Day 12 – 7 January 2013. Whalers Bay, Deception Island Caldera.

Happy Birthday to Emma.

Early call at 6.00am, following a fairly rock night, in which I slept very soundly. Rugged up a bit to go to bow to watch entry to Deception Island via Neptune’s Bellows, with Neptune’s Window off to the right. It is all very volcanic. Once inside the entrance , we can clearly see the old whaling station.

This is the second last of our landings today (fingers crossed) Great landing at Deception Island – Whaler’s Bay, Port Foster.

An abandones whaling station and British research station. We landed in the crater of the volcano which last erupted in 69/70, the ground was ash and rocks, very easy walking. We walked up to Neptune’s window, past wrecks of old water boats, some whale bones and lots of Skuas. The view from Neptune’s window was great, with view of Port Foster and back out to sea over Bransfield Strait and Kroner’s Lake and the Whaling Station.

The winds were quite strong and we had sleet/snow/ice blowing horizontally at times.

We were called back to the ship early as the winds on the beach were too strong. Mary and I were last back we weren’t troubled at all as we went the opposite way to everyone else. We also saw some penguins. Alan suggested we did our hands into the ash beach near the waters edge, the soil was warm and so was the water about 15cm down, quite amazing. Also saw a brittle starfish washed up on beach and a krill and some other larvae of a tubefish.

The massive oil tanks and other paraphernalia the whalers needed to boil the blubber etc are huge and must been shipped in pieces and built on the Island.

Really enjoyed the excursion.

Due to the high winds that was our last landing, now drugging up for the passage home seems its gonna be a bit rough and the ship will ‘corkscrew’ to Ushuaia.

Up to the bar to clean camera and finish cuppa. Lots of action taking place around the ship, with zodiacs and kayaks being tied down, bottles in bar fridges wrapped and packed with tea towels, gangways bolted to the side of the ship. Dr John giving the seasick prevention announcement.

A few photos selected last night as we each have to submit our ‘top 3’ for the last night slide show.

In lieu of the second landing we cruised around the Caldera of Port Foster, then prepared to make the run out the entrance Neptune’s Bellows into Baxter Strait before entering the Bransfield followed by the dreaded Drake passage.

Lunch today was yummy (Borscht) soup and roll. Then drugged up for rough seas. We saw many whales in Bransfield Strait just prior to lunch.

After lunch up to the bar to sort some photos etc, very sleepy, had a brief sleep prior to an interesting lecture on birds, albatrosses, petrels etc from Alan. Some of these guys can live to 80 years old and fly hundred of thousands of kilometres and never go to land except to breed after they turn 10 or so.

Following the lecture, it was back up to the bridge to catch our last glimpse of Antarctica, through the grey sea mist. Now we are headed on a straight course for Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia. Whilst on the bridge there were lots of whale blows, many people are downstairs sleeping.

To the bar again to sort some photos and blog, everyone there plaing with computers or reading etc.

Rob and Dr John and Gary S are pulling together each passengers ‘Top 3’ photos.

Tis lazy arvo, just hanging around trying not to be seasick as ship rolls and pitches tis way across the Drake – currently it’s not too bad.

 Looking towards the entrance to the Caldera - At Deception Island.

 In through the entrance looking around to Port Foster to the right.

 Skua's just huddling on the volcanic ash beach...it was blowing a bit and there was sleet.

 Whale bones in the ash - ship in background.

 Remains of old water boats, used to ferry water we think.

 and again..

 what's left of a bunch of old barrels, probably used for water rather than wine.

 This is Neptune's window looking back to where we entered.

 Some kelp on Ash beach...a nice bit of colour.

 THe obligatory penguin shot. a bit different without snow and/or rocks.

 A krill Alan picked off the beach to how us.

 Old oil tanks...I think.

 A brittle star we saw washed up on beach.

 Grave of past whalers, with British research station buildings behind, were old whaling buildings before that.

Some more whaling paraphernalia.

This is the tag board...last landing and Mary and I are last aboard again. We are numbers 35 and 48, being the red ones, the other red ones are kayakers who have different tags.

 

A final panoramic of our last Antarctic views...Deception Island plus an iceberg.

 Back on board the pack up and preparations for Drake Passage crossing are well underway...bottles wrapped with towels and tea towels.

 The storeroom all sorted. - that's Terry the "Hotel" manager and barman.

 Kayaks getting tied down.

 Zodiacs are already on board, stacked and lashed down.

 A final shot, you can see the wind whipping the caps off the waves.

 The captain in the Bridge.

 Here's a view of Deception from air. we were on the beach at top left, and walked to Neptune's window which is the 'u' shaped dip seen between the clouds.

 A few on the bridge now watching for whales and the Drake Passage. Gary in centre announcing something over the microphone, the guy with his head in his hands is a one of the Russian crew.

 Some of the colours passing through Neptune's bellows.

 waves crashing over the iceberg.

 Now there is lots of time to sit around in the bar and ready, compute, play phone games, drink, talk. Here we have the US Twins Robyn and Sara, Maria and Wim.

 I started watching for birds, to distract ANY thoughts about being sick...it worked, but you will be bored by many bird shots for next couple of days.

 Looking down the stairs to level 3 - our home for last 10 days.

Our level 3 corridor, the white things sticking in the handrails are SICKBAGS, ready for the Drake Passage. Mary and My cabin was just to the left of the first two sick bags...BTW - neither of us needed a bag. Phew.