The rudder repair only took about a day and a half, so we didn't lose
very much time. We have been back at work for the last 5 days and are
close to completing sampling for the first leg. After completing
sampling we will pick up some people and trash from one of the field
camps (Cape Shirref on Livingston Island) then head back to Punta
Arenas. If the weather is good, the crossing should take about 3 days.
Around 14:00 GMT, 30 January, near 62�30.3 S 059�29.9 W, we passed a 50
foot sailboat from Poland. I have several times thought that I am glad
to be on a bigger boat in these waters. We have also seen several cruise
ships which sort of ruins the feeling of being in the wilderness.
Today I got some good photos of a wandering albatross which is among the
largest-winged of the world's flying birds. Two days ago we I had a good
view of two humpback whales. There are always between 5 and 50 cape
Petrels following our boat. Typically we also see several Great Petrels,
White-chinned Petrels, Southern Fulmars, and a few other tube-noses.
The chief scientist writes weekly reports which are published on the
NOAA website. I don't have the URL, but if you go to lajolla.noaa.gov
(no www) then click on "antarctic research division" on the bottom left
you should find a link for the weekly reports.
That's too bad about the cruise ships. It makes me think of Christopher McCandless from Into the Wild, who had to create his own frontier by setting out in the wilds of Alaska without a map, appropriate provisions, etc. No corner on earth is untouched by man, so he had to create his own 'uncharted' territory.
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite line from your blog so far is "...we will pick up some people and trash..." I think that should have been your blog entry header. V. funny. :)