We arrived back in Ushuaia, Argentina yesterday.  Our crossing was brutal for the first 2 days then settled down for the last 2 and a half.  While we have been at sea I have been sending short email updates to my son for posting on this site.  I have been unable to post photos until now.  Traveling today back to Houston.

I will begin posting photos of the amazing places and things we have seen along the way, just to prove we really did this.  Even our adventurer skipper and biologist first mate saw things they haven't seen before in their extensive travels (which includes stays in the Arctic and Antarctica of more than a year at a time.  More on this latter.

Our journey photos will follow when I can get to my computer.  Here a a couple of average shots!

Arriving at the Peninsula.

Anchorage at Argentinian 'science' station.

CHAPTER XIV.


Date: 3 March, 6:00am
Location: 55° 51.54' S, 66° 13.38' W

Leaving Drake Passage now.  Just off night watch.  Clear sky, milky way from horizon to horizon.  Expect arrival in Ushuaia about midnight.  Will stay on boat this last night then pack up and go to hotel in the morning.

CHAPTER XIII.


Date: 2 March
Location: Lat 58° 01' S, 65° 31' W

Wind 20 knots, still motoring.  Weather clear, seas calm.  Not much else to report.  I have been a bit seasick, but not badly.  Desperately awaiting real shower in Ushuaia.  Looks like we will make landfall at Beagle Channel about mid afternoon tomorrow(Saturday).

CHAPTER XII.

Date: 1 March
Location: Drake Passage

Calm seas, motoring into headwind.  Still looks like Saturday arrival in Argentina.

CHAPTER XI.

Date: 27 February
Location: 64° 19.239' S, 62° 54.981' W (Melchior Islands)

Last day at this anchorage before entering the Drake Passage.  Weather looks good with optimum wind; However, we will be sailing into the wind, so the ride will be bumpy.  Grant and Pascal are pleased with the outlook, but Pascal has been going around the berths installing the harnesses that prevent sleeping passengers from being thrown out of their bunks.

Today we are making meals for the crossing and preparing our areas so stuff doesn't go flying.

Out of rum.  Ate weakest crew member yesterday.

Sending emails while sailing may be a problem.  I may miss an update before our expected arrival in Beagle channel on Saturday.

CHAPTER X.

Date: 25 February

Location: 64° 19.237' S, 62° 54.981' W (Anchored at Omega Island)

Waiting for weather window for the 500 mile Drake Passage crossing north.  We expect to be here two nights then head out, weather permitting.

I will begin posting photos to prove we did this on March 4th.  Another cold day but with first cloud we have seen in a week.  Uneventful sailing day, but have minor medial issue with one of passengers.  Doug (60 year old Aussie) believes he has an abscess tooth.  He has been in considerable pain and we are considering options, which include requesting help from cruise ship.  We have a nurse on board and a supply of various antibiotics.  Someone who shall not be named supplied a Vicodin dose and it did wonders.  In any case we are happy this passenger is sedated (long story).

Our nightly routine is to send kayaks out to collect glacier ice for drinks.  So far my supply of Appleton Dark rum has been the best received.  Nothing says sailing like rum, even in Antarctica.

Our skipper, who I now believe is Superman, pointed out he mountain he climbed.  He is one of only ?? people to have climbed this peak, but the only person to snow board down.  He and his wife also showed us two of their children's puppet videos that they produced, and they are awesome.  By the way, when discussing options for ailing passenger, our first mate recounted her experience drilling a persons tooth and replacing a filling.  If necessary, they could  easily remove an appendix.  These people are not like us.

I learned something today.  Aussies never say "throw another shrimp on the barbie".  The exclusively say prawn.  Also, notwithstanding the Foster's Lager ads, apparently no one in Australia drinks it.  But to be honest, this sounds like the observation that 'no one goes to that restaurant any more, it is too crowded."

Amazing adventure so, far.  I could write a book.

Bob

[note from the editor]  I can confirm from travels in Australia and New Zealand that indeed, nobody appears to drink Foster's.

CHAPTER IX.

Date: 22 February

Location: 64° 54.179' S, 62° 51.907' W 

Weather continues to be fine, but  cold.  Highlight for boat today was leopard seal catching and eating a penguin.  Missed this one with camera.  French boat still shadowing us.  Kind of like those freeloaders that follow paid tour groups at a discrete distance.

Last night we were terrorized by an iceberg until sunset (10PM).  After many attempts to reposition anchor, we finally settled on lasoing the iceberg and lashing it to a shore structure about 100 feet away.  This iceberg was approximately the size of a garage.  Great fun.  These anchor watches are

getting old.

We have an Aussie crew member on board who loves to cook.  This morning: scones, tea and coffee. Awesome.

We will stay at this anchorage one more day then sail for Port Lockroy.  After that we head back North to Ushuaia and home.

Verdict so far - Amazing scenery and wildlife.  For my crew mates, I am a bit leery about describing them just yet.  But many very interesting characters. Working as crew is demanding.