Darn. Another 5 AM morning to get a good view of the 'Tabular Icebergs' as we cruised up and down a place called 'Antarctic Sound". When we drew the curtains this morning there was a series of gigantic flat-topped icebergs parading by our window. Some as big as a five or 10 acre parcel of land, rising hundreds of feet above the sea level. One was reported as being over 100 meters high. That means there could be another 800 meters minimum, below the water for a total depth of just under a kilometre!
This is fresh water from a glacier that slid into the water in a sheet and did not break off but formed an Ice Shelf. Eventually they break off in various sizes. There is one that broke off that was the size of Belgium. I don't know how big Belgium is but you must admit that is pretty darn big!
The air this morning was at times a bit harsh and with the wind, that varies with direction of travel and other factors can be brutal, at times. Many folks looked like lost Arctic explorers.
We had a sit-down leisurely breakfast at 8:00 and did not get out into the air until nine. As this is our last day in the ice I believe people wanted to get the most out of the morning and experience the sight and feel of the Antarctic for the last time, possibly forever.
We had a later lunch and at 1:00 it started to snow. That event caused a bit of a stir amongst the crew, most of whom live in lands that never experience cold, let alone snow. They all wanted a photo of them with snow flakes on them to send home to family and friends I can only imagine.
Soon the snow was gone and so were the icebergs, except for the odd lonely berg being pushed by wind and wave as we slowly sailed northward to the Falkland Islands where we are hopeful of landing by Tender on Saturday, weather permitting.
Serious walkers.
It is very, vey hard to judge the size and also the distance we are from those bergs.
Inside for a warm up and photo.
This is an operating Argentinian Station that has about 40 people on it and 10,000 penguins. The smell is atrocious. They have a school here for a few kids as well. I believe the purpose of the school etc. is for them to establish their sovereignty over the Antarctic. The border disputes are not over, they are just put to one side as a result of the Treaty signed by most nations to not develop the place. Scientific Research is the name of the game here.
Penguins. Like fleas on a dog's belly! Not far from the station.
Don't ask me how they got up there.
Hmmmmm.
Now that is really getting the finger.
Just after breakfast, before we got bundled up for our walk.
Ice, ice, everywhere.
A surprise snowfall at lunchtime was a fitting goodbye to Antarctica.
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