14 Feb 2016

Ross Sea Express

The wake-up call went out at 0645hrs and most expeditioners were on the bridge by 0700hrs as we passed through the heads of the fiord-like entrance to Carnley Harbour. Winds picked up to 35kts as they were funnelled between the 600m peaks on either side. Wilson Storm Petrels were hopping on the water feeding with their feet while Sooties were everywhere again and albatross completed the mix. We dropped two anchors in 30kts at Tagua Bay, then set out after breakfast to climb to the WWII Coast Watchers huts on Musgrave Peninsula which extends into the middle of the old eroded volcano that created this harbour. The hike up through some spectacular Rata forests and low scrub was completely different. The views from the lookout which was manned every daylight hour throughout the war (without seeing any ships) made us all contemplate what it must have been like for those men stationed here. The wind and occasional rain made it feel like we were finally in the real Subantarctic . The forest sounds, smells and feel were unique and the mud acquired along the way was washed off on the beach before we re-boarded the Zodiacs a few hours later. Pulling alongside the ship, winds were gusting way over 35kts but the salt spray tasted good!

The latest weather reports are showing bad news for our scheduled visit to Macquarie Island, so we decided to bypass it and head direct to the Ross Sea. Hopefully the weather will come to the party for a visit on our return north in a few weeks. This is the true nature of expeditioning. Four sea days start now...let the fun begin!