Day Six - LAND!!!!

The boat is alive again. The last few days have been a bit of a ghost town around the ship. This morning, with the announcement of land in the horizon, everyone was up, awake, and ready to do something! Mind you, we’re only going to do a quick half day in one harbor but we’ll all take it. This will also be our first attempt to do some kayaking. Shame that it was horrible. 30 knot winds, strong tidal surge. Needless to say we didn’t stay out for long. For as hard as my kayak companion, Melody, and I tried, we couldn’t get the darn thing deep into the harbor nor far from shore. That’s ok because it allowed us to check the rest of Deception Island. What an odd site this landing is. There are a few old buildings left over from when people use to bring tons of whales here to be stripped for their fat and turned into oil. Antarctica is drier than the Sahara Desert. This actually is a good thing because that means wood and metal don’t break down. Items left here from the 1900s are still in very good condition. The beach really is a living museum to a time long since gone.

From Antarctica

From Antarctica

From Antarctica

Polar plunge day! I was expecting that the plunge would take place out the side of the boat some day later in the trip but nope. Right before we are done with this landing everyone is given the chance to strip down, run into the surf and feel the nice warm waters of this area. Final count was 19 I believe. Some people didn't get their head wet so they had to do it again! Poor people. And no, if you're wearing a drysuit and jump in, you don't count. Weak ;)

From Antarctica