February 2013

As you will see from the chart, it is changing quite rapidly at this time of year and it won’t be long before we start getting proper darkness at night. As we move further south whilst we are laying the depot the nights will obviously get longer.

When in surroundings such as many of us involved with this expedition have experienced over the last few weeks, it’s easy to let one’s mind wander with abstract thoughts, promoted by the immensity of this landscape. Here’s some thoughts and visions that prompted me to producing a piece writing. Hopefully penned in the same vein as one of my favourite books about the North – Arctic Dreams by Barry…

By Geoff Long, on board SA Agulhas. We’ve been steaming steadily north at 11 knots for over a day now, the pack was kind to us and we’ve left behind the gentle rolling carpet of sea ice, escaping its grasp easily, reaching open water after only 30 miles. Now sailing through calm grey seas, the magical world of colourful ice, crevasses and penguins whilst still relatively near, seems so far away.

Since we arrived at the ice edge a couple of weeks ago, our work here has concentrated on getting all of our kit out from the various ship’s holds and hidey holes and onto the ice. As equipment was craned ashore it was whisked away by our myriad of helpers, scurrying busily like so many oompah loompahs (though considerably more attractive), and deposited at one of three main work sites. Firstly,…

The ship has finally sailed and left the six of us with nowhere to run (ski/drive/follow) other than South. I have been waiting for this moment for ages now and it seemed as if it was never going to happen for a while. Thinking back to September in the lashing UK rain, being flooded out stuck in the corner of the Finning car park, Brian and myself were certainly very doubtful that we would hav…

The good thing about ships is that they encourage natural order. As soon as you get back to sea, the crew settle immediately into their responsibilities. Unfinished business and external influences become muted and everyone immediately attends to watch keeping duties, or, by securing ropes and loose items prepares the ship for a return to the open se…a. As it is Sunday, the Captain’s inspection…

There are certain moments in life that are so hard to describe that it is almost futile to try. What happened here just a couple of hours ago was one of those moments. Last night’s party was a great oc…casion but this morning the stark reality of what was about to happen overwhelmed everything else. Farewells were extremely hard as friends that had helped so much to get us this far offered…

Yesterday saw the culmination of all the outstanding tasks which we, on the ship, had to perform. The last drums were unloaded; debris and unwanted equipment were taken back to the ship from the Ice Group’s stout encampment hal…f way up the hill; last minute items were transferred back and forth until there was really nothing else that we could do. Last on board was our trusty vehic…

Dear All, We apologise for the lack of updates since Saturday but we have been experiencing technical difficulties with the website which were completely beyond our control. These are hopefully all sorted now and you will be reading this with no problems. The worst thing is that since the website crashed so much has happened on the ice. The offload is over and the Ice Team are now alone. I w…

By Jill Bowring. There has been a strange shifting of feelings aboard over the last few days. Things had been going well with unloading continuing throughout the long sun-drenched days surrounded by sparkling seas and snow. Admittedly there were problems that came to light, but they were being solved or at least being put into a suitable (sometimes questioned) place on the priority list. Eac…