Day 17 MS Roald amundsen

Well, another early start!! But it’s the weekend....

Today is hike day. We entered a ballot yesterday to go on a hike. It was a very popular activity and many people want to do it. 

The tourist companies are restricted and can only ever have 100 people on land at any one time. Therefore the ballot

Anyhoo, we are in...

8am start and only a 7k, kinda uphill and apparently will take about 4 or so hours. 

Well, what a morning. 

Straight of the zodiac and we came upon a whole bunch of fur seals. Great to look at but we really need to keep our distance as they can be pretty vicious.

The whole environment is rocks, some patches of  snow and ice but mainly rocks. Gentle uphills mainly and again, the most extraordinary views.

There is also another abandoned British station here on the island. The walk today takes us to a memorial on a faraway hill, dedicated to the loss of 3 people from the base. It is thought they were on an ice floe which came free, interesting is the majority of the sled dogs returned...the hut has been refurbished, however it still has the appearance as from the 50’s. 

We see many penguins again and during another polar swim( why?) there is a penguin watching this strange behaviour. The poor love looked so confused as to why these people are swimming in his pool.

Great to watch but difficult to keep our distance from him.

A great morning and pretty tired on return.

The afternoon had celebration and baptism for us as we crossed the Antarctic circle.

Captain and king Neptune dousing everyone in ice.

No thank you....

Great laugh tho 

A couple of lectures late afternoon, well we are here to learn things remember??

Another tremendous day