It's been such a mix of good progress and dead ends, thin ice (half a metre or so thick) to pretty good thick ice ( between 10-15 feet ) the best being 2 days ago when we were jammed solid.
The crew displaced all of the remaining fuel to the starboard tanks, then the main crane was swung around to no avail. On with one of the shipping containers and that was swung over the ice! Final task was to flood the ballast tanks with 40 tonnes of sea water with not alot of movement at first. Then the ship gradually began to list to about 20 degrees, which made walking around quite interesting ( just as well it was too early for a beer!!!!) I think that was the longest we've been stuck (or temporarily stopped as the bridge like to call it) approximately 12 hours. Cant believe how much time we've spent drifting with the ice!!
On Tuesday we managed to arrange, with Jamie the chief engineer, for a tour of the computer rooms and the engine rooms. What an awesome setup! To understand and appreciate the technology ( albeit a tad dated) that is involved with the ships operation was amazing. The ability it has to divert power and energy via various routes and the operations that the ship undertakes in the north sea during its summer as a DPO vessel (dynamic positioning). I will go into a bit more detail sometime when i've got a bit more detail myself...
The captain decided that yesterday would be a good opportunity for a group photo. Jen the doc volunteered to act as photographer and was placed onto the ice with Duncan Cameron (logistics) who has been south before as an outdoor guide for a winter. Very jealous of that experience!! If you look very closely you can see me on both of the Christmas photos.
We are now amongst the lucky few to be able to say that we have travelled in the Weddell Sea!!!!! I think we are currently in the Deutschland Cove??? The satellite pics of the ice are proving interesting, I think we still have a good 50-60 miles of ice to navigate but do seem to be heading in the right direction.
Prep is under way for tomorrow! Christmas dinner on the RRS Ernest Shackleton yet another first!!! For our 24th December celebrations we have.....
As i type we have ground to a halt yet again!!!
10:00 (weather and conditions permitting) football and photos on the ice!!!!!!!!!!
12:00 carols in the red room, which i'm led to believe Rich has been recruited as head choirboy due to his welsh heritage....
followed by
14:00 Christmas Dinner!!!!!
The menu is pretty impressive too with a selection of starters, crab soup, springbok steak and a fancy pate. A choice of Turkey, belly pork and roast beef. Brocolli, roast parsnips, cauliflower gratin, roast pots, a fancy mash and croquets followed by xmas pud and brandy, Trifle and another that I cant remember....Then cheese and biscuits with port and all topped off with an irish coffee. If I am not careful they will be rolling me down the walkway when we arrive :)
The menu is pretty impressive too with a selection of starters, crab soup, springbok steak and a fancy pate. A choice of Turkey, belly pork and roast beef. Brocolli, roast parsnips, cauliflower gratin, roast pots, a fancy mash and croquets followed by xmas pud and brandy, Trifle and another that I cant remember....Then cheese and biscuits with port and all topped off with an irish coffee. If I am not careful they will be rolling me down the walkway when we arrive :)
As i type we have ground to a halt yet again!!!
I think it will be another night for the film club - me, Richie and Jaibo- although we've already managed most of the good films and the complete back catalogue of only fools and horses!!!! Class viewing..
The wildlife has been a little sparse, with a few leapord and elephant seals, a mild splattering of penguins (which are difficult to capture with a point and shoot) and a good selection of Petrels. Oh and a sighting of a whale in one of the pools.
Well after being diagnosed with tendonitis, i'd better go and put my feet up with a nice cold beer or 2 or 3..........
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