January 23 - Half Moon Island, Antarctica
This next bit is from my journal 4 years ago.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Half Moon Island, Antarctica
The air is redolent with penguin poop!!! The day is beautiful, no wind, temperatures of about 38 to 40 degrees, with some sunshine. Weather. We are in the red group and the second to debark to the island. Zodiac ride from ship to shore should be very calm.
Organized all of the clothing last evening, so just have to be certain of the order of layers to be worn. We each have two basic under layers, Getting into the "under armor" is like getting into an old fashioned girdle - takes lots of energy and is way too much clothing for indoors. After the two basic layers, we add on waterproof / windproof pants, a fleece vest. I've added a balaclava, which is a fleece circular scarf for around my neck, and a wool hat.
. . . and we're not done yet! Next is the quilted under jacket, and the outer expedition jacket in bright orange and grey. On the left arm we fasten a red plastic arm band that holds our room key / identification information. This is scanned when we leave and return to the ship.
Zippered pockets are everywhere in our expedition outerwear. All clothing must be zipped up with hood on, when we arrive at the debarkation lounge where a life vest is added - one that will automatically inflate if you land in the water. Life vest on, we move on to the outer room where numbered cages that correspond to our suite numbers hold our boots. Off come the normal shoes that we've squeezed on over two pair of heavy socks, shoes go into the cage and tall rubber boots go on. There are crew members there to help us climb into the boots. Have so many clothes on, can hardly bend over! We are now ready to board the zodiac.
Before we board the zodiac, we step into an antiseptic bath to be certain the boots do not bring any unwanted bacteria on to the pristine island.
We've been instructed on the proper arm grasp - the sailor's grasp - hand to arm. There is a crew or expedition member on each side of us as we are handed into the zodiac. It is an extreme pleasure to get out into the cooler air, because with all of the clothing we now are beginning to sweat. It is cool out on the water - nice!
Organized all of the clothing last evening, so just have to be certain of the order of layers to be worn. We each have two basic under layers, Getting into the "under armor" is like getting into an old fashioned girdle - takes lots of energy and is way too much clothing for indoors. After the two basic layers, we add on waterproof / windproof pants, a fleece vest. I've added a balaclava, which is a fleece circular scarf for around my neck, and a wool hat.
. . . and we're not done yet! Next is the quilted under jacket, and the outer expedition jacket in bright orange and grey. On the left arm we fasten a red plastic arm band that holds our room key / identification information. This is scanned when we leave and return to the ship.
Zippered pockets are everywhere in our expedition outerwear. All clothing must be zipped up with hood on, when we arrive at the debarkation lounge where a life vest is added - one that will automatically inflate if you land in the water. Life vest on, we move on to the outer room where numbered cages that correspond to our suite numbers hold our boots. Off come the normal shoes that we've squeezed on over two pair of heavy socks, shoes go into the cage and tall rubber boots go on. There are crew members there to help us climb into the boots. Have so many clothes on, can hardly bend over! We are now ready to board the zodiac.
Before we board the zodiac, we step into an antiseptic bath to be certain the boots do not bring any unwanted bacteria on to the pristine island.
We've been instructed on the proper arm grasp - the sailor's grasp - hand to arm. There is a crew or expedition member on each side of us as we are handed into the zodiac. It is an extreme pleasure to get out into the cooler air, because with all of the clothing we now are beginning to sweat. It is cool out on the water - nice!
Today's weather is sunny with lots of blue skies. Spectacular snow covered islands against deep blue ocean and light blue skies. Temperatures are supposed to be below freezing - yes, it is cold!! Luckily, there is no wind. Today we are in the last group ashore and will begin our landing at 2:00 p.m, provided there are no delays. We can only hope and pray that weather conditions stay the same. Photo opportunities should be awesome.
Preparing kayaks.
At least the first round of kayaking has been cancelled due to high winds - it is not safe for guests to be out and about in a kayak in this remote area, with such cold water!!!
Preparing kayaks.
At least the first round of kayaking has been cancelled due to high winds - it is not safe for guests to be out and about in a kayak in this remote area, with such cold water!!!
The views from my balcony have drawn John and Sandi up to my suite and I'm still in my pajamas and robe!! Oh, well - it's family!!
After a quick lunch, caught a 40-minute nap and jumped into my
clothing for our jaunt on to Half Moon Island. The weather today has steadily declined. From our very sunny morning, the skies have continually greyed, but it is not raining. I don't mind the grey skies. However, the blue skies make for much more beautiful photos. Oh, well, just so happy to be here!
John and Sandi did a long walk out to the point to see seals and sea lions, and after a short walk, I just stood at a high point and kept turning a few steps every few minutes. Everywhere I looked there was beauty - I mean BEAUTY! Sometimes, it is recommended that one puts down the camera and just absorbs the beauty that God created. There seems to be so much more ice and snow here since the last time Adolfo and I were here in 2015.
Note the baby chick at 9:00 in the photo - all brown with baby feathers
The chinstrap penguins are so cute - and there are tons of them! They flourish on Half Moon Island.
Half Moon Island is one of the most beautiful sites in the South Shetlands. Sharp craggy slabs of rock covered in brilliant orange, yellow and black lichens provide nesting sites for Chinstrap penguins that have some of the best views around. Glacier-covered Livingston Island is visible from most points of the island. A large, active Chinstrap penguin colony (over 3,000 breeding pairs) is the main attraction and there is an Antarctic cormorant colony on the southern tip of the island. Antarctic terns, Kelp gulls, Snowy sheathbills and usually a few Weddell seals are also found on shore. Nesting skuas will make themselves known to those who cross over into their territory. Later in the season, Antarctic fur seals and Southern elephant seals will haul out and rest on the beaches. Camara Station, run by the Argentines, is situated in the middle of the island. This small base, established in 1953 was underutilized and largely abandoned for many years, but is now occupied for most of the summer season.
I will remember my time without a camera today - the beauty is indelibly imprinted on my brain! My fervent wish is for everyone to have the Antarctic experience.
PS: Hey! Let me know if you are reading my posts. If you can't make a comment on the post, then send me an email! Thanks!!
Purloined Pix!! I have permission of Goldring Travel to share photos from his blog. Great photos - Thank You, Eric Goldring!!
After a quick lunch, caught a 40-minute nap and jumped into my
clothing for our jaunt on to Half Moon Island. The weather today has steadily declined. From our very sunny morning, the skies have continually greyed, but it is not raining. I don't mind the grey skies. However, the blue skies make for much more beautiful photos. Oh, well, just so happy to be here!
John and Sandi did a long walk out to the point to see seals and sea lions, and after a short walk, I just stood at a high point and kept turning a few steps every few minutes. Everywhere I looked there was beauty - I mean BEAUTY! Sometimes, it is recommended that one puts down the camera and just absorbs the beauty that God created. There seems to be so much more ice and snow here since the last time Adolfo and I were here in 2015.
Note the baby chick at 9:00 in the photo - all brown with baby feathers
The chinstrap penguins are so cute - and there are tons of them! They flourish on Half Moon Island.
Half Moon Island is one of the most beautiful sites in the South Shetlands. Sharp craggy slabs of rock covered in brilliant orange, yellow and black lichens provide nesting sites for Chinstrap penguins that have some of the best views around. Glacier-covered Livingston Island is visible from most points of the island. A large, active Chinstrap penguin colony (over 3,000 breeding pairs) is the main attraction and there is an Antarctic cormorant colony on the southern tip of the island. Antarctic terns, Kelp gulls, Snowy sheathbills and usually a few Weddell seals are also found on shore. Nesting skuas will make themselves known to those who cross over into their territory. Later in the season, Antarctic fur seals and Southern elephant seals will haul out and rest on the beaches. Camara Station, run by the Argentines, is situated in the middle of the island. This small base, established in 1953 was underutilized and largely abandoned for many years, but is now occupied for most of the summer season.
I will remember my time without a camera today - the beauty is indelibly imprinted on my brain! My fervent wish is for everyone to have the Antarctic experience.
PS: Hey! Let me know if you are reading my posts. If you can't make a comment on the post, then send me an email! Thanks!!
Purloined Pix!! I have permission of Goldring Travel to share photos from his blog. Great photos - Thank You, Eric Goldring!!
Enjoying the sights and the descriptions. Thanks. (We're missing you at Breakie, but are glad you're having such a great time!) Hi to John and Sandi!! Looking forward to hearing their impressions when they get back. Jim Boitano
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