship. After getting out of the hot tub in a steady cold rain, we topped </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">off the experience with a quick trip to the sauna (set at a toasty 81 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">degrees C, about 170 degrees F) (<i>hot tub and sauna are, of course, essential elements of the scientific method - Ed.</i>).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UwK3IcuQkVeGcguZ07rht4TmAmyKpl-qg3DMzKd4j6M5wfWNr69ZNDOmBqdX5gu14xR9BSxTVNqR_I8M5Fi5Rz5qKEz_W_H2zfgSnjvx6hsLyUH78XnGJ1vXawkNfYvs4ecqKOIKJvs/s1600/krill+bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UwK3IcuQkVeGcguZ07rht4TmAmyKpl-qg3DMzKd4j6M5wfWNr69ZNDOmBqdX5gu14xR9BSxTVNqR_I8M5Fi5Rz5qKEz_W_H2zfgSnjvx6hsLyUH78XnGJ1vXawkNfYvs4ecqKOIKJvs/s200/krill+bay.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krill! (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Tomorrow we expect to make it to the actual continent of Antarctica, but a <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">lot depends on the ice. Here's hoping!</span></div>
</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-83404366441149147222013-01-10T20:08:00.001-07:002013-08-05T10:59:43.112-07:00Lookout! (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/B76LF_32h8Y/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/B76LF_32h8Y&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/B76LF_32h8Y&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkN_yCVgNF_ziztpzjXCqeLAqXbBprXPaxlL3tiBzYaiJJqFiOkKhZnDWOFlcvGP3EbH66LUt6JwY0aj5f3HToYYHq0Y8B5I_pNGJQDtB1DPv1QJ8CDKpV3uQwMg9wOF93dBBNT1OxDM/s1600/Shetland_Island_10Jan_afternoon_sunburst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkN_yCVgNF_ziztpzjXCqeLAqXbBprXPaxlL3tiBzYaiJJqFiOkKhZnDWOFlcvGP3EbH66LUt6JwY0aj5f3HToYYHq0Y8B5I_pNGJQDtB1DPv1QJ8CDKpV3uQwMg9wOF93dBBNT1OxDM/s200/Shetland_Island_10Jan_afternoon_sunburst.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunburst on Shetlands<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEVnRD1zeQFuRFCfoKiplp_5y0NHpBlCW7EPw6sawX_hxC_cVvCta6nsgsKOBA2mXhMDPRCFc2xFAx14n9DoD6ZGn6zOA1FkX7vWvpS7WJuQtqOZslVBcF59Ugiw8nlOZK_YgoYWU9DE/s1600/Shetland_Island_10Jan_Gibbs_Island_humpback_ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEVnRD1zeQFuRFCfoKiplp_5y0NHpBlCW7EPw6sawX_hxC_cVvCta6nsgsKOBA2mXhMDPRCFc2xFAx14n9DoD6ZGn6zOA1FkX7vWvpS7WJuQtqOZslVBcF59Ugiw8nlOZK_YgoYWU9DE/s200/Shetland_Island_10Jan_Gibbs_Island_humpback_ship.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humpback! (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We are so lucky on this expedition! Another day of calm seas that is surprising our crew and staff. We have glassy seas, an air temp of 0 degrees C (<i>All of you are witnesses - Mindy just called a freezing temperature "lucky" - Ed.)</i>, water temp 1 C, no swells, and no wind.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t_JclNipncs6LTOaoFwhs5Q6dvypjVxwOUg8eKZVP-wj_zzWuqNNQxD5sha9weoEeQ-50-ug9VasvOduzqb2cDb2VftST5DWHV_cayTmfH7zfB6bSfHWVzCY1oZx9ShQDB8Sw22J5Tg/s1600/Shetland_Island_10Jan_panorama_stitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t_JclNipncs6LTOaoFwhs5Q6dvypjVxwOUg8eKZVP-wj_zzWuqNNQxD5sha9weoEeQ-50-ug9VasvOduzqb2cDb2VftST5DWHV_cayTmfH7zfB6bSfHWVzCY1oZx9ShQDB8Sw22J5Tg/s320/Shetland_Island_10Jan_panorama_stitch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shetland islands panorama (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2nHNTkwFIZabHvV2I0FnXRzuyETNxF_C-8zOu0YOK_ndXBcQAYqhg8rzWBYGv95nM-vJAJLT2auFnv8ECFrO7jvWTFRlOA59s5xitf2vCNMlJKi7VZ5AA_9NcgeMAIfW5WlEMx3G0GA/s1600/Shetland_Island_10Jan_cape_lookout_chinstrap_jump_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2nHNTkwFIZabHvV2I0FnXRzuyETNxF_C-8zOu0YOK_ndXBcQAYqhg8rzWBYGv95nM-vJAJLT2auFnv8ECFrO7jvWTFRlOA59s5xitf2vCNMlJKi7VZ5AA_9NcgeMAIfW5WlEMx3G0GA/s200/Shetland_Island_10Jan_cape_lookout_chinstrap_jump_full.jpg" width="139" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping Chinstrap<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMgT4IpPm-rLzPUqrgHHf6dAdjdX7W7KPOgAqz-R7jx6VVHcrLhQyARBEtGIaOtHkJCCmioSL7Kh0zX5MUeVF5rWlHEyYocqcXjX0z2-AwJCOrnZvjTVVWICOt8cC5SCbLqJxwxofx6s/s1600/Shetland_Island_10Jan_cape_lookout_chinstrap_arms_up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMgT4IpPm-rLzPUqrgHHf6dAdjdX7W7KPOgAqz-R7jx6VVHcrLhQyARBEtGIaOtHkJCCmioSL7Kh0zX5MUeVF5rWlHEyYocqcXjX0z2-AwJCOrnZvjTVVWICOt8cC5SCbLqJxwxofx6s/s200/Shetland_Island_10Jan_cape_lookout_chinstrap_arms_up.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinstrap overwatch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately, the site with the blue schist rocks has about a mile of ice in front of the beach, so we cannot do landings to see them in person. Instead we'll sail around the island some more and land at the southern tip, called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Lookout_(South_Shetland_Islands)" target="_blank">Point Lookout</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bkn8Om2XEGc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKT5rIC-OGVr_ICxO51TkYNvljXsFonB92vMpS8Z3pqvM6gFNPG8UyTTgvqYABYHc2d5Fh_TsL3JnD0i1zBEFMU3HYhpERfqn7dfElbFZYGKp-FlGrKg6bLj1xGuaPpNVU_9QhH5dVRF8/s1600/metamorphic+rock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKT5rIC-OGVr_ICxO51TkYNvljXsFonB92vMpS8Z3pqvM6gFNPG8UyTTgvqYABYHc2d5Fh_TsL3JnD0i1zBEFMU3HYhpERfqn7dfElbFZYGKp-FlGrKg6bLj1xGuaPpNVU_9QhH5dVRF8/s200/metamorphic+rock.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metamorphic rock (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKVtZ3Gh41wccfvCyYixDlaAwjzx8c05mbJhJzMXpEN91QfLqBk8lnkyxwH3AHlu2k6c8rJodPWF-UzHJpm-rgQ4jWisfqxcxwoSUItY-os8jzzSjJJrkDME8RJB9AyCv4Af2eB_VFHY/s1600/Shetland_Island_10Jan_gentoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKVtZ3Gh41wccfvCyYixDlaAwjzx8c05mbJhJzMXpEN91QfLqBk8lnkyxwH3AHlu2k6c8rJodPWF-UzHJpm-rgQ4jWisfqxcxwoSUItY-os8jzzSjJJrkDME8RJB9AyCv4Af2eB_VFHY/s200/Shetland_Island_10Jan_gentoo.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gentoo penguin (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Point Lookout has a colony of about 20 thousand chinstrap penguins. We had fun climbing over beautiful metamorphic rocks (grey schists, green schists, garnet-mica schists, and even some deformed cherts) (<i>What, exactly, makes a rock "deformed"? - Ed.)</i>. We also saw fur seals, elephant seals, and gentoo, macaroni, and adelie penguins.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX1IzcZ0C_LvxeABCnvJBvH15vbebKycz7osBVL5vliAxFvltZaxO6eL6-HFoYi1590E3HoOY9nw9L3WqMIW9vLpNj2TrQSsCk-9YsiO8hNSlELZgfxoZKvGoisdmy3FYXc57HtajWag/s1600/Shetland_Island_10Jan_Gibbs_Island_green_pink_chinstraps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX1IzcZ0C_LvxeABCnvJBvH15vbebKycz7osBVL5vliAxFvltZaxO6eL6-HFoYi1590E3HoOY9nw9L3WqMIW9vLpNj2TrQSsCk-9YsiO8hNSlELZgfxoZKvGoisdmy3FYXc57HtajWag/s200/Shetland_Island_10Jan_Gibbs_Island_green_pink_chinstraps.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink and Green chinstraps<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjTdULDrWcLdum8C0MDjiVy9GxEBU2hHcWYcey82CJK94pmyzK071TGtm9dHyBckjYWnv6buwlEZ1MU4ahxTSmxI7uSqL5zWdPUXpn_0-9eJTTQvy8NLrcLT3nYEdBob6t1MqwkfMOJ0/s1600/Shetland_Island_10Jan_Gibbs_Island_bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjTdULDrWcLdum8C0MDjiVy9GxEBU2hHcWYcey82CJK94pmyzK071TGtm9dHyBckjYWnv6buwlEZ1MU4ahxTSmxI7uSqL5zWdPUXpn_0-9eJTTQvy8NLrcLT3nYEdBob6t1MqwkfMOJ0/s200/Shetland_Island_10Jan_Gibbs_Island_bird.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gibbs Island Bird (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the afternoon we did another landing, this time on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbs_Island_(South_Shetland_Islands)" target="_blank">Gibbs Island</a>. There is a small spit of land between two tall bluffs that was barely big enough to allow two zodiacs to land. We took turns spending 20 minutes or so on the beach and then went on zodiac rides to look at caves and glaciers along the shore. At the landing site there were lots of chinstrap penguins so we had to be cautious. We saw a leopard seal sleeping on a small iceberg floating in the water. We also took time to enjoy some very impressive serpentine rocks (many of them had square chunks of magnetite in the rocks). All in all another great day. Tomorrow we will attempt to land on the Antarctic peninsula. We hope our good fortune stays with us for calm seas and little ice in the way.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-81498619535166175792013-01-10T12:12:00.002-07:002013-07-13T14:55:42.558-07:00Touring at the Bottom of the World (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 9 January:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3HUSJ_WdSdndnMPl6rUwtpziUZVuOSaLuVBAecNQW1W7zBoDNA2taB_ECEMJJk_WbtDOF1J61-3KpfpAunBcyf8DD5iSr9kLjJv0QFnH-k5ysaq1XpMU05GbfRMLNmDpYgfyy-0onj8/s1600/Elephant_Island_chinstraps_swim2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3HUSJ_WdSdndnMPl6rUwtpziUZVuOSaLuVBAecNQW1W7zBoDNA2taB_ECEMJJk_WbtDOF1J61-3KpfpAunBcyf8DD5iSr9kLjJv0QFnH-k5ysaq1XpMU05GbfRMLNmDpYgfyy-0onj8/s200/Elephant_Island_chinstraps_swim2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming Chinstrap Penguins<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzSGSTl_IoJJXQbZ0y53rY8ZrthGQyEtVDdXDTm1-wWiASs7Dqs5VF6yEjhVqcEeDbla7XfmmKpech11Cmx1Ih_hKq3CFTrMKKNudH03QuZHcapp8EjGuXMQyzR-Hc-U9hrbNvGpVE4M/s1600/Elephant_Island_Pintado_pink_sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzSGSTl_IoJJXQbZ0y53rY8ZrthGQyEtVDdXDTm1-wWiASs7Dqs5VF6yEjhVqcEeDbla7XfmmKpech11Cmx1Ih_hKq3CFTrMKKNudH03QuZHcapp8EjGuXMQyzR-Hc-U9hrbNvGpVE4M/s200/Elephant_Island_Pintado_pink_sunset.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pintado flying <br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This morning the seas have finally calmed. We are 63 miles away from Elephant Island, and we have 1.5 m swells. The water is now .75 degrees C, with floating ice all around. We have a 10 knot headwind and the barometer is at 983.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jgMI6riipcxzfdMOXCWM2vygCZoKJeapdzVbl7Q-3TOUs-8YZP1no3qih37mmlCRKeq0IKdy_fEtPoigvvF3LBSnoaz34Jkt_lsQhkaboaCEcv9GwHz4i8oQnsFw9mZkkGcVONTK2ko/s1600/Elephant_Island_tabular_berg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jgMI6riipcxzfdMOXCWM2vygCZoKJeapdzVbl7Q-3TOUs-8YZP1no3qih37mmlCRKeq0IKdy_fEtPoigvvF3LBSnoaz34Jkt_lsQhkaboaCEcv9GwHz4i8oQnsFw9mZkkGcVONTK2ko/s200/Elephant_Island_tabular_berg.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tabular iceberg (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This morning we heard a talk by Ted Cheeseman (<i>the tour operator - Ed.)</i> about the Antarctic Treaty and how tourism fits in with the politics and physical environment of Antarctica. But first he showed us some imagery of the tabular iceberg we saw off of the coast of South Georgia Island. The iceberg, named B15, broke off of the Antarctic (specifically the Ross Ice Shelf) in March 2000. At that time it was 80 miles or so long, and now 13 years later it is still about 9 miles long!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVyYIKMP4y3kqUdnvnzl5r7AZM7ivTZ7p3abcYwD5iuoZY4v1cBaavjYIJcFEkhDm7SuJShmmD5Dfuby-eBcb9_V7HvN3C9ChCRY69uHaOE0L2zL0b8Nsf1NDlh2WXCGELblV1KJDG5A/s1600/Elephant_Island_Jan9_panorama_stitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVyYIKMP4y3kqUdnvnzl5r7AZM7ivTZ7p3abcYwD5iuoZY4v1cBaavjYIJcFEkhDm7SuJShmmD5Dfuby-eBcb9_V7HvN3C9ChCRY69uHaOE0L2zL0b8Nsf1NDlh2WXCGELblV1KJDG5A/s200/Elephant_Island_Jan9_panorama_stitch.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant island panorama <br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Antarctic Treaty is an interesting agreement in that any land claims are deferred so long as the treaty is in force, and also that any new laws/rules will be passed only by unanimous consent of the treaty members. So, for now the use of Antarctica is restricted to peace and science (no mining, no whaling, everything must be shared). Unfortunately, the initial treaty did not anticipate things like tourism, and with a requirement for unanimous consent it is impossible to take on very controversial decisions. There are a good number of bases on the continent, to include abandoned bases. At one point the U.S. had an experimental nuclear power plant there, but when the treaty organization passed a no-nuke policy, the U.S. had to take down the<br />
plant (and they even removed the topsoil around the plant to dispose of at a Navajo reservation back in the states).<br />
<br />
Ted has become quite involved with the <a href="http://iaato.org/home" target="_blank">International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO)</a> who work to be more responsible to the environment while practicing tourism in the Antarctic. He shared some statistics with us about the number of tourists that come to Antarctica each year. In the 2010-2011 season, approximately 33 thousand tourists came (about 1/3 from the U.S.), and about half of those came by ship with landings on shore (about 18 thousand). Nearly 14 thousand of the total came by ship and never got off of the ship. After that season, there was a ship that sank (<i>Odd, Mindy never mentioned that when she was telling me about this trip! - Ed.) </i>(The Explorer, thankfully nobody died), and since then there have been much fewer tourists each year. Depending on what happens with the Antarctic Treaty, trips like ours might not be possible in another 5-10 years time. The thing to watch for in the future is krill fishing. A sustainable catch is calculates to be 500 thousand tonnes per year, and right now it is only being fished at 100 thousand tonnes per year. There is market potential here, and this might be a contentious issue for Antarctica in the near future. We are truly lucky on this expedition to be led by Ted and to have his insights on the wonder and complexity of these places!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxARrEL4hXnm6O0mXOaUtduzidRsHQHXHJrnmex9c5Hf4AhfWxIwrx3qVasnMVyQ4spXu-EfGrh3JS1QmQFYciQT9gupoWMTS2GUk6bbp4dCAidG4NLeDD-NdESLBWeackhfL82CCxmY/s1600/Elephant_Island_zodiac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxARrEL4hXnm6O0mXOaUtduzidRsHQHXHJrnmex9c5Hf4AhfWxIwrx3qVasnMVyQ4spXu-EfGrh3JS1QmQFYciQT9gupoWMTS2GUk6bbp4dCAidG4NLeDD-NdESLBWeackhfL82CCxmY/s200/Elephant_Island_zodiac.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant Island geology</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After Ted spoke, we heard from Ian Dalziel about the geology of Antarctica. This is a continent with very little actual land exposed. Generally, the continent can be divided into East and West, with the East being mostly a Precambrian craton (the stable part of a continent), and the West is a sort of archipelago that is largely below sea level (by about 2 km, even after the land rebounds from the weight of the ice above it). Antarctica is one of the least mobile continents on the planet since Pangaea (<i>"Mobile continents" = further proof that geologists have a different time scale than the rest of us - Ed.)</i>. There are still active volcanoes on Antarctica, some under the ice along the rift between East and West and one that we will get very close to at Deception Island.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQWIlq28niulN_4FOeoUcVpMv5zUlmWgPRbCr8XgeNir58kJHRcDttGzbdXTMTS9VPut0A7rcZxGXXCQ-HFLFjvleUI9NGZUMQf57Lyt0qvA1FAO9L2-ugDXnbwLc-RI9wlR-Y87EWgQ/s1600/Elephant_Island_statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQWIlq28niulN_4FOeoUcVpMv5zUlmWgPRbCr8XgeNir58kJHRcDttGzbdXTMTS9VPut0A7rcZxGXXCQ-HFLFjvleUI9NGZUMQf57Lyt0qvA1FAO9L2-ugDXnbwLc-RI9wlR-Y87EWgQ/s200/Elephant_Island_statue.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant island statue (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Off the coast of Antarctica are the South Shetland Islands, of which we will visit Elephant Island. Elephant island (where Shackelton left most of his men to winter over while he took a rescue party) is an island of metamorphic complex, ranging from low grade metamorphism to the northeast and higher grade metamorphism to the southwest. We will try to do a landing to see some rare ultramafic rocks and blue schists (everyone is very excited about these on the ship) (<i>Because really, who doesn't get excited about schist? - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I69oYtdY8e9pJbaJOyGEz8s1yYLBfgLf7fSPA6Ske_eULE4ScsvcEqQqHtOUg1DhAgeBiXkCGwLhm1QDz9-QNXsDIL6rGOm-qrdsEinKfYrpfBBEKkJhTDbEcHA3oZnDRW2AOEixngo/s1600/Elephant_Island_zodiacs_finds_whales2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I69oYtdY8e9pJbaJOyGEz8s1yYLBfgLf7fSPA6Ske_eULE4ScsvcEqQqHtOUg1DhAgeBiXkCGwLhm1QDz9-QNXsDIL6rGOm-qrdsEinKfYrpfBBEKkJhTDbEcHA3oZnDRW2AOEixngo/s200/Elephant_Island_zodiacs_finds_whales2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zodiac whale-watching <br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R26X-68r6VeP8FHhxvuBiDaOEdV82WvYAh0UMgnM166MM1rsrHeXFQlx1mWlK28N_fqJJawVJ1vIvoEvCYF_QewnYPz3IM7VC1576e7Qf9Fyr9jBTB3ZWseWFdUxBxpSh-W4c_ve4eM/s1600/Elephant_Island_whale_tail_high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R26X-68r6VeP8FHhxvuBiDaOEdV82WvYAh0UMgnM166MM1rsrHeXFQlx1mWlK28N_fqJJawVJ1vIvoEvCYF_QewnYPz3IM7VC1576e7Qf9Fyr9jBTB3ZWseWFdUxBxpSh-W4c_ve4eM/s200/Elephant_Island_whale_tail_high.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whale Tail (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we near the end of the day, it seems that the ice is not cooperating with our landing plans. We at least got to sail around Point Valentine, but alas could not land. We did get to launch zodiacs and cruise around to see the actual beach that is likely where Shackelton's men spent their miserable winter waiting for rescue. Stories tell that each day the men would pack up their tents and sleeping bags in hopes that Shackelton would return that day. They spent over 100 days in the Antarctic winter doing this and didn't lose a single man! A statue sits on the beach to commemorate the site. On the way back to the ship we encountered a few whales! At least one humpback (<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092007/" target="_blank">Thank you, Captain Kirk</a> - Ed.)</i> and several fin whales. They put on quite a show for us and came very close to our zodiacs! What a treat!<br />
<br />
Maybe tomorrow for our lovely rocks... We'll see.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-50290417339160526122013-01-09T19:50:00.001-07:002013-07-13T14:40:29.120-07:00The Angry Sea (updated with pic)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: -webkit-auto;">From Mindy, dated January 8:</span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: -webkit-auto;">Woke up to rough seas. Not good for Mindy... 3 meter swells as we near the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: -webkit-auto;">ice edge. Water temps dropping to 1.9 degrees C, air temp at 6 C, barometer </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: -webkit-auto;">977. We are moving at 12 knots, but making slower progress than we'd like </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: -webkit-auto;">because the rough seas are absorbing some of our speed.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmYwFiFrEuZViuztQYt0HdcLACoMYgnYh5t6AH3WnOjRYCMDG0729eXkH4JNBZU0qALZhnmiQDeGsXd3l8CXvXShtJAS3HCcNxPedo92ZSlJ_B_Z0gfveSWv5g2dsuksI9hXdm-NFrJs/s1600/Gold_Harbor_SunsetAtSea1_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmYwFiFrEuZViuztQYt0HdcLACoMYgnYh5t6AH3WnOjRYCMDG0729eXkH4JNBZU0qALZhnmiQDeGsXd3l8CXvXShtJAS3HCcNxPedo92ZSlJ_B_Z0gfveSWv5g2dsuksI9hXdm-NFrJs/s200/Gold_Harbor_SunsetAtSea1_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold Harbor Sunset (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Unfortunately the rough seas were more than I could handle today. I missed <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the entire day of programs, to include talks about Shackelton's men, the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">geology of Elephant Island, and photography critiques (where we share each </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">other's photos and learn what can do to make them better). I holed up in my </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">bunk, and my roommate Darcy was kind enough to look after me and bring me </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">some food and water throughout the day.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
By the end of the day we had 4-6 meter swells and 35 knot winds! I remained <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">in bed and ended up getting about 28 hours of sleep. Since I'm typing up </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">these notes after the fact, I happen to know that the seas are more calm in </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the future... Read on to Jan 9 to find out (<i>ooh, cliffhanger! - Ed.)...</i></span></div>
</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-49096770423822905582013-01-09T19:25:00.001-07:002013-07-13T14:37:17.591-07:00Back at Sea (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 7 Jan:<br />
<br />
A day at sea while we head to Elephant Island. We awoke to light winds (10 knots) and grey skies, with the ship cruising at a steady 12.5 knots. The air was about 4.5 degrees C, water temp 2.8 C, barometer dropping to about 990.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK7cxIepKIiWAWh6nTliD_v6HOQktOppYbSSH4LTyCipOUH_-a34LXRzgCBSLCY_mhXZGW6EGBSy2CVax6peZ1BJH_lK5CZ83jn5kgWwiQ5VUjU6agh1XvSAJZgGwNCvt6Glky7qJLEE/s1600/P1000222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK7cxIepKIiWAWh6nTliD_v6HOQktOppYbSSH4LTyCipOUH_-a34LXRzgCBSLCY_mhXZGW6EGBSy2CVax6peZ1BJH_lK5CZ83jn5kgWwiQ5VUjU6agh1XvSAJZgGwNCvt6Glky7qJLEE/s200/P1000222.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lecture at sea (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Days at sea are filled with lectures, workshops, and time to get ourselves prepared for landing days to come. At 9am, after a hearty breakfast, we had a lecture from Tim and Pauline Carr who shared with us more of their adventures from South Georgia Island. One of the most interesting notes I took from their talk was the explanation for the name Grypviken (where Tim and Pauline curated the whaling and nature museum for 16 years). Grypviken is named after the tri-pots that the whalers used to cook down the blubber of the whales. They were thick black iron pots that sat over fires on the beach. The early whalers used penguins to start the fires because their feathers burned easily and their fat little bodies cooked well in the fire (horrible, I know, but you can't make this stuff up) (<i>that may be the most terrible thing I've ever read - Ed.)</i>. When early explorers established Grypviken as a more permanent whaling and science base, there were already abandoned tri-pots on the shore, hence the name.<br />
<br />
Next Jim Danzenbaker gave a recap of our bird sightings so far, and acquainted us with some new seabirds that we will see as we get closer to Antarctica. So far the most spotted birds we've seen are the wandering albatross, black-browed albatross, storm petrel, southern giant petrel, pintado petrel, blue petrel, white-chinned petrel, Antarctic prion, light-mantled sooty albatross, and common diving petrel. As we move further south we should see the Southern diving petrel, the snow petrel, the Antarctic petrel, more pintado petrels, the southern fulmar, the Wilson's storm petrel, and the south polar skua (<i>there will be a quiz later - Ed.)</i>. So far the only bird I can definitively pick out in flight is the pintado petrel, but I'm working on getting better!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUNtk0XKEl3nPXS4hJFU81d325CjlaEB7b2W-LtwNyLJuHQkDxTFAvMmFmIbSeMktLUN5EP0QZwaDhbsUItFyliWO46ZcEImXbMconYB3AUrwY1VZiuEw4KGpZ5m5hyphenhyphen81OAHaXXSLkEg/s1600/P1000219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUNtk0XKEl3nPXS4hJFU81d325CjlaEB7b2W-LtwNyLJuHQkDxTFAvMmFmIbSeMktLUN5EP0QZwaDhbsUItFyliWO46ZcEImXbMconYB3AUrwY1VZiuEw4KGpZ5m5hyphenhyphen81OAHaXXSLkEg/s200/P1000219.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian Dalziel's lecture (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next we heard from Ian Dalziel about the geology of the South Georgia micro continent. He traced what we know of the history of the rocks, from the breakup of Gandwanaland to the Northeast Georgia Rise impinging on South Georgia Island to create compression and uplift (hence the reason for South Georgia Island's impressive mountains at approximately 3000 meters high). He also spoke about the enigma of the Central Scotia Sea, and how it doesn't have the same features in it as the adjacent seas (West Scotia Sea and East Scotia Sea). You might recall from my notes on Jan 2 that several geologists honored a fellow geologist who had passed away... His name is Peter Barker, and the enigma of the Central Scotia Sea was what he spent a lot of his time figuring out. Ian's lecture today was in memory of Peter Barker (1939-2012).<br />
<br />
Our next lecture was fascinating, as we learned from Michael Moore (<i>again, not that one - Ed.)</i> about Marine Mammals, diving, and the effects of sonar. There is a huge variability between species on dive depths and frequencies. We learned that elephant seals (which look like huge lazy blobs on the beach) (<i>kind of like me - Ed.)</i> are possibly the elite athletes of the oceans (<i>not kind of like me - Ed.)</i>, diving to great depths and spending nearly 90% of their dive time deeper than 10 meters below. We also learned that some recent sonar experiments suggest that whales react to strong sonar signals in the same way they react to Orca calls (killer whales). Another super interesting fact is that whales don't necessarily exhale the same way that divers do when they dive... Whales actually need some gas (air) in their lungs to make their echolocation noise, so they recycle the gas back and forth across the muscles that make the clicking noises.<br />
<br />
Rob Dunbar spoke next about Sea Ice and Why it Matters. Did you know that new sea ice is soft and salty, and 3rd year ice is drinkable (<i>Ummm...pass - Ed.)</i>. Seasonal ice (that melts each year) is very different in the life it is able to support. Sea ice systems are the single largest ecosystems on earth, supporting algae diatoms, crustaceans, worms, and other bacteria. Sea ice can fix (take up) 2-12 grams of carbon per square meter per year (that's a lot). The bacteria growing in sea ice is the food for krill, and krill are very important to many food webs. One last interesting point is that when we see less sea ice in the Arctic, this means more moisture is entering the atmosphere and this leads to more snow in Europe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rwu61NgOntU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
The last lecture of the evening was from Richard Alley about climate change and some of the good news about what lies ahead as we adapt to climate change (like jobs, more reliable energy supplies, etc). He recognizes that there are no magic bullets. There are major hurdles to overcome in order to enact solutions, and there are big equity issues with who gets the advantages (or who is able to deal with the climate changes before we actually adapt). A thought-provoking point is to consider how much money we've spent on national parks and land conservation... As ecosystems change because the climate is changing, whole species of plants and animals will try to move with the moving climate zones (maybe 100s of miles north) and now those new places might be where a city or a cornfield is located... How will we then continue to conserve those ecosystems?? His last point was intriguing and was about the uncertainty in what we know of climate change... He says that if you include the uncertainty in the scientific conclusions, then this should motivate more action now... "the less you trust me, the more you should do."<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8itoteQ_Fzoit3JTquzRz7Of7YV8OsAeee4dAR9bKmjfxEcoTvO9BFk3V1YCA7AP2XInMMDXpAu9SChB7bLaJGomTPeXtH5fYB36qgY2IHC89VGYVld941ILn_JNSkDl0Av0FXAdqcsQ/s1600/Gold_Harbor_SunsetAtSea2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8itoteQ_Fzoit3JTquzRz7Of7YV8OsAeee4dAR9bKmjfxEcoTvO9BFk3V1YCA7AP2XInMMDXpAu9SChB7bLaJGomTPeXtH5fYB36qgY2IHC89VGYVld941ILn_JNSkDl0Av0FXAdqcsQ/s200/Gold_Harbor_SunsetAtSea2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at sea (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And after a long day of brilliant lectures, we had a good night's sleep leading into another day at sea. Beautiful sunset tonight... Might mean strong seas tomorrow (<i>This is what literature experts call foreshadowing, I think - Ed.) </i>...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-81254182206307290692013-01-09T19:12:00.000-07:002013-07-13T14:42:25.558-07:00Geologists in the Wild (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
From Mindy, dated 6 January:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ntjrxmgVaQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMiqxmW_Jk_o1A0qh_w18dD6V-M9oWlsSxVQK8_a8IGMDFS1wI55xit50hu0NurgMjVirNz2kV54k7nMDBEOcUM6hQpjGHmbc9XsAxzeax7kUfgypj6hTDk-973x1cp1uIpnpY_DBxJU/s1600/Sunrise2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMiqxmW_Jk_o1A0qh_w18dD6V-M9oWlsSxVQK8_a8IGMDFS1wI55xit50hu0NurgMjVirNz2kV54k7nMDBEOcUM6hQpjGHmbc9XsAxzeax7kUfgypj6hTDk-973x1cp1uIpnpY_DBxJU/s200/Sunrise2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S. Georgia Sunrise<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4SVNN1GbywHG7_f_7VlnjKdx7HAd5J4rMiWQYk2Xp4Sd7KxbMnv1ArfC0IhqD3Tznz9qwhCtFxedaY-CcYAwQxDP630wdFR3fyYoNIwCROym7BbZK_KnuDSmYlggWjtV2h0c2zt2Zg0/s1600/Gold_Harbor_KingCloseup_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4SVNN1GbywHG7_f_7VlnjKdx7HAd5J4rMiWQYk2Xp4Sd7KxbMnv1ArfC0IhqD3Tznz9qwhCtFxedaY-CcYAwQxDP630wdFR3fyYoNIwCROym7BbZK_KnuDSmYlggWjtV2h0c2zt2Zg0/s200/Gold_Harbor_KingCloseup_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Penguin Closeup (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We are extremely lucky during this cruise with the weather. Again this morning we woke to calm seas, barometer at 997, almost no wind, water temp 3 C, air 4C. Our first landing is at St. Andrews Bay to see a very large colony of King Penguins and some tight folds in rocks from the Sandebugten (<i>Gesundheit! - Ed.)</i> Formation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuv_LudJiU_m4PhXfGMJsS4PaOEbFGJ9z-2EzMgmUKqnNU-QsMxAc2Y_g6I-ea9dHTWNwRA0cudEBVy93NA7I0rBDx53ofzA9IEbKwmqQg8Ls0CKY7QVRsn7K0knhZPd6WbE8OUy5VNg/s1600/Min_penguins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuv_LudJiU_m4PhXfGMJsS4PaOEbFGJ9z-2EzMgmUKqnNU-QsMxAc2Y_g6I-ea9dHTWNwRA0cudEBVy93NA7I0rBDx53ofzA9IEbKwmqQg8Ls0CKY7QVRsn7K0knhZPd6WbE8OUy5VNg/s200/Min_penguins.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindy's minions (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaqFoYIqu2ig5MuJ5TZsfAMyi4hJi-Hc-KHQJ36_eC7i5Y5axIhvjGwXskBl0CsZskHS55Suyn6VJgOsf4dXupj3e_OOEA6wl7d91wj_LQOMJ5E2HHB-egnnzXQIyr4wXh3MPJiQ0MTA/s1600/StAndrewsBay_colony_closeup_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaqFoYIqu2ig5MuJ5TZsfAMyi4hJi-Hc-KHQJ36_eC7i5Y5axIhvjGwXskBl0CsZskHS55Suyn6VJgOsf4dXupj3e_OOEA6wl7d91wj_LQOMJ5E2HHB-egnnzXQIyr4wXh3MPJiQ0MTA/s200/StAndrewsBay_colony_closeup_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colony Closeup (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The King penguins were amazing to say the least. We were standing amongst a colony of between 150-200 thousand pairs of penguins. Yes, that's pairs. Many of them are sitting on eggs, and a small group from our tour got to see an egg exchange (where mom and dad pass the egg so the other can go hunt for food) happen about 10 feet away from them! I was not so lucky, but I chuckled when our bird expert, Jim Danzenbaker, pointed out that it isn't that rare since egg exchanges only happen about 150 thousand times each 10-18 days. Many of the King penguins were molting, and this takes a lot of energy, so we were being very careful not to scare any of them (so they wouldn't waste precious energy).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVEK_H6JnC9B_AwGSg7SAaiEW5_moQB6Ux9n01t7beGj77g20p_p6BM1zPTdzKysrmBE7qBXp8HUgLwf0dcXT_nHgne542H9Ya1qaScoZiz89DEQdyiQDSMMghClzizjjRqZc0Ib-vhU/s1600/StAndrewsBay_king_oakem_boys_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVEK_H6JnC9B_AwGSg7SAaiEW5_moQB6Ux9n01t7beGj77g20p_p6BM1zPTdzKysrmBE7qBXp8HUgLwf0dcXT_nHgne542H9Ya1qaScoZiz89DEQdyiQDSMMghClzizjjRqZc0Ib-vhU/s200/StAndrewsBay_king_oakem_boys_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oakum boys (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The King penguins are very colorful, but not all of them show these colors on our visit. Some of the young penguins are covered in a brown fur (almost like down). These are called oakum boys, and they got the name because sailors called oakum boys were the men who patched the ship with a brown furry substance and they would come out of the bowels of the ship covered in this brown fur (<i>Must...not...make...easy...Navy...joke... - Ed.)</i>. When sailors first saw these young penguins they<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hb2ALmERCpZmF_-vvFg0fy6F2aAYSScyGHtQxqoEp2EhzGZuE-LgMpzSK21LWC6-mag5A4xb81tqtPObFutYlypsa73tdBgyR0R7fsiGKmn6h15SLD-_pLeTmA7vU7ns9tyT2fejHJM/s1600/StAndrewsBay_King_colony2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hb2ALmERCpZmF_-vvFg0fy6F2aAYSScyGHtQxqoEp2EhzGZuE-LgMpzSK21LWC6-mag5A4xb81tqtPObFutYlypsa73tdBgyR0R7fsiGKmn6h15SLD-_pLeTmA7vU7ns9tyT2fejHJM/s200/StAndrewsBay_King_colony2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colony colors (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
immediately thought of oakum boys, and the name stuck. The penguins are very cute, and each one really does look different when you take the time to notice. Each one also has a distinctive call that they vocalize to find their mate and/or their baby. The sounds coming out of this colony were fun to listen to (and at times the calls sounded much like tropical birds).<br />
<br />
Several passengers worked on their drawings in a workshop on shore, and others worked on improving their photos in a photography workshop along the penguin colony.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/VAcEb48A_64/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/VAcEb48A_64&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/VAcEb48A_64&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLEZgSJXLzcpeDf2DeMFE7dmYGVcrI8jfv171QZKGp8zHegKeL5VJiiHn531rAJxJn3rZ7AOO14VODrANtn5BkeaozJnE9pkJE05va4onitg_tityaFa06JXEx0lOqD3p9SOhyo_pBcU/s1600/StAndrewsBay_sandebugten_folds_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLEZgSJXLzcpeDf2DeMFE7dmYGVcrI8jfv171QZKGp8zHegKeL5VJiiHn531rAJxJn3rZ7AOO14VODrANtn5BkeaozJnE9pkJE05va4onitg_tityaFa06JXEx0lOqD3p9SOhyo_pBcU/s200/StAndrewsBay_sandebugten_folds_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandebugten folds (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The rocks at St. Andrews Bay were very nice, although quite a small outcrop. There were tight folds of Sandebugten (quartz rich sandstone and shale turbidites) with nice quartz veins. Ian Dalziel, who has spent decades studying the geology in these parts, called these tight folds something like mega-fold mullions (chuckle for those who know of geology terms like boudinage and the like) (<i>For those of you like me that don't, chuckle anyway...it's just polite - Ed.)</i>. There were probably two phases to tectonics here -- first fractured and then thrusted, and then some folding deformed the whole thing again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/l6ZsRa3ighY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qNP9lTrz3X7948_7Oozv4vNV1iTMBzLDQIj7R51kSoyhxzmbv3QY_r7CQ-qYLjM3kGVziUu1Vu-qP3aIN5ENp6wCtgXwi5bC7-VeWSAFNzcuclPOlj5ENgGfIORSObE_Qn-mCOklkkk/s1600/Gold_Harbor_glacier_collapse_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qNP9lTrz3X7948_7Oozv4vNV1iTMBzLDQIj7R51kSoyhxzmbv3QY_r7CQ-qYLjM3kGVziUu1Vu-qP3aIN5ENp6wCtgXwi5bC7-VeWSAFNzcuclPOlj5ENgGfIORSObE_Qn-mCOklkkk/s200/Gold_Harbor_glacier_collapse_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glacier collapse (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb1adY3A3X1Nt6emx7g-yqco25Ibjc21qITbkvidQQf3CrXeDquakCEMYpqgW6OAGTxYdTh2fxMu9JEbnKes1ecK24kQTATmnxoRWuRhTD5PgLB4s4M23OUoZW8IzPojli0i5jCEQcd0/s1600/Gold_Harbor_turbidites_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb1adY3A3X1Nt6emx7g-yqco25Ibjc21qITbkvidQQf3CrXeDquakCEMYpqgW6OAGTxYdTh2fxMu9JEbnKes1ecK24kQTATmnxoRWuRhTD5PgLB4s4M23OUoZW8IzPojli0i5jCEQcd0/s200/Gold_Harbor_turbidites_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turbidites<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Later in the afternoon we did another landing at Gold Harbor. While on the landing, we saw three distinct instances of a large glacier calving off large chunks of ice. Very loud explosion noises... Impressive, but at the same time depressing. It is summer down here, so some melt is expected, but the extent of the glacial retreat is staggering.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1dg34Hqc6mTUgYq7ijgrw0pSf3w61oFUzb0ARZVbk31-3B2R6XRH0oLWE-kr4x-MCE8WrsNgPJxmqCa7KGY909AiwBhUrvrtWUqBa_2IC4MeJDrEiV2Yk7RGdx9FrMPY5npLfPQF0tc/s1600/Gold_Harbor_turbidites2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1dg34Hqc6mTUgYq7ijgrw0pSf3w61oFUzb0ARZVbk31-3B2R6XRH0oLWE-kr4x-MCE8WrsNgPJxmqCa7KGY909AiwBhUrvrtWUqBa_2IC4MeJDrEiV2Yk7RGdx9FrMPY5npLfPQF0tc/s200/Gold_Harbor_turbidites2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More turbidites! (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8BHXtVfGBbsD1G5TWon5yTvr7dELcj0RbUBYjsRkEFPQy3ZoL7RetWgslvrNVAO6DiKOqcdiom8dgtE6mjq1IXJkkg6qWlBcGAAj80cNTnQ5Y4Ws9Zal-GG6vAOUgACBP3_hlouWYSc/s1600/Gold_Harbor_which_way_up_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8BHXtVfGBbsD1G5TWon5yTvr7dELcj0RbUBYjsRkEFPQy3ZoL7RetWgslvrNVAO6DiKOqcdiom8dgtE6mjq1IXJkkg6qWlBcGAAj80cNTnQ5Y4Ws9Zal-GG6vAOUgACBP3_hlouWYSc/s200/Gold_Harbor_which_way_up_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which way is up? (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the beach at Gold Harbor we saw some really neat boulders of Cumberland Formation where you can very clearly see the contacts between successive turbidite flows. This stopped a large group of geologists for a good 15 minutes as they argued about which direction was up (there were flame structures, inclusions, etc. but no agreement on which way was up) (<i>How many geologists does it take to change a lightbulb? One, but you have to wait for the plates to shift the socket in the right position and the Coriolis effect to screw it in - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbGkE6-MqTDXylBbyN-Yx1NElEPs_d9VRa3BmdDEzgBFxWrlsKinVilq37AMvbqGRpihAhyKZaQgGZznvi7kDbfRDQGenkgqL-Zuj-JDZHPYXi2PL9W5R3nveYdFLcxk7Eg330XOm5dA/s1600/P1000187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbGkE6-MqTDXylBbyN-Yx1NElEPs_d9VRa3BmdDEzgBFxWrlsKinVilq37AMvbqGRpihAhyKZaQgGZznvi7kDbfRDQGenkgqL-Zuj-JDZHPYXi2PL9W5R3nveYdFLcxk7Eg330XOm5dA/s200/P1000187.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the hot tub <br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYjQYUdhap3ZHXnxwYXOYnJnHoW_aF8oy13iHyoYm3b7pa5TxwDIXOdVKcFnH7WCcqpvfxY-cq1mZFDIP8KBpXi5ngoRlGNHq5p4BvSnM8aNSfU8eo84UN32KlEtVGUvwEu-_vrcG_NY/s1600/Gold_Harbor_SunsetAtSea2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYjQYUdhap3ZHXnxwYXOYnJnHoW_aF8oy13iHyoYm3b7pa5TxwDIXOdVKcFnH7WCcqpvfxY-cq1mZFDIP8KBpXi5ngoRlGNHq5p4BvSnM8aNSfU8eo84UN32KlEtVGUvwEu-_vrcG_NY/s200/Gold_Harbor_SunsetAtSea2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold Harbor Sunset<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the beach landing, I high-tailed it to the ship's hot tub (<i>Shocked, I am - Ed.)</i> because they needed to drain it before we head out for a few days at sea. I soaked in the tub for a good hour, watching the rest of our group come in on zodiacs from the beach. Boy, what a day, and what a treat to watch the sun set behind South Georgia Island from the bubbly comfort of a hot tub on the 6th deck of the ship. Now on to sea as we set out for Elephant Island!<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTgvxw8DV7zHokXFl6WifO3YSM8wma7k0s2pZJu7V8lKZCKJtMlH6ToP_Fbe6t8WosmJxFmrRsBTpt4RpFSQ1UNwLNwVsXEjzFjUk2pqN7qcGl-qd7VvAAlCFDRUh0R8E8VHKrM12qQQ/s1600/Gold_Harbor_3Kings_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTgvxw8DV7zHokXFl6WifO3YSM8wma7k0s2pZJu7V8lKZCKJtMlH6ToP_Fbe6t8WosmJxFmrRsBTpt4RpFSQ1UNwLNwVsXEjzFjUk2pqN7qcGl-qd7VvAAlCFDRUh0R8E8VHKrM12qQQ/s200/Gold_Harbor_3Kings_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Penguins (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVgAO5cIwKCecKkcXO5_HsIkAK3-nhNhDzr_2ItbgEAT4gKuzEtJR19igYp2-Mtc_86uEjINBJOwnnoJJ4JzLG8PQvXpYdk-nfKG2ZZ6qtsCJgYu9DlJcrGMnbrQRV-_uzd4MhZaweLM/s1600/Gold_Harbor_seal_yawn_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVgAO5cIwKCecKkcXO5_HsIkAK3-nhNhDzr_2ItbgEAT4gKuzEtJR19igYp2-Mtc_86uEjINBJOwnnoJJ4JzLG8PQvXpYdk-nfKG2ZZ6qtsCJgYu9DlJcrGMnbrQRV-_uzd4MhZaweLM/s200/Gold_Harbor_seal_yawn_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seal yawn (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4ZJ_UGX7TGUIGwrhu5DisZEKEp_pIcFDERChdD63_W6mkyF7yFh8dpt88hGE8F9ahR1Vnhl-ySNFz05jsMukIeyJ5U7viHUpsYO7OAES_FDP_oglHhUcgj9t_TPIsf732Gq6e5E6OrY/s1600/Gold_Harbor_Petrel_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4ZJ_UGX7TGUIGwrhu5DisZEKEp_pIcFDERChdD63_W6mkyF7yFh8dpt88hGE8F9ahR1Vnhl-ySNFz05jsMukIeyJ5U7viHUpsYO7OAES_FDP_oglHhUcgj9t_TPIsf732Gq6e5E6OrY/s200/Gold_Harbor_Petrel_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petrel in Gold Harbor (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Note about our voyage - we were going to try to go to the South Orkney Islands, but the sea ice is too treacherous to navigate, so we'll skip them and head straight for Elephant Island (part of the South Shetland Islands).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-76248118309952478452013-01-09T08:13:00.000-07:002013-01-09T08:13:18.672-07:00Up and Down<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A quick update from Mindy: they're enroute to Antarctica and hitting 4-6 meter swells in the open ocean. So she's not exactly up to writing at this point. More soon!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-24460856901264843402013-01-06T22:23:00.000-07:002013-01-06T22:29:13.133-07:00Running the Numbers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just a quick interlude from the editor here - thanks to all for reading and for your comments! We've had just over 1300 pageviews so far, which isn't bad considering the traffic is almost entirely driven by the links from Mindy's and my FB pages. The most popular post so far is the FAQ - so at least that's working. We've gotten pageviews from the US, Germany, Peru, South Korea, Afghanistan, France, the UK, Lebanon, and Malaysia (hmmm...who do we know in Malaysia?<i>)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The OS viewing data is quite interesting as well:<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 class="GLVTYVNBN GLVTYVNOM blogg-title" id="topBrowsersLabel" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</h3>
<h3 class="GLVTYVNBN GLVTYVNOM blogg-title" id="topBrowsersLabel" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Pageviews by Browsers</h3>
<div aria-labelledby="topBrowsersLabel" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 565px;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div aria-hidden="false" aria-label="Popular browsers" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<table __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingblur="true" __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingfocus="true" cellspacing="0" class="GLVTYVNL0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><colgroup><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead aria-hidden="false" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_header_row="0" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-420" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-421" class="GLVTYVNK- GLVTYVNI-" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; color: #4b4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px 15px; text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Entry</th><th __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-422" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-423" class="GLVTYVNK- GLVTYVNC0" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; color: #4b4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px 15px; text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pageviews</th></tr>
</thead><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_row="0" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Firefox</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
373 (28%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="1" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
OS;FBSV</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
282 (21%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="2" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Safari</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
227 (17%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="3" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Chrome</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
179 (13%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="4" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Internet Explorer</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
109 (8%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="5" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Mobile Safari</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
94 (7%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="6" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
CriOS</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
53 (3%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="7" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Flipboard</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
6 (<1%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="8" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
UniversalFeedParser</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
4 (<1%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="9" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-424" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Mobile</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-425" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
2 (<1%)</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</td><td align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="200px"><div aria-hidden="false" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="Image displaying most popular browsers" class="gwt-Image" role="img" src="http://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=220x110&cht=p&chd=s:9uldSPJBB&chl=Firefox|OS%3BFBSV|Safari|Chrome|Internet+Explorer|Mobile+Safari|CriOS|Flipboard|UniversalFeedParser" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 110px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 220px;" /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div height="20px" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<h3 class="GLVTYVNBN GLVTYVNOM blogg-title" id="topPlatformsLabel" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Pageviews by Operating Systems</h3>
<div aria-labelledby="topPlatformsLabel" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 565px;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div aria-hidden="false" aria-label="Popular platforms" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<table __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingblur="true" __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingfocus="true" cellspacing="0" class="GLVTYVNL0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><colgroup><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead aria-hidden="false" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_header_row="0" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-426" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-427" class="GLVTYVNK- GLVTYVNI-" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; color: #4b4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px 15px; text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Entry</th><th __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-428" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-429" class="GLVTYVNK- GLVTYVNC0" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; color: #4b4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px 15px; text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pageviews</th></tr>
</thead><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_row="0" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Macintosh</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
425 (32%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="1" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Windows</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
360 (27%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="2" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
iPhone</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
268 (20%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="3" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
iPad</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
156 (11%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="4" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Android</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
109 (8%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="5" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
iPod</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
3 (<1%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="6" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Linux</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
2 (<1%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="7" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
PlayBook</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
2 (<1%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="8" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE-" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
BlackBerry</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF- GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1 (<1%)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="9" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GLVTYVNE0" style="background-color: #f3f7fb; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNG-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-430" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GLVTYVNPN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Other Unix</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GLVTYVND- GLVTYVNF0 GLVTYVNA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-431" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1 (<1%)</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</td><td align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="200px"><div aria-hidden="false" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="Image displaying most popular platforms" class="gwt-Image" role="img" src="http://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=220x110&cht=p&chd=s:90mWQ&chl=Macintosh|Windows|iPhone|iPad|Android" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 110px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 220px;" /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anyway, more soon!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-12100432781294506532013-01-05T19:31:00.000-07:002013-05-25T12:53:22.570-07:00Godthul, Grytviken, and Other Unpronounceables (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
From Mindy, dated 5 January:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
This morning we woke to tabular icebergs floating around us in Cumberland Bay (<i>once again, things a husband loves to hear - Ed.)</i>. We had 5 knot winds, air temp 3 degrees C, water 2.7 C.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjji7vvmcPBKqd4B0jkvNywetMYhw8TiZ77cWMd2PP7wbxElfc8QAHImo5bJ6LNfTu0Fts4hOCSV0bBXIZgIEG_2DqNyRqpSvAFTN8guNNHJ135U48KLMN-xuLtLEXDnkWVUmjngv5To/s1600/Godthul_landing_site_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjji7vvmcPBKqd4B0jkvNywetMYhw8TiZ77cWMd2PP7wbxElfc8QAHImo5bJ6LNfTu0Fts4hOCSV0bBXIZgIEG_2DqNyRqpSvAFTN8guNNHJ135U48KLMN-xuLtLEXDnkWVUmjngv5To/s200/Godthul_landing_site_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Godthul Landing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBOeywc-fODsSnfhdbJHA48NFwqg9zEl3M0AOVvej_WnvfOEuNgZuTrAduVWR_3QBqMG7vE6EOWkxXWI0cwnOOxxPAaEdA5CfeMFDtB8x_MmBNcgz6q9PNktleY4QoIWzPQSVsaCxVds/s1600/Barff_fur_seal_minefield_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBOeywc-fODsSnfhdbJHA48NFwqg9zEl3M0AOVvej_WnvfOEuNgZuTrAduVWR_3QBqMG7vE6EOWkxXWI0cwnOOxxPAaEdA5CfeMFDtB8x_MmBNcgz6q9PNktleY4QoIWzPQSVsaCxVds/s200/Barff_fur_seal_minefield_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fur seal minefield (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had an early wake up this morning - lots of fun stuff to do. We started with early landings at an old whaling station in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godthul" target="_blank">Godthul Harbor</a> (good harbor in Norwegian). We immediately saw why they called it "good harbor" - the water was very calm and the beaches easy to land on. Here all that is left of the whaling station is a pile of oil drums and two small tanks (maybe the ruins of a boat further back). We could not go near the ruins for safety reasons, but Pauline Carr was with us to fill us in on the history of the station. This place was a much more basic operation, with the whale processing happening on the water, and only some of the infrastructure on shore. The men would cut the blubber off of the whale on a flat-decked boat, and the toss the carcass off into the water. As a result, the whole beach is littered with whale bones. There were, of course, fur seals on the beach defending their territory against us invaders (<i>I'm really starting to dislike these guys - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig92H3_btdiTFHREGTQtvrx_bqYBBGKj1ubNCElyPl_8DJAh-hWoRWYNPw5x0fsZwVJU1tRifNo61KxhXhM6w3YYOpHlM4ucaTzvVv6_GdDOEqh19Gv_IWHd21C4IM4ZRATLtL4N26oq4/s1600/Godthul_glacier_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig92H3_btdiTFHREGTQtvrx_bqYBBGKj1ubNCElyPl_8DJAh-hWoRWYNPw5x0fsZwVJU1tRifNo61KxhXhM6w3YYOpHlM4ucaTzvVv6_GdDOEqh19Gv_IWHd21C4IM4ZRATLtL4N26oq4/s200/Godthul_glacier_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Godthul Glacier (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Those who chose not to go to the whaling station were able to take a zodiac trip to check out some of the glaciers. They had quite an adventure as one of the zodiacs was right in front of a glacier when it calved (a chunk falls off). They reported hearing a large cracking explosion sound, with no warning at all, and then seeing the large chunk fall off so close to them they thought it would hit them!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvMevbqBFlQ572hkIDBVCnN7xn_1Vmkzuhr6jE7iUzW4O0GybaODeRX9Zq65vaKrK71ZOjX8E5C_AFyYmgjGuwtA3bv2v9ZljFTfStt-OS-hQtjLAMQv4WVX2zgujqN9Bt6dBx-C_644/s1600/Barff_U_Valley_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvMevbqBFlQ572hkIDBVCnN7xn_1Vmkzuhr6jE7iUzW4O0GybaODeRX9Zq65vaKrK71ZOjX8E5C_AFyYmgjGuwtA3bv2v9ZljFTfStt-OS-hQtjLAMQv4WVX2zgujqN9Bt6dBx-C_644/s200/Barff_U_Valley_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U Valley (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8owyv2HxXHv_mR6J8MPxRWvas4Xr3SP7B-EHyKs7hc4L1QVhzEU-5H5YEi848rLLaSNtdizrnYrwRM0fCns9PwqnjZgOU1Dc2c5jMUDyT9bBZh9OKprao0rZ4MmmpgqnxROoPCdTQmzQ/s1600/Barff_Ian_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8owyv2HxXHv_mR6J8MPxRWvas4Xr3SP7B-EHyKs7hc4L1QVhzEU-5H5YEi848rLLaSNtdizrnYrwRM0fCns9PwqnjZgOU1Dc2c5jMUDyT9bBZh9OKprao0rZ4MmmpgqnxROoPCdTQmzQ/s200/Barff_Ian_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After an hour or so checking out the whaling station, we hopped on zodiacs to the other side of the bay to start a hike across the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barff_Peninsula" target="_blank">Barff peninsula</a> (<i>yep, sometimes the snark just writes itself - Ed.)</i>. The geologists were very excited to see the contact between two different rock formations (the Cumberland formation and the Sandebugten formation, both of Cretaceous age and both turbidites). We hiked in between the two formations up a steep slope to a beautiful u-shaped glacial valley. Before starting the hike we again had to fend off fur seals on the beach, and one of our expedition staff said that they would do their best to find "the path of least fur"... Very funny!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l269ydkG9PglD9t-NDM5cY-zo9hjXlibQ77O6T1_eJF1WXXODC8pydaNaVrESMzSnq0jPZsc0gfWDCMhiaYex4wV0dtSCJWQTSlm8dmR_pYBFI_N-R8Bh1lH57XFuNvde7TdssY3hbg/s1600/Barff_Glacial_Striations_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l269ydkG9PglD9t-NDM5cY-zo9hjXlibQ77O6T1_eJF1WXXODC8pydaNaVrESMzSnq0jPZsc0gfWDCMhiaYex4wV0dtSCJWQTSlm8dmR_pYBFI_N-R8Bh1lH57XFuNvde7TdssY3hbg/s200/Barff_Glacial_Striations_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glacial Striations (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ae7ci5hyphenhyphenW70voJVk_6dVfnse2CJUNqSMR2In-CFf-kFcYtXUbyYlYps0IVq_m_8waqcN-z1Ggt8HCBjZLNwsNepVVywJ2zcs9o-j4AZSY_KPoe21FI5ANXebNVilPMybOt9uEIaCZ-k/s1600/Barff_Ian_contact_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ae7ci5hyphenhyphenW70voJVk_6dVfnse2CJUNqSMR2In-CFf-kFcYtXUbyYlYps0IVq_m_8waqcN-z1Ggt8HCBjZLNwsNepVVywJ2zcs9o-j4AZSY_KPoe21FI5ANXebNVilPMybOt9uEIaCZ-k/s200/Barff_Ian_contact_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had a leisurely hike across the glacial valley, and stopped to take pictures of beautiful rocks with nice glacial striations (scrape marks from the rocks dragged along at the bottom of the glacier). We saw a few native birds, and one South Georgia Pintail duck. We also saw great folds and impressive evidence of thrust faulting between the two rock formations. We came down to another beach (the ship had sailed around to pick us up further west in the bay), and had to snake our way through yet more fur seals. Back to the ship for a warm lunch, and then a customs lecture from an official of the South Georgia government.<br />
<br />
<br />
(As an aside, I have to say that I was thinking of my niece Taylor today - she helped me pick out some knee pads for hiking and I was really thankful for them today. I am able to plop down on my knees to take great photos or to climb up very steep rocky slopes and my knees don't suffer.) (<i>Yes, we are that old, dear - Ed.)</i><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghx5k1lswgfal0wA4r0YFw8Cobe9osP4nAOjgJ2yuQ1AKB5aEVantsr53d_ZZn_auxRoOmfR3cULTyaqf7MjhoPmfs3al2MsEIRNEEF_pqsmS_Kf9ucAoT2JHuHpX1Ij4JkmX6f3WeNJM/s1600/Grytviken_beat_navy_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghx5k1lswgfal0wA4r0YFw8Cobe9osP4nAOjgJ2yuQ1AKB5aEVantsr53d_ZZn_auxRoOmfR3cULTyaqf7MjhoPmfs3al2MsEIRNEEF_pqsmS_Kf9ucAoT2JHuHpX1Ij4JkmX6f3WeNJM/s200/Grytviken_beat_navy_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beat Navy! (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb45kei-uumCsy7bAOt75HuEk3XKbdAYS1P0Npcd1W6tf8qUTZs5o47cSiPzHPvN7bCIF8agsnFauMj6PX9EdiS2SXd3inRdA5NCxVnH2EahFudGqKQ4pMl4w4AkDlBWNX8q1ANV7NZ4M/s1600/Grytviken_whaling_saw2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb45kei-uumCsy7bAOt75HuEk3XKbdAYS1P0Npcd1W6tf8qUTZs5o47cSiPzHPvN7bCIF8agsnFauMj6PX9EdiS2SXd3inRdA5NCxVnH2EahFudGqKQ4pMl4w4AkDlBWNX8q1ANV7NZ4M/s200/Grytviken_whaling_saw2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whaling saw (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the late afternoon we went over to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grytviken" target="_blank">Grytviken</a> (an old science station, whaling station, and military base where Pauline and Tim Carr lived for 16 years). Many people on ship are excited that there is a small gift shop at Grytviken, and how special that we get to visit alongside the legendary Pauline and Tim! I'm definitely going to read their book when I get back home. They are a delightful couple and have amazing stories to share.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZyMBwEYN4A0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/s8e4Gu7AYpI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_l6C7crBMgacIMHpjPELkKtFazMtov3gv8JQcuQB-qAvzuT0dAqLXNqX-UkhVHS-MwP_gPD6R6uWyaxWxVSM3iWKnCeynY38fYFGkghMLPKeIf-jLq0XBLY3EuyxpQ3LxaHjHGSkAdpA/s1600/Grytviken_shackleton_grave_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_l6C7crBMgacIMHpjPELkKtFazMtov3gv8JQcuQB-qAvzuT0dAqLXNqX-UkhVHS-MwP_gPD6R6uWyaxWxVSM3iWKnCeynY38fYFGkghMLPKeIf-jLq0XBLY3EuyxpQ3LxaHjHGSkAdpA/s200/Grytviken_shackleton_grave_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Upon landing we went straight to the cemetery to see <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=shackleton+grave&hl=en&tbo=u&biw=1920&bih=955&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=s-DoUKDQA8mU2QWi-YHADA&sqi=2&ved=0CDAQsAQ" target="_blank">Shackleton's grave site</a>. We all toasted with some Scotch to honor Shackleton, and noted that today is the 91st anniversary of the day Shackleton died here in South Georgia from a heart attack.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxa1XWHH80nHFtE5OatnfSyMRlCZWmvQFhDd6xNyE6NJr7BMZFNirOR8M3MsrqHmr1e3Nlwlac-jTw9N0aKyywjYnLuqk2XYIEs_hmlHuFcbMfeCGGdMAYr0rW1weoYxiivfM3pfFfBI/s1600/Grytviken_church_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxa1XWHH80nHFtE5OatnfSyMRlCZWmvQFhDd6xNyE6NJr7BMZFNirOR8M3MsrqHmr1e3Nlwlac-jTw9N0aKyywjYnLuqk2XYIEs_hmlHuFcbMfeCGGdMAYr0rW1weoYxiivfM3pfFfBI/s200/Grytviken_church_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grytviken Church<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvqL6fVIJtIOxgQcV9wNBMP6OT0Pf6ZHpnn57NhhEkU5gA3GbqlSarjYu4p3p-OuhMhLRE0GMiMkX3T-DfmwWkSqD9Q5Jgu6eGbDTxvIgvG4VVgz0nNnnphWg-VbDwbeAcNTR3SSpZPY/s1600/Grytviken_inside_church_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvqL6fVIJtIOxgQcV9wNBMP6OT0Pf6ZHpnn57NhhEkU5gA3GbqlSarjYu4p3p-OuhMhLRE0GMiMkX3T-DfmwWkSqD9Q5Jgu6eGbDTxvIgvG4VVgz0nNnnphWg-VbDwbeAcNTR3SSpZPY/s200/Grytviken_inside_church_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church Interior<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We got to walk around Grytviken and saw the ruins of an old (large) whaling operation. Now the location is used by scientific and military training personnel. We got to see the church, a wooden building dedicated in 1913. More on that later, but it was a Lutheran church (<i>Woohoo! - Ed.)</i> and it looks a lot like West Point's Old Cadet Chapel where my husband, Ray, and I got married more than 16 years ago. Very lovely and another tie in to a good friend who is getting married today. Janet and Dan, congratulations!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/US6rjXqEJI8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUq87ZRVFJIupNu3TOTOXOCPLSkhZM6Jq2cCsIw39iJDv_RPgn3Rw4YLv8ewOPUGoFInAxmSpW5Ccu3kLiSU7w1q__R-spNxj3lvsGsNw8PHKR0bXW9fr58svfnfSyMjN4de437_ZGWo/s1600/Grytviken_chain_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUq87ZRVFJIupNu3TOTOXOCPLSkhZM6Jq2cCsIw39iJDv_RPgn3Rw4YLv8ewOPUGoFInAxmSpW5Ccu3kLiSU7w1q__R-spNxj3lvsGsNw8PHKR0bXW9fr58svfnfSyMjN4de437_ZGWo/s200/Grytviken_chain_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grytviken chain<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0yliipR2jEe2t_EXEIa75T1lqVIateFQ_1Z67UiCNkWzB7WyU6HSxaev2qSHsbb9XyOvm-wG8ELjcLsxX_b2c372ra0L63GNWUGlj93FBhUbsDoiosoAx2SkuRX6YNe-rIfci-tdHWM/s1600/Grytviken_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0yliipR2jEe2t_EXEIa75T1lqVIateFQ_1Z67UiCNkWzB7WyU6HSxaev2qSHsbb9XyOvm-wG8ELjcLsxX_b2c372ra0L63GNWUGlj93FBhUbsDoiosoAx2SkuRX6YNe-rIfci-tdHWM/s200/Grytviken_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grytviken (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We got to send postcards from South Georgia Island, although we might return home before they come in the mail. All in all a great day, and tomorrow will be our last day in South Georgia. :-( <span class="moz-smiley-s2" title=":("></span> But even better things await!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-64760397710094981662013-01-04T19:57:00.002-07:002013-02-23T19:11:17.682-07:00In Shackleton's Footsteps (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 4 January:<br />
<br />
Boy what a day! We started off sailing in <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CFIQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oceanlight.com%2Flog%2Fhercules-bay-south-georgia-island.html&ei=lpXnUPf-I-GJ2AWP6oHgDQ&usg=AFQjCNFir9mh3Cry9dgIXLBkhcQQSq4jsA" target="_blank">Hercules Bay</a> trying to get another chance at seeing macaroni penguin. The seas were too rough to do safe zodiac loading, so we moved on to Fortuna Bay. When we had our wake-up call, we were already in Fortuna Bay and the air temp was 1 degree C, while water was at 2.5 C. Barometer was at 993, and everything was very calm in the bay (no measurable wind).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/yQX_pibVsIA/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yQX_pibVsIA&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yQX_pibVsIA&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
We landed at <a href="http://www.komar.org/faq/travel/vacation/antarctica/south-georgia_fortuna-bay/" target="_blank">Fortuna Bay</a> near more fur seals. A new friend I've made on the ship, Natalie, is deathly afraid oaf the fur seals (rightly so, they are scary), and it has been great fun for our whole group to chuckle at her uneasiness. Natalie knits, and she actually started knitting a little grey fur seal with toothpick tips for teeth! It is so cute, and she is going to donate it to our silent auction fund raiser later in the cruise (I'll talk about the auction later, stay tuned!). Anyway, Natalie did not enjoy this landing...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGAcOtVN7-N_QqPaBfgEDE7dMhBdBAiVdnhgSnLJD0JE09jRNzHXBGNgH36l_yQwHmEMzbPCIk5BjoUz_QEGMX_lVpMasQfFmaFbTOd7SPhyGdtsDC4SaDE2rGW86_CbSUmg2eF9nqqg/s1600/Fortuna_Bay_angry_fur_seal_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGAcOtVN7-N_QqPaBfgEDE7dMhBdBAiVdnhgSnLJD0JE09jRNzHXBGNgH36l_yQwHmEMzbPCIk5BjoUz_QEGMX_lVpMasQfFmaFbTOd7SPhyGdtsDC4SaDE2rGW86_CbSUmg2eF9nqqg/s200/Fortuna_Bay_angry_fur_seal_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angry Fur Seal (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCM6T6a_kMN_D9V1BWjZMx9zQiGYIm9PR5aT2U-egEI2ub36iuDkFa0_i9lmXNRO3NaEADqINVHuWKxoeXmHGjwZOXbRJE3EavV1sOCBUFO81ahzbJPJP0JKFLq9Ne3dHnx2UsfBnoboc/s1600/Fortuna_Bay_skua_fur_fight_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCM6T6a_kMN_D9V1BWjZMx9zQiGYIm9PR5aT2U-egEI2ub36iuDkFa0_i9lmXNRO3NaEADqINVHuWKxoeXmHGjwZOXbRJE3EavV1sOCBUFO81ahzbJPJP0JKFLq9Ne3dHnx2UsfBnoboc/s200/Fortuna_Bay_skua_fur_fight_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skua & Fur Seal Fight<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The fur seals were quite aggressive and they were EVERYWHERE at our landing site. I even had a close encounter with one of them... He charged me and wouldn't leave me alone (at one point he was bearing his teeth in a standoff with about 3 feet between us). I didn't get bit, but I was shaking in my boots while I stood my ground (if I would have ran or turned my back he would have bit me). (<i>File under "things a husband loves to read" - Ed.)</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/d3VmBPxe8sc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Another neat treat at this landing were the reindeer. That's right, reindeer! They were introduced by the whalers in 1918 and 1925 for hunting, and the group of 7 from 1925 has now grown to about 1000 reindeer. This will be the last year for reindeer here on South Georgia Island.. In an attempt to eradicate the introduced species from the island, the reindeer will be culled completely (along with the rat eradication project). The reindeer are pretty, but they truly don't belong in this ecosystem (<i>wrong pole - Ed.)</i>. Once the rats and reindeer are gone, the birds will find better sanctuary on South Georgia Island.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/R3MEhR5UbuM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaX7Try1fXjOio0lSwOl7mChlpGVFmhAv0xBQsd5u8B7g8YoZdSMmj9uXGEPuCpxcGX8IIMYK5iDQGOjMEw4VRhfi3trwboFHvUdN1hfXkxBasesHnMbQtm_IsZaqrgAKNvgKiLliy4s/s1600/Fortuna_Bay_Kings_baby2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaX7Try1fXjOio0lSwOl7mChlpGVFmhAv0xBQsd5u8B7g8YoZdSMmj9uXGEPuCpxcGX8IIMYK5iDQGOjMEw4VRhfi3trwboFHvUdN1hfXkxBasesHnMbQtm_IsZaqrgAKNvgKiLliy4s/s200/Fortuna_Bay_Kings_baby2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molting baby penguin<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZP5RD1BrxpMp51mtKn-3SkzRxmFBsMq3goU71tdYp85568FwhPRRqnai-TyyVHSc9TJDQQ5rMzAalBOkCjcY58AStxDOg-Ghs8KyNBibMu3H0dqhqdR69F2DBZ9j52RdOkOF-mmzcLI/s1600/Fortuna_Bay_skua_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZP5RD1BrxpMp51mtKn-3SkzRxmFBsMq3goU71tdYp85568FwhPRRqnai-TyyVHSc9TJDQQ5rMzAalBOkCjcY58AStxDOg-Ghs8KyNBibMu3H0dqhqdR69F2DBZ9j52RdOkOF-mmzcLI/s200/Fortuna_Bay_skua_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skua in flight (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We all walked over to the foot of Konig Glacier to see king penguin colonies. The penguins stretched out on the flat terrain for as far as they eye could see. We waited to try to catch an egg exchange (where one parent is sitting on the egg and swaps the egg out with another parent to get food), but we never caught an egg exchange in action. Many of the penguin were losing a layer of brown "down" in a process called molting (a penguin isn't "waterproof" if any of that down is left on its body) (<i>no word on whether they get yelled at for leaving clothes on the floor - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEERYXEolUhhK_hzeqks_RCz9DsqYVH2ZPdxIE87kRLhTGlckrW7EwtK4ETP1QtP3DIU50aNrv0K74aAl_Ud4nUHVdJU2hyphenhyphen8X9IULWaHw55eRNsYR2BEEDsWdHGvzo3adoOm9rBSXCeI/s1600/Stromness_shack_Zfolds_South_Georgia_Islands-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEERYXEolUhhK_hzeqks_RCz9DsqYVH2ZPdxIE87kRLhTGlckrW7EwtK4ETP1QtP3DIU50aNrv0K74aAl_Ud4nUHVdJU2hyphenhyphen8X9IULWaHw55eRNsYR2BEEDsWdHGvzo3adoOm9rBSXCeI/s200/Stromness_shack_Zfolds_South_Georgia_Islands-4.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z folds at Stromness<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3oXPPcd-J26llQA1jpwQgvlZF9AnSMnpsz1zcJjqMz4xwI3-29f3awUPC3GANJSZclOojtDeRA3QFOkKiT1TZndkWK0att8tm_Mj-Jk_pwdijmv6QWCD-XUc6JCesPKWnK64TEWAgCI/s1600/Stromness_shack_stromness_danger_sign_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3oXPPcd-J26llQA1jpwQgvlZF9AnSMnpsz1zcJjqMz4xwI3-29f3awUPC3GANJSZclOojtDeRA3QFOkKiT1TZndkWK0att8tm_Mj-Jk_pwdijmv6QWCD-XUc6JCesPKWnK64TEWAgCI/s200/Stromness_shack_stromness_danger_sign_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stromness whaling station<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Several of our group ate lunch on the shore (yummy peanut butter and jelly sandwich), and then caught a zodiac over to the other side of the bay to start Shackleton's hike. This hike was done by Shackleton, Crean, and Worsley while they desperately searched for rescue in 1916 after Shackleton's ship (HMS Endurance) sank. Shackleton left 20-some men on Elephant Island, sailed in a lifeboat to South Georgia Island with 5 other sailors, and had to leave 3 on the beach of South Georgia because they were too weak to make the journey. While hiking on a ridge, Shackleton recognized some familiar rocks (he described as a z-shape, and now we know they are tight folds in sedimentary rocks), and figured out where they were. While resting in a snow gully on the west side of Fortuna Bay, they heard the whistle blow at the whaling station (it was the first manmade sound they had heard in 18 months). They knew they were close and made a beeline for Stromness Harbour. Once at the whaling station they knocked on the door of the foreman, and he helped them out. It was 10 months or so before the seas permitted Shackleton to get back out to rescue his men from Elephant Island. Miraculously, none of them died and all were rescued!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJyLbJwpH3oALcOi0KWqaCqU68qg26aw9H8NSqlxEDwRgrMDg_ANK__mVFpnmT5IRSKHZDFPxYWyO4e0R6FDqbEu2XGkp8Ou7eY3jiRVZdvcDnEshOsCFJrlhwj2lqIG6BrB3RblpcdA/s1600/Fortuna_shack_molting_morraine_stitch_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJyLbJwpH3oALcOi0KWqaCqU68qg26aw9H8NSqlxEDwRgrMDg_ANK__mVFpnmT5IRSKHZDFPxYWyO4e0R6FDqbEu2XGkp8Ou7eY3jiRVZdvcDnEshOsCFJrlhwj2lqIG6BrB3RblpcdA/s200/Fortuna_shack_molting_morraine_stitch_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molting morraine (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQhdh_bVe71aW6Mu-oD0w8tOEaZJpyIO2eynsYmH2unsf7Lbh3dDTqpjo5wDL6mm_tsXft6KyX_LYfQhYsIOx0USkRf7Pv5Q8KU3Kz4BHHJlaVH4eUTXJH5Bl1E85wcZMivvUfyc-fVs/s1600/Fortuna_Bay_shack_scree_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQhdh_bVe71aW6Mu-oD0w8tOEaZJpyIO2eynsYmH2unsf7Lbh3dDTqpjo5wDL6mm_tsXft6KyX_LYfQhYsIOx0USkRf7Pv5Q8KU3Kz4BHHJlaVH4eUTXJH5Bl1E85wcZMivvUfyc-fVs/s200/Fortuna_Bay_shack_scree_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scree on the hike (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While we were on the Shackleton hike, we saw conglomerates, shale, steep scree surfaces (scree is jagged loose rocks on a steep slope where you can easily slide down), and plenty of thrust faults. My structural geology professor from CSUH (<a href="http://www20.csueastbay.edu/directory/profiles/geol/strayerluther.html" target="_blank">Luther Strayer</a>) would be excited by all this folding. We hiked up along a glacial morraine, which Richard Alley said was a "molting morraine" because the tufts of grass looked like the the penguins with patches of down/fur. We saw a small lake - Crean Lake - and kept walking along a saddle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/upoqqu3VlLA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
The hike was impressive, even though 5.5 km is not much of Shackleton's famous hike. We got to slide down a portion of the ending where the snow is better that the rock for navigating downward. At the end we came out in another bay (the ship cruised around behind us). This bay was a whaling port at one time, the Stromness. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga20btwDnRprX7vZ-EcA_AegJ_laF_Jjs6vZAHZD8Loj_3QIjFvrTfjHZ-u84OZDafSzmw8lT5nBBFk8upUYdqlayipxCYzVhg9QSWwqfDV6kioCrnkCo0wV12RRHBKLrsZXbFlTcWYp0/s1600/Stromness_shack_stromness_blond_fur_kiss2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga20btwDnRprX7vZ-EcA_AegJ_laF_Jjs6vZAHZD8Loj_3QIjFvrTfjHZ-u84OZDafSzmw8lT5nBBFk8upUYdqlayipxCYzVhg9QSWwqfDV6kioCrnkCo0wV12RRHBKLrsZXbFlTcWYp0/s200/Stromness_shack_stromness_blond_fur_kiss2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fur Seal smooch (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfTpt-h5-ugd7Ll9fT9a4RgV20eJ1Rhnsi2nW_qCNHdpHX6drE46F-4YpIFAXYxSjsfSHvkKMuCPqd4rhQ67SEiUxZnV7ZJHBI4YxE-fnZfnfGUteXBCU-i9og2n7zUA4BohxWtX-Q_M/s1600/Fortuna_Bay_Kings_closeup_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfTpt-h5-ugd7Ll9fT9a4RgV20eJ1Rhnsi2nW_qCNHdpHX6drE46F-4YpIFAXYxSjsfSHvkKMuCPqd4rhQ67SEiUxZnV7ZJHBI4YxE-fnZfnfGUteXBCU-i9og2n7zUA4BohxWtX-Q_M/s200/Fortuna_Bay_Kings_closeup_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macaroni penguins<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now the buildings are fenced off because of dangerous flying debris and also asbestos on the structures. There were more fur seals at the beach, and several macaroni penguins.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeZtROYUHXUI_2z8H1ZK9p12_C0RKalW0NI3ZdnHnYReR8UUTHy6rA4Yj6YOfPT3rh_Y9Orr2vg-oGQXP89pgkKjy-MRccbL4_iq9CN4_hAGhFybIl6DJ3YvSXWI5xz7e9fqBnPycWwI/s1600/Fortuna_Bay_Shack_DJR_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeZtROYUHXUI_2z8H1ZK9p12_C0RKalW0NI3ZdnHnYReR8UUTHy6rA4Yj6YOfPT3rh_Y9Orr2vg-oGQXP89pgkKjy-MRccbL4_iq9CN4_hAGhFybIl6DJ3YvSXWI5xz7e9fqBnPycWwI/s200/Fortuna_Bay_Shack_DJR_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D&JR (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One last thought for today... I am thinking especially of Janet and Dan who are feverishly getting ready for their wedding tomorrow (5 Jan). I'm wishing I could be there, and please know that I carry them with me all day. I know the wedding will be perfect for you two!<br />
<br />
So, tomorrow it is off to another harbor, Godthul (Norwegian for "good harbor").</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-52772715507290204522013-01-04T17:45:00.000-07:002013-02-19T11:00:18.811-07:00Pillow Lava, Killer Seals, and Macaroni Penguins (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 3 January:<br />
<br />
Today we awoke to fairly calm seas, sailing at 13 knots with a 10 knot wind, 2 degrees C air temp, 2.6 C water temp, and 992 on the barometer. <br />
<br />
We sailed along the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHbsUgvyvNo" target="_blank">Drygalski Fjord</a> before breakfast and got to see some amazingly impressive basalt lava flows from ancient sea floor spreading (about 100-65 million years ago). <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H5ycSlvBoWs7QzwT1Xbqnqx4hrTZZ8l4kO2SH9_ApnsImF_IJoYBXvGnj2QqOOlCM1SP9modNCI6EqmoMCQ7m3-RXUkgmNFAPhmSSszBHsm8r0Kk1rIpEoYDmcU30hP5F4mcrjGpPVc/s1600/Larsen_pillow_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H5ycSlvBoWs7QzwT1Xbqnqx4hrTZZ8l4kO2SH9_ApnsImF_IJoYBXvGnj2QqOOlCM1SP9modNCI6EqmoMCQ7m3-RXUkgmNFAPhmSSszBHsm8r0Kk1rIpEoYDmcU30hP5F4mcrjGpPVc/s200/Larsen_pillow_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larsen Pillow (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8dj1NymmBO_NXARZqoIIKInnH5dcHyRV0pmSquEZMCjFM6K4ujjdo0G6DZqIZpMc9wRmlaCACgpnKEUZLqRJoTtR8D7AEcBT1SdcijmLy9DoT0F8kRE9oWU_o3BIa6YWWHA7fncd1WQ/s1600/Larsen_xenolith_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8dj1NymmBO_NXARZqoIIKInnH5dcHyRV0pmSquEZMCjFM6K4ujjdo0G6DZqIZpMc9wRmlaCACgpnKEUZLqRJoTtR8D7AEcBT1SdcijmLy9DoT0F8kRE9oWU_o3BIa6YWWHA7fncd1WQ/s200/Larsen_xenolith_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larsen Xenolith (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many of the lava flows show indicators of pillow lava (rounded shapes from the way the lava sort of bubbled out of the surface and cooled quickly before flowing). Pillow lavas are great "way up" indicators so you can tell which direction these rocks originally formed. Interspersed with the impressive lava flows were nearly vertical dikes (about 1-3 meters wide or more "stripes" in the cliffs where the rock was being pulled apart and lava from below, called diabase, filled in the cracks). <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx11eRY7rW8YN5FTVrJJLLxZoVvarQRRO1P9ZEuKTQBnHzFqsH_vKD2JjHCh6imTNF2jnZluVKKfvzvX3H1zgxJMHuNq3IqUFguVuPS7ypJ_6reIJ9kts7Tv-u_9Z1CvANTUcxPzr48YI/s1600/Drygalski_Ophiolites_2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx11eRY7rW8YN5FTVrJJLLxZoVvarQRRO1P9ZEuKTQBnHzFqsH_vKD2JjHCh6imTNF2jnZluVKKfvzvX3H1zgxJMHuNq3IqUFguVuPS7ypJ_6reIJ9kts7Tv-u_9Z1CvANTUcxPzr48YI/s200/Drygalski_Ophiolites_2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drygalski Ophiolites<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzx4ZV16o4VSqsJZJAeBJoPpjVcv7nltlRzNlsTf6IQbWjzxT_cmVpQbIdL-gOwJY487qa5gWooacHihL12BdNajA0u7NhG1JaxBfo2-NAJ6YT8WJYlhTlOwSj6ru3kStw88IzIEhCfco/s1600/Drygalski_Ophiolites_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzx4ZV16o4VSqsJZJAeBJoPpjVcv7nltlRzNlsTf6IQbWjzxT_cmVpQbIdL-gOwJY487qa5gWooacHihL12BdNajA0u7NhG1JaxBfo2-NAJ6YT8WJYlhTlOwSj6ru3kStw88IzIEhCfco/s200/Drygalski_Ophiolites_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drygalski Ophiolites<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiFqesGCZiaf_WeiWKEtQSgZ444egzzSmltzt1l9OtEzRcnqaIGgSuqZQhPYxnAyv9DMS0DrLUvVrJ1aSZy62qWIMUSwl5YXVWVOAdyOYoRpSfuzoX3gZEzk2MuTfyEGZH4nBeZXPU8Q/s1600/Drygalski_Glacier_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiFqesGCZiaf_WeiWKEtQSgZ444egzzSmltzt1l9OtEzRcnqaIGgSuqZQhPYxnAyv9DMS0DrLUvVrJ1aSZy62qWIMUSwl5YXVWVOAdyOYoRpSfuzoX3gZEzk2MuTfyEGZH4nBeZXPU8Q/s200/Drygalski_Glacier_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drygalski Glacier (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAGVaKxmopr2WaVjft6IbfPRqk_nDHo6BMV3Wu3COVN9hFYKY2Y0w2xacDJf9qEPcYTfgZAMkjposvjNu9reJwzC6WvN9TiFEMpO6h9-Ubu-uUGZ2Kq5tXi2tSJVfHkAh4r3WgY1nIPQ/s1600/Larsen_feet_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAGVaKxmopr2WaVjft6IbfPRqk_nDHo6BMV3Wu3COVN9hFYKY2Y0w2xacDJf9qEPcYTfgZAMkjposvjNu9reJwzC6WvN9TiFEMpO6h9-Ubu-uUGZ2Kq5tXi2tSJVfHkAh4r3WgY1nIPQ/s200/Larsen_feet_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larsen Harbor (click to enlarge)<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All this happened on the ocean flood, and lots of crunching and "smushing" (<i>all these technical terms make my head hurt - Ed.)</i> has happened since then to get these rocks exposed at South Georgia Island. These lava rocks are what is referred to as ophiolites, and here they are named the Larsen Harbour Igneous Complex. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g2HG-tSvIeB1UAqxs9Y-3-nJvFABT7nyhB8gIa65KdPUgFFUbDDDnKph7hZAC3jFbMSed89PGtaUgck94RPBiMYYt0V-xTsMQElJ9lYcvtRpLrpU1Pf1P0BWe4_g9rJfK6gCYHLMLVs/s1600/Larson_Dave_Ophiolites_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g2HG-tSvIeB1UAqxs9Y-3-nJvFABT7nyhB8gIa65KdPUgFFUbDDDnKph7hZAC3jFbMSed89PGtaUgck94RPBiMYYt0V-xTsMQElJ9lYcvtRpLrpU1Pf1P0BWe4_g9rJfK6gCYHLMLVs/s200/Larson_Dave_Ophiolites_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larson Ophiolites (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
ALL of the geologists on board were extremely thrilled to see the ophiolites. And what a treat while we sailed into Drygalski Fjord we saw many small pieces of ice floating all around us (calving off of the glaciers) (<i>being excited about ice in the water is why Mindy is on this trip, and not me - Ed.)</i>. On the north side of the fjord we see the Drygalski Fjord Complex, a group of igneous and metamorphic rocks that were originally at the margin of the Gondwana continental plate.<br />
<br />
<br />
After breakfast we cruised into <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kzj4UeGkwg" target="_blank">Larsen Harbour</a> to see the ophiolites up close and personal. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CudunhcPC6Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm_9gpqOg7LTN9ECvc5eXizv4QIXqDMTSGvRpL11dkqps1YNBnU44E7iyxmb9tItFIJE-jJpSYMHYGiODxV7DU-6f_tSiuNKRNdUnDZ2F5T4yqvALtkGKVE4FBaX5bT5Ttn0y6SBTkwo/s1600/Larson_2seals_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm_9gpqOg7LTN9ECvc5eXizv4QIXqDMTSGvRpL11dkqps1YNBnU44E7iyxmb9tItFIJE-jJpSYMHYGiODxV7DU-6f_tSiuNKRNdUnDZ2F5T4yqvALtkGKVE4FBaX5bT5Ttn0y6SBTkwo/s200/Larson_2seals_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fur seals (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn6Zrzt1ZYAtVXP5MJjnF0BDPV-Ud-6k3RPNI2hUIAoI55-LVRvxXx8aX_-FtMgSwnz2MVTWM9d_qS_Clu0hSqmZ3ehWRkt76Vs35ftHj66xsO3dbgdHkLiEu77HZSCP1O38SpSgWM48/s1600/Cooper_Bay_angryfurseal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn6Zrzt1ZYAtVXP5MJjnF0BDPV-Ud-6k3RPNI2hUIAoI55-LVRvxXx8aX_-FtMgSwnz2MVTWM9d_qS_Clu0hSqmZ3ehWRkt76Vs35ftHj66xsO3dbgdHkLiEu77HZSCP1O38SpSgWM48/s200/Cooper_Bay_angryfurseal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angry Fur Seal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the beach we were greeted heartily by some very stubborn fur seals. We learned that they are aggressive and not to disturb them. Nearly everyone picked up on the tricks of standing them down when they make a charge at you (their bite is no joke, and is sure to bring infection) (<i>Huh - "rampaging seals" was somehow left out of the trip catalog description I read - Ed.)</i>. After weaving through the fur seals we saw impressive pillow lavas right at the beach.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZcIC0PVSYgbU0L6ULWBg3p3OvCGEJerrKTUWJSd06Nem0HCvZMLz7WndkUIR1MDKPGFNH8vzhfJznqm_ImGDSATvpMOvhuiRofxYiKuxwoJstqwI0qLfUWnpdJg0d0_4UKzhEEliAd0/s1600/Esbenson_Bay_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZcIC0PVSYgbU0L6ULWBg3p3OvCGEJerrKTUWJSd06Nem0HCvZMLz7WndkUIR1MDKPGFNH8vzhfJznqm_ImGDSATvpMOvhuiRofxYiKuxwoJstqwI0qLfUWnpdJg0d0_4UKzhEEliAd0/s200/Esbenson_Bay_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esbenson Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dJV0F5RSVqvqig-NRozj7viT46OwOB9gsTdRhn5fghTXyR_5YX79jgEPsE1raUTyUhO2nD6eewXh7LgJntKEJAol1afB3ORjh0d-YWwmNI4d80VXV6g-G0rz5Jx16NzVR-X7oONfhT0/s1600/Larsen_hike_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dJV0F5RSVqvqig-NRozj7viT46OwOB9gsTdRhn5fghTXyR_5YX79jgEPsE1raUTyUhO2nD6eewXh7LgJntKEJAol1afB3ORjh0d-YWwmNI4d80VXV6g-G0rz5Jx16NzVR-X7oONfhT0/s200/Larsen_hike_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larsen hike <br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some folks took zodiacs over to a glacier and others hiked up the mountain to see very impressive views of the harbor. I hiked, and we got to see another bay at the end of our hike (Esbenson Bay) before turning back and repeating the trip. Throughout the hike I was thinking of a professor of mine from graduate school -<a href="http://www.sci.csueastbay.edu/~jseitz/Home.html" target="_blank"> Jeff Seitz</a> - and how excited he used to get about ophiolites. Jeff was certainly with me in spirit today.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/V6cmemwJ4Es?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-YHnGDks-vMDUp747YkZho31ILsJTWe4WbVUD8SoB7siA87VCLb5YUFaLkf97GgxNyyvEj_SQPLITTmiXtDwRUaxu_N0bNCU8vRv3-GOnn3JNngBv_8_bvIqZHg6si5Dy4c8mmDLEyk/s1600/Cooper_Bay_fur_heart_nose_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-YHnGDks-vMDUp747YkZho31ILsJTWe4WbVUD8SoB7siA87VCLb5YUFaLkf97GgxNyyvEj_SQPLITTmiXtDwRUaxu_N0bNCU8vRv3-GOnn3JNngBv_8_bvIqZHg6si5Dy4c8mmDLEyk/s200/Cooper_Bay_fur_heart_nose_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fur seal with heart-shaped nose<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today was also special because we got to have two landings... During lunch the ship sailed to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjUXZfovE34" target="_blank">Cooper Bay </a>and we spent the afternoon fending off more fur seals and seeing macaroni penguins.<br />
On the way to Cooper Bay we caught a very rare glimpse of a right whale, and then our first official iceberg! Right whales were first whaled in 1050 and were nearly extinct by the 1600s. Southern right whales (there are northern ones as well, but obviously not here) have started bouncing back from commercial extinction and there are now about 1000 in existence.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mSIIlu4OIRA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br /><br />
At Cooper Bay some folks went to see a macaroni penguin colony, and others went to try to see rocks from the Cooper Bay Dislocation Zone. This time I decided to look at the penguins because I knew this would be one of our only chances to get up close, and because I knew Daniel would like the photos of penguins that looked like the characters in the Surf's Up movie (<i>pop culture actually determines many of our family activities. Don't judge - Ed.)</i>. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M9c68NHQceB-kr1dFLs1HvP1xBEpcygyiHMLHbGy-VsiGvETBaCvCr4KtNTvxJDlKC35LDUMFVtMHNeRDQxMLutw7BsecEHIcl_TxXiS2P3hZOFxZSAZ3IwhA_Gtr7kxY3b_BNXZ4OE/s1600/Cooper_Bay_MacaroniColony_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M9c68NHQceB-kr1dFLs1HvP1xBEpcygyiHMLHbGy-VsiGvETBaCvCr4KtNTvxJDlKC35LDUMFVtMHNeRDQxMLutw7BsecEHIcl_TxXiS2P3hZOFxZSAZ3IwhA_Gtr7kxY3b_BNXZ4OE/s200/Cooper_Bay_MacaroniColony_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper Bay Macaroni Colony<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoiqtRjqqoOfg-X3nxenbn0x8VQac6wBKY3otB81A6NQb1F80ceCD1knMk-yzXllsAZTBevhsIpZw4Erzbn4NLJ2hZ1puMcGgpxM_-ZvrtEsrS7kp7g9udzrEcA7Y9bIyVIE4qzdf2u0/s1600/Cooper_Bay_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoiqtRjqqoOfg-X3nxenbn0x8VQac6wBKY3otB81A6NQb1F80ceCD1knMk-yzXllsAZTBevhsIpZw4Erzbn4NLJ2hZ1puMcGgpxM_-ZvrtEsrS7kp7g9udzrEcA7Y9bIyVIE4qzdf2u0/s200/Cooper_Bay_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper Bay (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It ended up being a good choice for me because the group looking for the rocks were a little disappointed (although they did see some great phyllites, myolinites, and impressive horizontal bedding of shales that were sedimentary rocks formed off the coast of South America and Africa as they broke apart).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL0uGcJbggAt-jVtKkeIJcYlf4OSsgnllkNFQTgDprULaCxIAHoP9kJMkGn_BuVGKVEF6fxIwAadygTXN1rqH4B3oUDbtvVGl-U2q3IGc12ia0kaN_lVlOtiTv-jCvkSiY09sT79jIc8/s1600/Cooper_Bay_KingPenguin_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL0uGcJbggAt-jVtKkeIJcYlf4OSsgnllkNFQTgDprULaCxIAHoP9kJMkGn_BuVGKVEF6fxIwAadygTXN1rqH4B3oUDbtvVGl-U2q3IGc12ia0kaN_lVlOtiTv-jCvkSiY09sT79jIc8/s200/Cooper_Bay_KingPenguin_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper Bay King Penguin<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojfHyEfmicxoIbHaewsUR9J0M9XTVEp2D1r70SHRgfm9HxpGLURHMYr4JdyA6pFjRZLuof7XwXRir0fNSuNJkHXiGXI5kvmsS-rGTGdAW2wgF2_VuLTUWFPI_qjDq0TZo-WB6sOzGzQY/s1600/Cooper_Bay_KingPenguin2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojfHyEfmicxoIbHaewsUR9J0M9XTVEp2D1r70SHRgfm9HxpGLURHMYr4JdyA6pFjRZLuof7XwXRir0fNSuNJkHXiGXI5kvmsS-rGTGdAW2wgF2_VuLTUWFPI_qjDq0TZo-WB6sOzGzQY/s200/Cooper_Bay_KingPenguin2_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper Bay King Penguin<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdO2zk9sRU00_noT7jx6MDX-yccULhD1ta9PJD8K0jM516TsLIGds01f69eVnqPXO5SYZCt790AtFi9IpBkwTtFRdNHrlcgqh5uthtsv6l903upC2PkaUim4CijxBzbz3m5n0sm_rgB0/s1600/Cooper_Bay_skua_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdO2zk9sRU00_noT7jx6MDX-yccULhD1ta9PJD8K0jM516TsLIGds01f69eVnqPXO5SYZCt790AtFi9IpBkwTtFRdNHrlcgqh5uthtsv6l903upC2PkaUim4CijxBzbz3m5n0sm_rgB0/s200/Cooper_Bay_skua_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper Bay Skua (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZBr1zr1VBez5fILv8AmRpWPQxqlmkkjlDNR3Qd-xZYCOVuZQEK-a4HTOhuDapwapev6hEg2fudeW55XbHEQrmlyrCPebVlrokOBHAg_-Tl3qyfXxzLttuhav0hRVedtDubTwR6DAeWY/s1600/Larsen_furseal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZBr1zr1VBez5fILv8AmRpWPQxqlmkkjlDNR3Qd-xZYCOVuZQEK-a4HTOhuDapwapev6hEg2fudeW55XbHEQrmlyrCPebVlrokOBHAg_-Tl3qyfXxzLttuhav0hRVedtDubTwR6DAeWY/s200/Larsen_furseal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larsen Fur Seal<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfQ3rvR8ILdO8qfBDg-U9YchILb-CL55A7jNHtCp3NrkRbdOhL4f-0MD-7VHsn7f04GUgj3wRt4Cutgck_NimO5BoF-1xL5IHwPREXH4RG5ryLPzJUgpSBPz-KwaDT7aXtmORzx8egRA/s1600/Larsen_Gentoo_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfQ3rvR8ILdO8qfBDg-U9YchILb-CL55A7jNHtCp3NrkRbdOhL4f-0MD-7VHsn7f04GUgj3wRt4Cutgck_NimO5BoF-1xL5IHwPREXH4RG5ryLPzJUgpSBPz-KwaDT7aXtmORzx8egRA/s200/Larsen_Gentoo_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larsen Gentoo Penguin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-tW5N-a2x7qhX0ihcSLzgd6F8-4R86_xg-RCN7pe4E95ubGNJfiDq7aiH5MmgCSKaRMPaIv2ZETt-ybxIAyKEgIh_FZ6ZO8_QcU6WHthjhzG8PdT6P-gsDBMb_xgGxhI1yKdhjBQxnE/s1600/Larsen_elephantseal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-tW5N-a2x7qhX0ihcSLzgd6F8-4R86_xg-RCN7pe4E95ubGNJfiDq7aiH5MmgCSKaRMPaIv2ZETt-ybxIAyKEgIh_FZ6ZO8_QcU6WHthjhzG8PdT6P-gsDBMb_xgGxhI1yKdhjBQxnE/s200/Larsen_elephantseal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larsen Elephant Seal<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ81BPyJGXBB3Zq_JxrQx6xFbq5QvUYTBFANuaPqOjxQWRmq-5dkdHytv_OiyIzDX60VcNdxCPaErQrGVrATg8uWqI4uc3ZuabzV_aLPQDDsMXiyJXeD1AoNgGXa0PMQ05bxvpS_SwE5U/s1600/Cooper_Bay_macaroni_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ81BPyJGXBB3Zq_JxrQx6xFbq5QvUYTBFANuaPqOjxQWRmq-5dkdHytv_OiyIzDX60VcNdxCPaErQrGVrATg8uWqI4uc3ZuabzV_aLPQDDsMXiyJXeD1AoNgGXa0PMQ05bxvpS_SwE5U/s200/Cooper_Bay_macaroni_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper Bay Macaroni<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTngACzpQ0seOGis-asUNsWA9oiB3ELGMCMmKJGxizsdB3x1mXELkmjypWkLqktAYGPdeTpdvXhyq15vuMu1Y9L0bH6H36jVsVbZcZlG8IRUadKrPe7FtA157ssp349xqx7DhHkkuJlU/s1600/Cooper_Bay_Petrel_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTngACzpQ0seOGis-asUNsWA9oiB3ELGMCMmKJGxizsdB3x1mXELkmjypWkLqktAYGPdeTpdvXhyq15vuMu1Y9L0bH6H36jVsVbZcZlG8IRUadKrPe7FtA157ssp349xqx7DhHkkuJlU/s200/Cooper_Bay_Petrel_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper Bay Petrel (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fW9RMxG386Hb3OtozV3l9l6cTgYxzye93gGuDyOp4-Yhip0kRHFbKgdRqWPjwlD2SZKNjIrZ6UJDWvlHqJC1F63ubjGJFyVcvKzmDU7iB87Zi7FT36Oj5isIcwkk3Bku_3Hs-n6CKV0/s1600/Cooper_Bay_SootyAlbatross_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fW9RMxG386Hb3OtozV3l9l6cTgYxzye93gGuDyOp4-Yhip0kRHFbKgdRqWPjwlD2SZKNjIrZ6UJDWvlHqJC1F63ubjGJFyVcvKzmDU7iB87Zi7FT36Oj5isIcwkk3Bku_3Hs-n6CKV0/s200/Cooper_Bay_SootyAlbatross_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper Bay Albatross<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
OK, that was a lot of geology... Sorry... But I did fail to mention a very touching event that happened on the ship yesterday (2 Jan). Several geologists on board gathered to do a quick toast and scatter some rose petals for a dear colleague of theirs who spent his life studying the Scotia Arc. <a href="http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/pfbarker/webdata/webtrial1.htm" target="_blank">Peter F. Barker</a> passed away last year, and his friends honored him while sailing over the Scotia Arc. Ian Dalziel read a loving note from Peter's wife, and they all had a moment of silence on the deck of the ship in his honor. It made me so proud to associate myself with such a great group of people... And although I don't know Peter Barker personally, I teared-up thinking of all the great mentors I've had in the past and what an honor it has been to study with them. I was thinking of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww20.csueastbay.edu%2Foaa%2Ffiles%2Fmemorial_files%2FMemorialWarnke.pdf&ei=o3bnUIu4LZTJqQHhlYCgAQ&usg=AFQjCNEQ_Chz9yUhVllMn4-vAhi9NKvaow&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.b2U" target="_blank">Dietz Warnke</a> today and his work he's done on ice-rafted debris (I studied with Dietz at California State Hayward, and he passed away a few years ago).<br />
<br />
We have a busy day tomorrow with landings in Fortuna Bay and a chance to do a portion of a Shackleton hike. More on that tomorrow!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-9005689000371682492013-01-03T18:18:00.000-07:002013-02-12T09:58:54.735-07:00(South) Georgia on Her Mind (updated with pix and video)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
From Mindy, dated 2 January:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoSVZp83_zF2IVUgjbSDVAsdeirtwFm_VadscdWqsdrHrtepslKVvwsW_D3zXxH1vyv05lKzKy1ScYkUxEoeg7uQSkfPtiHNp4DGkpjALn_QXS7Ey0hyphenhyphenblfCyQnNttwiJo_2gLFtFbUU/s1600/Tight_Folds_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoSVZp83_zF2IVUgjbSDVAsdeirtwFm_VadscdWqsdrHrtepslKVvwsW_D3zXxH1vyv05lKzKy1ScYkUxEoeg7uQSkfPtiHNp4DGkpjALn_QXS7Ey0hyphenhyphenblfCyQnNttwiJo_2gLFtFbUU/s320/Tight_Folds_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tight folds (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We are ready for a landing today! We are now sailing in the least inhabited time zone on the planet. The ship was sailing at a steady 12 knots when we woke up in the morning. There was a 20-25 knot wind, the air temp was 2 degrees C, water 2.9 C, and barometer at 995. We are extremely lucky to have such calm seas and it is allowing us to come into the west/south side of the island.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab7JSKUmewSKT9v6NWC5Z-4SVu4L0IJY-ADhxXlQov0DrsUmTdFr1XbQDaGOrHfYtNVVy25fN_DU04nklYguJ4ysDzYwrB5vnlormsdaH6OGKmBtVnXKl8evnPc-CWi4fKFyPVhshuKk/s1600/ship_King_Haakon_Bay_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab7JSKUmewSKT9v6NWC5Z-4SVu4L0IJY-ADhxXlQov0DrsUmTdFr1XbQDaGOrHfYtNVVy25fN_DU04nklYguJ4ysDzYwrB5vnlormsdaH6OGKmBtVnXKl8evnPc-CWi4fKFyPVhshuKk/s200/ship_King_Haakon_Bay_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ship in King Haakon Bay<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnJvYewReyzMkWS8gxvI6Gz2AOlNKFlTQMMomUE2R7IxPXAEzEx9kb_CTuC0bADBMiaKn8kaLe3oqE2UvWRl31UKYP6BRWBdPdttvtmMjussoKRndiKhg1zc9tDTGzEoov5iQH0vq6_4/s1600/Mindy_Peggotty_Bluff_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnJvYewReyzMkWS8gxvI6Gz2AOlNKFlTQMMomUE2R7IxPXAEzEx9kb_CTuC0bADBMiaKn8kaLe3oqE2UvWRl31UKYP6BRWBdPdttvtmMjussoKRndiKhg1zc9tDTGzEoov5iQH0vq6_4/s200/Mindy_Peggotty_Bluff_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindy at Peggotty Bluff<br />(click to enlarge) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTfOPHsE63Q6cPUxEzSp_h2PLkTSJl58Lqu38W2olb_md0nzOYW5qzLIYLf3hPIPf9PtTGh3rvIsElx897L414YCwZ9PLmT0HUFOu8bwIf572wJGhdJvYr8QATuMoM71aPRuNaGwDB5g/s1600/King_Haakon_Bay_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTfOPHsE63Q6cPUxEzSp_h2PLkTSJl58Lqu38W2olb_md0nzOYW5qzLIYLf3hPIPf9PtTGh3rvIsElx897L414YCwZ9PLmT0HUFOu8bwIf572wJGhdJvYr8QATuMoM71aPRuNaGwDB5g/s200/King_Haakon_Bay_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Haakon Bay (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0038BqCy5_RdwJz7rdGv1FWU9SVeUWcnZj8q1v8QPXsaFDGXFhF-JwXrAm5XMEppJxO2Zpz5Zw-EJjrdtqaO8qVm1WV4GaeQuBZx1uRB44VE4QXOIK85_eeDU_iqfa4Bb_BTbT3osU90/s1600/Burnett_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0038BqCy5_RdwJz7rdGv1FWU9SVeUWcnZj8q1v8QPXsaFDGXFhF-JwXrAm5XMEppJxO2Zpz5Zw-EJjrdtqaO8qVm1WV4GaeQuBZx1uRB44VE4QXOIK85_eeDU_iqfa4Bb_BTbT3osU90/s320/Burnett_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burnett (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our landing site is near <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=King+Haakon+Bay,+South+Georgia+and+the+South+Sandwich+Islands&hl=en&ll=-54.241156,-36.912689&spn=0.686162,2.113495&sll=33.674211,-111.858454&sspn=0.977132,2.113495&oq=King+Haakon+Bay,+South+Georgia.&hnear=King+Haakon+Bay&t=m&z=10">Peggotty Bluff</a>, and is where Earnest Shackleton finally reached land with his small crew in a lifeboat (while the rest of his ship's crew were stranded on Elephant Island). He landed on the beach and had to hike across the mountains for 36 straight hours to get to the other side where a small whaling station was located. It took him 10 months to get back to Elephant Island to rescue his crew, but every member of his ship survived!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nSor9Ifgi5g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0Fk4PgpOwsfduQEk9-JONJS-9_tQq50thUJB4NCLlm2n7oKqBIewXVUBqxkxwqyvbbGsG0Ew3yEN_qJu7ItJmIUohTGQ9_vaR2x4WRX5fNnHYR4985gV5DJOAdVnR8DiaV5dN3ohO28/s1600/Peggotty_Rocks_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0Fk4PgpOwsfduQEk9-JONJS-9_tQq50thUJB4NCLlm2n7oKqBIewXVUBqxkxwqyvbbGsG0Ew3yEN_qJu7ItJmIUohTGQ9_vaR2x4WRX5fNnHYR4985gV5DJOAdVnR8DiaV5dN3ohO28/s200/Peggotty_Rocks_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pegotty Rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59EFumtesMzDeec0jdlsh-XVMO_iF1iIrfx1hsu_D0CGWHclVRmf8YveNmSjXxUF2VszRpf56_rKkB7x-o7Tkn2W73bafnmt9Kb92wMnV16E6vAfGR96zWF2HanmWJBNpQCLnOFqC5tU/s1600/TicTacToe_XO_SouthGeorgiaIslands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59EFumtesMzDeec0jdlsh-XVMO_iF1iIrfx1hsu_D0CGWHclVRmf8YveNmSjXxUF2VszRpf56_rKkB7x-o7Tkn2W73bafnmt9Kb92wMnV16E6vAfGR96zWF2HanmWJBNpQCLnOFqC5tU/s200/TicTacToe_XO_SouthGeorgiaIslands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tic-tac-toe-XOs (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKaxSfOIzNL0yTUzmFi1Wwdh05nM0otJfhpQupN-X-s_aRf0osEG6dq3kMIP9mDf7YX9uvoFS3Cu3HVEWf843PEBlVdCJQJvr0xig6eFKtHLusTj8BsLQ3zYRKTzwJbjZ5GsjHP1Mo-Q/s1600/Desert_varnish_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKaxSfOIzNL0yTUzmFi1Wwdh05nM0otJfhpQupN-X-s_aRf0osEG6dq3kMIP9mDf7YX9uvoFS3Cu3HVEWf843PEBlVdCJQJvr0xig6eFKtHLusTj8BsLQ3zYRKTzwJbjZ5GsjHP1Mo-Q/s200/Desert_varnish_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desert Varnish<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At Peggotty Bluff we were greeted by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Georgia_Shag">shags</a> nesting in the Tussock grass. About half of our group went on a geology hike up into the Cooper Bay turbidite rocks (mostly greywacke and some shales) (<i>I'm pretty sure she's just messing with us now - Ed.)</i>, and the other half walked along the beach over to a glacier. I, of ourse, went on the geology hike. Almost all of the rock outcrops have glacial striations on them (grooves carved in the rock by the underside of glaciers). We also found some interesting dark surfaces on certain rocks that looked like a shimmery oil sheen. There was much debate between different geologists as to whether this was "desert varnish" or not. I was in the camp that thought it was desert varnish. I was thinking of my good friend Dan Gilewitch and the great group of cadets we had looking at desert varnish and desert pavement in Death Valley back in 2008. They were all with me in spirit today!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7pDldnBU2xjGIZIKLQpOG4rwAnON2VsOkbtz2xdv6JRS5UArNRCZJ_1IGXo0zV_LnhQnYROMwcuPL8XJOeC0VLj2dZ7zKMKsXAlmnUeSuOnItvLMfBMdZHbh4C8kMQk1qjO8sQVvBSo/s1600/Braided_Glacial_outwash_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7pDldnBU2xjGIZIKLQpOG4rwAnON2VsOkbtz2xdv6JRS5UArNRCZJ_1IGXo0zV_LnhQnYROMwcuPL8XJOeC0VLj2dZ7zKMKsXAlmnUeSuOnItvLMfBMdZHbh4C8kMQk1qjO8sQVvBSo/s200/Braided_Glacial_outwash_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braided Glacial Outwash<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdbeJ9AIX8B9Pdwc5xVG604IEkImVj6R0wJD0a9fB3jXGSYjqTSJSrXf2m4bUMkC2pQor66RDfq9eaEcOq9PKRuEx-VMOvB7yHgAxE1XOkIWFOVrrUcrhH5welCcVT6ePTzbeyNEQcj0/s1600/Glacial_Striations_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdbeJ9AIX8B9Pdwc5xVG604IEkImVj6R0wJD0a9fB3jXGSYjqTSJSrXf2m4bUMkC2pQor66RDfq9eaEcOq9PKRuEx-VMOvB7yHgAxE1XOkIWFOVrrUcrhH5welCcVT6ePTzbeyNEQcj0/s200/Glacial_Striations_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glacial Striations<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Leading away from one large glacier was a wide, flat expanse of light grey sediments (small gravel and mud) with a braided stream running through. This is very characteristic of the terrain in front of a glacier. The meltwater feeds the stream, and the sediments have filled in the terrain to the point that the valley floor is flat (the stream is "braided" because it isn't strong enough to be cutting out a single stream bed) (<i>there's a hairdresser joke in there somewhere - Ed.)</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OLGYzzympSSnva9YdqMeYYomq88MmYwFShNdu9RxrTz2KtwEoXFtFofNqLLvASTLZ2BfShpbEY97F145LQNnK490deOaM2IKhXqAtbikP3aHX8oCLchx1jpZ7UkuYIr1ck11lrHRaQM/s1600/Hunter_King_Peng_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OLGYzzympSSnva9YdqMeYYomq88MmYwFShNdu9RxrTz2KtwEoXFtFofNqLLvASTLZ2BfShpbEY97F145LQNnK490deOaM2IKhXqAtbikP3aHX8oCLchx1jpZ7UkuYIr1ck11lrHRaQM/s200/Hunter_King_Peng_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Penguins (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLlj10cKpSw7Wre-MU_j3zOxVyLu_iDRHrC_nGlv0g0qHeS0fff6212-r90Z_yOpf3Wz2nttabXaDJCTMa3pjH6QGnhfimUJ143EazBjwo7KoA5J1qJn0OgLzT8YxvFJb50_7vhYyVI0/s1600/Fur_Seal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLlj10cKpSw7Wre-MU_j3zOxVyLu_iDRHrC_nGlv0g0qHeS0fff6212-r90Z_yOpf3Wz2nttabXaDJCTMa3pjH6QGnhfimUJ143EazBjwo7KoA5J1qJn0OgLzT8YxvFJb50_7vhYyVI0/s200/Fur_Seal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fur Seal (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Nearer to the beach, we saw king penguins, fur seals, elephant seals, gentoo penguins, and shags. All in all a delightful day, great views, great company, fresh air, and cool photos!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9Jg0RXszhNtTCd06Ece6RK3ijB_7DA-9mKaULNNc4SHj9UAWK-xLAraXUSJnXiMDzU29ljXRXg9uEsXFys9RXsS7yiuw7_73kB_zM3aqaCnA4IHbJZ6KJL7_bwOEmmFDofR8Q_0bb3Y/s1600/Gentoo_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9Jg0RXszhNtTCd06Ece6RK3ijB_7DA-9mKaULNNc4SHj9UAWK-xLAraXUSJnXiMDzU29ljXRXg9uEsXFys9RXsS7yiuw7_73kB_zM3aqaCnA4IHbJZ6KJL7_bwOEmmFDofR8Q_0bb3Y/s200/Gentoo_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gentoo Penguins (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW_ZVQND4TQ03yXAWlUUM-wp_lbfnWwigMER63olspaKqYp5fznl_7v4tUaSo4AaA_kdpcFqJfwxVxkaNUAq-MHsHsLqkwfkCzISBynHFt-Zp9R5E9Nh1rvEuieW_UhdIZ9AUPFBSJgE/s1600/Elephant_Seal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW_ZVQND4TQ03yXAWlUUM-wp_lbfnWwigMER63olspaKqYp5fznl_7v4tUaSo4AaA_kdpcFqJfwxVxkaNUAq-MHsHsLqkwfkCzISBynHFt-Zp9R5E9Nh1rvEuieW_UhdIZ9AUPFBSJgE/s200/Elephant_Seal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant Seal (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then it was back to the ship for a good night's sleep while our trusty crew sails us around the south/east tip of the island to see some awesome (<i>are there any other kind? - Ed.)</i> ophiolites (ancient ocean floor that has been sloughed up onto the surface by tectonic processes).<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPTrJyH09zMjoYDfnLebYI6ZV9ahkEPp61z3AKXzEV3fDMix6ih6ZsxvJ1q2K7mpsjkCN2h4Hr40v9fPes9gHwQa0d0GlcL5EOExdP2xosdfifj5-WH_uSLDUD7IwWrZHazP72dxYflI/s1600/Fur_Seal_Peggotty_Bluff_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPTrJyH09zMjoYDfnLebYI6ZV9ahkEPp61z3AKXzEV3fDMix6ih6ZsxvJ1q2K7mpsjkCN2h4Hr40v9fPes9gHwQa0d0GlcL5EOExdP2xosdfifj5-WH_uSLDUD7IwWrZHazP72dxYflI/s200/Fur_Seal_Peggotty_Bluff_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fur seal at Peggotty Bluff<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlH19-PuHWpfJPf4f8sUhcz_OcaeRBkgtnQXdig48qi9kyVKe-PBkJH8bAfSPaolWheQhVxB0ot_hIfc2l_-BZr9Fx8zIF8XQaCAMLqfXScTQodZHQqE_iapvG7lPS1zoubSpuMKuOcHo/s1600/Ike_as_Fur_Seal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlH19-PuHWpfJPf4f8sUhcz_OcaeRBkgtnQXdig48qi9kyVKe-PBkJH8bAfSPaolWheQhVxB0ot_hIfc2l_-BZr9Fx8zIF8XQaCAMLqfXScTQodZHQqE_iapvG7lPS1zoubSpuMKuOcHo/s200/Ike_as_Fur_Seal_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This fur seal reminded me of my dog<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-41488136021017730512013-01-02T22:11:00.002-07:002013-02-09T11:44:40.225-07:00Knowledge on the Waves (Updated with pix)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">From Mindy, dated 1 January:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhin8JgfZfvkiWTQRW3L2315Sc_7aGErAwrUbbXjWFDu15Fp42BFCy3iXIu8T3xhLwGJCoHrklqdF1mV19tMVflgCQHjZ6kt7tAhyMzqNYiSSXHDAjmxUSlnork3KRMw0D0R3PyHxcMC-I/s1600/Wind_approaching_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhin8JgfZfvkiWTQRW3L2315Sc_7aGErAwrUbbXjWFDu15Fp42BFCy3iXIu8T3xhLwGJCoHrklqdF1mV19tMVflgCQHjZ6kt7tAhyMzqNYiSSXHDAjmxUSlnork3KRMw0D0R3PyHxcMC-I/s200/Wind_approaching_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wind approaching S. Georgia Islands<br /> (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Happy New Year! We woke up to more smooth sailing. There is a monster <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">storm ahead of us, and we are going in the same direction, but happily at </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">too slow of a speed to catch up. This morning in the wee hours we crossed </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the polar front, where the water changes temperature rather rapidly from </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">about 7 C to about 3 C. At breakfast we were sailing in a southeast </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">direction at about 11 or 12 knots with no measurable winds. Air temp about </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6 C, water 3.2 C, 1007 on the barometer.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Another day at sea brings more learning and sharing. Ian Dalziel started <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the day talking about the origin of the Scotia arc and South Georgia Island. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Several of the islands are made up of ancient turbidite sequences (gigantic </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">rock slides and mud slides under water along coastlines that then get </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">solidified into rock). There are also some ophiolote sequences (several </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">different types of igneous rocks that get formed in mid-ocean ridges).</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> These are very exciting for geologists to get to see on dry land, and if we </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">are lucky we may get to visit the ophiolote side of South Georgia Island in </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">a couple of days!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
We heard from <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/hpb/Site.do?id=1051">Michael Moore</a> (no, not that one...) about whaling - how it is <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">done now, how it was done throughout history, how much it has been done and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">for which species. Some commercial whaling can be traced back to the year </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1050 (for E. Glacialis, which I think is the right whale). Now the only </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">countries that whale are Iceland, Korea, Japan, and the U.S. The primary </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">goal in the 1900s was the oil, not the meat (the meat was used for animal </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">feed). Now commercial whaling is more for the meat. We'll be visiting the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">remnants of a whaling station on South Georgia Island, although most of the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">structures have been removed for safety reasons (they were falling apart and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">had asbestos in them).</span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPOQrfn7qAtAPsMiDLYVfLxAyv_-VfPkCo5w7cK8mtSc_zooLCxv9gCQswVoMkdmU5WBdOqjkYtfcGT9lQNuPAJIB-AKaY0FK36_gwwqB5swfshyRyWnyNLtFwZaaA3DgGE-pMFldhYg/s1600/Dr_Alley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPOQrfn7qAtAPsMiDLYVfLxAyv_-VfPkCo5w7cK8mtSc_zooLCxv9gCQswVoMkdmU5WBdOqjkYtfcGT9lQNuPAJIB-AKaY0FK36_gwwqB5swfshyRyWnyNLtFwZaaA3DgGE-pMFldhYg/s200/Dr_Alley.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Alley (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Richard Alley gave another lecture, this time on sea level rise. He spoke a <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">lot about assessing the risk, and what we know and don't know about sea </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">levels in the future. One cool takeaway (literally) is to understand the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">precision with which glaciologists measure ice sheets...imagine you and I </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">meet back here again in one year, and I am going to say whether or not </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">you've gained weight equivalent to 1/3 of a potato chip (<i>yeah, sure, that's all I'm snacking on while you're gone - Ed)</i>. That's how </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">accurately we can measure glacial ice now.</span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<a href="http://www.scottdavisimages.com/#/gallery" target="_blank">Scott Davis</a>, a professional photographer from Moss Landing, CA, led a <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">photography workshop. He covered aperture settings, speed, and ISO. He </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">also had tips for wildlife photography in particular, like getting to know </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the behavior of your subject so you can anticipate good shots, know your </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">equipment before you get out there (I already failed that one), and change </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">things up to create interest (perspective, focus, off-center, leading </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">lines).</span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu_-jKU9H1L7rftSOv4sVcgHygTepxoz2-yIDr_4Mwe4_kKqNUf804hyPxT30Haz1cI1_wrCpQfhNkEGC7Y6fF2Y6mNASYI5UOHYW_KKVDCoNVw8rKqZsyEaJXLc9obeuKRHB0oul_Rk/s1600/Tim_Carr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu_-jKU9H1L7rftSOv4sVcgHygTepxoz2-yIDr_4Mwe4_kKqNUf804hyPxT30Haz1cI1_wrCpQfhNkEGC7Y6fF2Y6mNASYI5UOHYW_KKVDCoNVw8rKqZsyEaJXLc9obeuKRHB0oul_Rk/s200/Tim_Carr.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim Carr (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tim and Pauline Carr spoke again about their time living on South Georgia <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Island. Very fascinating couple! And they shared photos from some amazing </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">adventures, like when they nearly single-handedly saved a church from being </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">destroyed, trained with and hiked with military forces on the island, and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">curated a museum for the island. My description doesn't do it justice, but </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">their story is amazing!</span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
Next Tom Murphy gave part 2 of his photography workshop. He shared many of <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">his wildlife and nature photos and described to us how he set up the photo </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and what techniques he used to get that great shot. Some easy tips - to get </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">snow to show up moving instead of single specks, use a speed of</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://5" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" x-apple-data-detectors-result="5" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">1/15</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">or </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">slower. For water movement, use 1/4 pr slower. When you have two animals in </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">a picture, focus on the one in front, not the back (if the one in front is </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">blurry it is a distraction, but if the one in back is blurry it gives the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">photo depth). Lastly if you want the moon in a photo, the best day to do it </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">is 2 days before or 2 days after the full moon (the photo will turn out </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">better and the moon looks less fake). (<i>And when your thumb is covering the cell phone lens, blame your wife. - Ed.)</i></span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
We ended the day with <a href="http://www.rgvbf.org/speaker/jim-danzenbaker/">Jim Danzenbaker</a> giving a talk about King Penguins. We <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">will see them in the morning, and it will be nice to know some of their </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">characteristics. Did you know that King Penguins are the 2nd tallest </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">penguins in the world? They are 1 meter tall and have foot-long fins. They </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">have been measured diving up to 300 meters deep (although most stay about 50 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">meters deep when they dive)! If they want to they can move at about 12-15 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">km/hr. We may be able to see an "egg exchange" between a male and female - </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">these exchanges can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 10 hours depending on </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">how experienced the parents are. What we'll look for is a dirty penguin </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">with a bump under its tummy (is guarding an egg between its legs and hasn't </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">eaten or moved for 18 or more days) standing next to a fat and clean penguin </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(just came back from hunting and eating in the ocean) (<i>better known as the South Georgian production of "The Odd Couple" - Ed.)</i>. We hope to see some </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">of these tomorrow during our landing!</span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4nQHMjAKjXs7DMMnMB4dLvFdhZhG2Zg3dMZE2oi-O9sQiGCDueaR4KJ5BuDSV09YdDHsdx1SHsh4vj_XGHOcP1nwKP7RgMNdD4Pf0QxynEDn0oj7OttKMDKbwUKYAWO6UQCrY96wZU4/s1600/Darcy_spots_land_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4nQHMjAKjXs7DMMnMB4dLvFdhZhG2Zg3dMZE2oi-O9sQiGCDueaR4KJ5BuDSV09YdDHsdx1SHsh4vj_XGHOcP1nwKP7RgMNdD4Pf0QxynEDn0oj7OttKMDKbwUKYAWO6UQCrY96wZU4/s200/Darcy_spots_land_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darcy spots land (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pAz6pi7DCI90Sz5uVVRJnQaS8IHf2HZ293c7bH0RPZzr-ZduWj9_72fkxB2i-A3nbU4qatRfXa-yPnegljYXEFoiAFArhwAaHFppqBIbQRNU8r3sHe05qFoi2uaHEVokmoavquKbrB8/s1600/Land_Ho_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pAz6pi7DCI90Sz5uVVRJnQaS8IHf2HZ293c7bH0RPZzr-ZduWj9_72fkxB2i-A3nbU4qatRfXa-yPnegljYXEFoiAFArhwAaHFppqBIbQRNU8r3sHe05qFoi2uaHEVokmoavquKbrB8/s200/Land_Ho_South_Georgia_Islands.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Land Ho! (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Stay tuned to find out about our next landing! We still have to cruise a <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ways to get to South Georgia Island, but by lunchtime we should be there. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> And because of the weather it looks like we can land on the west side of </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the island! Very rare treat, indeed, because usually the weather prevents </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ships from going on this side. </span></div>
</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103852420644719080.post-11768645374437095352013-01-02T15:52:00.000-07:002013-01-02T15:52:13.315-07:00Behave, You Two...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>(I'll temporarily interrupt Mindy's posts to bring this item, which I'll file under "countries behaving badly" Ed.)</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="blog-hed" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="translateHead" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<h1 style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin: -0.2em 0px 7px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 35px; word-spacing: -2px;">http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/01/02/argentina_blasts_britain_over_islands_and_antarctica</span></span></h1>
<div>
<a href="http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/01/02/argentina_blasts_britain_over_islands_and_antarctica" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 2.917em; letter-spacing: -0.04em; line-height: 35px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; word-spacing: -0.06em;" title="Argentina blasts Britain over islands and Antarctica">Argentina blasts Britain over islands and Antarctica</a></div>
</div>
<h2 style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.01em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; word-spacing: -0.02em;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="post_by" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Posted By <a href="http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/blog/68" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Joshua Keating</a> </span><img class="meta_block" src="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/images/091022_meta_block.gif" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; margin: 0px 3px -3px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /> <span class="post_date" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px;">Wednesday, January 2, 2013 - 2:19 PM</span> <img src="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/images/091022_meta_block.gif" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; margin: 0px 3px -3px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /> <a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=20" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/images/091022_more_icon.gif" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; margin: 0px 3px -3px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /><span class="more_top" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Share</span></a></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="blog_body" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.135em !important; margin: 20px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="translateBody" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="graphic-well" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: -5px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<img src="http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/files/antarctica.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1f1f1f; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron published in the British media today, Argentine President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/02/cristina-fernandez-kirchner-letter-cameron" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">attacks </a>Britain's claim on the Falklands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas: </div>
<blockquote style="background-color: #f8fefe; background-image: url(http://www.foreignpolicy.com/images/091022_quote_block_back.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 10px 5px 15px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 20px 15px 4px 32px;">
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1f1f1f; line-height: 1.2em !important; margin-bottom: 0.8em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
One hundred and eighty years ago on the same date, January 3rd, in a blatant exercise of 19th-century colonialism, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/argentina" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Argentina">Argentina</a> was forcibly stripped of the Malvinas Islands, which are situated 14,000km (8700 miles) away from London.</div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1f1f1f; line-height: 1.2em !important; margin-bottom: 0.8em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
The Argentines on the Islands were expelled by the Royal Navy and the United Kingdom subsequently began a population implantation process similar to that applied to other territories under colonial rule. Since then, Britain, the colonial power, has refused to return the territories to the Argentine Republic, thus preventing it from restoring its territorial integrity.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1f1f1f; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
The Brits have a different version of that history, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/02/argentina-britain-hand-back-falklands?intcmp=239" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">reports the <i style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Guardian</i></a>: </div>
<blockquote style="background-color: #f8fefe; background-image: url(http://www.foreignpolicy.com/images/091022_quote_block_back.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 10px 5px 15px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 20px 15px 4px 32px;">
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1f1f1f; line-height: 1.2em !important; margin-bottom: 0.8em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
The FCO also disputes Fernández's claim that Britain kicked out the island's original Argentinian inhabitants. It says there was no civilian population on the island in 1833, with the Royal Navy expelling an Argentine military garrison that had arrived three months earlier. "We can't talk about sovereignty unless and until the Falkland islanders agree to it," the FCO said.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1f1f1f; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Fernandez's latest broadside comes two weeks after Argentina <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/02/argentina-britain-hand-back-falklands?intcmp=239" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">made a formal complaint </a>over Britain's decision to name a<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20757382" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"> large swathe of Antarctica</a> after the queen. Queen Elizabeth Land -- which is nearly twice the size of the U.K., falls within what London considers British territory, but Argentina claims part of it as well. </div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1f1f1f; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
The 1959 Antarctic Treaty<a href="http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/antarct/anttrty.jsp" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"> isn't much use on this one </a>-- it forbids new territorial claims on the continent but doesn't renounce or make any judgment on previous ones. Both Argentina and Chile have overlapping claims with Britain and the foreign ministry in Buenos Aires attacked the naming move for "anachronistic imperialist ambitions that hark back to ancient practices". </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638922037593179601noreply@blogger.com0