The Far Side of Antarctica Continued
At sea: December 30, 2007
Many people stayed up very late last night, either celebrating our visits to the Amery Ice Shelf, Amanda bay and Davis Station, or they were just reluctant to let go of the ice and this beautiful part of Antarctica. Even though we have been aboard for almost a month, none of us is really ready to leave, as this place is truly addictive.
I woke early and were were back in ice again. We had quite thick ice floes all around us. Some of these really shook us when the ship broke through them. By 9 AM the stalwarts were out on the bow watching for pack ice and wildlife. They were rewarded for their vigilance. We saw several solitary Emperor Penguins, a Minke whale, and many other birds - Giant Petrels, Snow Petrels and beautiful Southern Fulmars.
The education program got underway at 10 AM with a photography presentation. Afterward Jonas announced that we would be recrossing the Antarctic Circle shortly, so champagne was brought to the bow. We toasted the crossing, while Daisy took a group photograph from the fly bridge.
Although art class resumed after lunch, the ship was fairly quite, as most of us were taking well-earned naps. Norm told us about the shore-beach process during his 5 o'clock presentation.
The daily recap session began with Bob's explanation of the naming of Davis Station. John King Davis was the captain on the ship that brought Douglas Mawson to Antarctica. Bob also confirmed that Mawson Base is the oldest continuously manned base in Antarctica.
Kara talked about the 2 elephant seals we had encountered at Davis Station. She explained that elephant seals had been tracked to 77 S, which is much further south than we had been on this voyage. Elephant seals can mate and give birth on the fast ice.
Akos took us back to Amanda Bay, reminding us that the chicks we saw were much farther ahead with their molt than the ones we saw at Auster rookery. He observed that this may be because the ice is breaking up in front of the Amanda Bay rookery. The chick's parents did not have as far to go to feed the chicks, thus they were better fed and matured earlier.
Norm provided insight into the rocks we had seen at Mawson and Davis Stations. He also pointed out that we have seen our last rocks, apart from ice, until we arrive at Fremantle.