Kenmare to Antarctica : Day 6. Wind 56 Knots Temp 3 Celsius
After nearly one whole week of travelling we’re finally expected to
reach our first destination, the Island of South Georgia at 6 am on
Friday morning.
Before that we are expected to be hit by a storm with 50 knot winds but
thankfully coming up behind us. The crew are still eager to prepare us
for it, making sure the current newsroom feel to the lounge is made safe
and all cameras, laptops and valuable equipment is safely stowed.
Despite everyone discussing how little sleep they got because of the
rolling ship, our guides assure us we haven’t seen the ship really move
yet and that what’s coming this afternoon will be the real thing, but
none are the slightest bit concerned.
The glorious sunshine is gone, and the cold grey wet skies are far more
appropriate for our group which is made up of thrill seeking outdoor
types and a dedicated congregation from the Church of all things Tom
Crean and Ernest Shackleton. It’s an amazing thing, to be part of a
group that have been inspired to travel all this way at such expense, to
somehow connect with these heroic figures whom only recently have begun
to get the recognition they’ve always deserved. People from all walks
of life are on board and a common purpose is evident from the smallest
pieces of conversation you hear walking by, the choice of reading
material, and the often discussed wish list of places to visit and
follow in the footsteps of these great men.
Shackleton and his men landed at South Georgia after what must be one of
the greatest sea voyages of all time from Elephant Island 800 miles
away, in a state of near exhaustion. They then crossed the unmapped
mountainous interior in 36 hours to reach safety at Stromness whaling
station. In contrast the traverse party on board have been preparing
for only that last 36 hour period of Shackleton’s epic journey, for the
last 6 months, have more equipment than will probably come in to use,
enough food for 6 days, and plan to walk the route in three to four
days. Without taking anything away from their forthcoming achievement,
I think this contrast in what we can do today, and what had to be done
almost a century ago is the basis for the dedicated reverence in which
these explorers are held.
It’s difficult to understand how they achieved what they did.. but in
traveling to South Georgia , Elephant Island and Antarctica, all of us
hope to at least come away with a more connected appreciation and sense
of the settings of these survival epics.
UPDATE :
In the middle of the storm now. Gusts of 60 knots 5 meter high swell.
Going out on deck in a storm like this is a real rush and there´s a few
hardy smokers that have to endure it !!
