(Cause I'm in Antarctica??)
Another day at Sea!
Returning from our Eclipse anchorage had us in the awful ocean that had 10m waves (32 feet) and 60 knot winds and a tauntingly clear sky (seriously, the clearing up was just….Nature has a sense of humor doesn’t she?) And we were slowed significantly but there was still the hope that we would make it to Danger Island (Heroina Island) today for a landing. And the seas do seem significantly calmer when I wake up this morning around 5 (because reasons) and we know, Danger Island is a late afternoon sort of landing so I’m gonna type up that post. (And as a point of clarification, literally *every* boat failed to see Totality. I think a camp ON Antarctica of like….10 people? Saw it, and they’re actual scientists so- at least someone saw it. I’m disappointed, but it’s not crushing. It’s mild, even while it’s this fresh. So. Don’t worry about me.) So I’m plugging away, enjoying time in bed and doing whatever else, and it’s starting to get later in the morning when *Beep*
*Beep* *beeeep.* *Attention. Code Bravo in Steering Room Left, Deck 01.* Or something to that effect. A few more beeps and “Code Bravos” and one of the Codes says “Code Bravo: Fire” and me and Cricket look at each other because we’re both chilling and she says, “Maybe I should put on some pants….” Cause we’re not doing anything, but we’re starting to wonder like….that’s not the “head to the lifeboats’ signal, but should we be ready for one…? Then the breakfast happening downstairs is cancelled because of the alarm and everyone is ushered elsewhere (according to the announcements and the apologies from the staff), the captain is stopping the boat and……..
Nothing. So we head to the lecture by Dr. C. Alex Young on the 2017 eclipse and “what’s next” (what’s next is I’m going to Australia in 2023 to see the next Total Solar Eclipse) and the emergency lights are still flashing! But they’re not in the theatre so….whatever, I guess?
But then, not even 5 minutes into the lecture, the captain comes on with the announcement, tells us the fire was no big deal, it was really just smoke in a hard to reach place, but it’s been taken care of and we’ll get the boat moving again soon. By this time, we’ve probably been stopped for an hour or more by now. Whatever time we thought we were getting to Danger Island? Ha. nope.
But you know, hard to argue with having to shut the engines down for such a safety concern so whatever. And the captain decides to skip Danger Island and we’re heading straight to the Peninsula!
REAL CONTINENT LANDING.
That’s the plan! So we’re going to spend the day at sea to get to the Peninsula instead.
Honestly?
HELL YEAH.
So the day is lectures again and naps and lunch and dinner and a show.
(Lectures were the Young lecture (also it’s his birthday! Say happy belated or something on *his* blog! Thesuntoday.com) and two by the Naturalists team (on Penguins and Drake Passage and the weather) )
Not a lot to report today after the morning fun, but it’s hopefully the set-up for a great day tomorrow!
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