"Strange. There is always sadness on departure. It is as if one cannot after all bear to leave this bleak waste of ice, glaciers, cold and toil... " - Fridtjof Nansen, 1912
This morning we visited Port Lockroy, used as an anchorage by whalers and established as Base A by the British in 1944, as part of a secret wartime initiative to monitor German shipping movements. This expedition was code-named Operation Tabarin, after a well-known Paris nightclub, because team members would be staying there during the darkness of the Antarctic winter. After World War II the station continued in a civilian capacity until 1964, when it ceased operations. This historic base was recently restored, and is now open to visitors as a museum. They have souvenirs for sale (information packs, hats, pins, patches, t-shirts and first day covers), as well as a post office.
Jougla Point, Port Lockroy - A pretty big colony of Gentoo penguins and Blue Eyed Shags! Check out their blue eyes!
In the afternoon we found some fast ice to walk on. The ship cuts through an ice sheet that is stable for us to walk on. We then just walk out of the ship onto the ice! It was a fun last day in Antarctica.
We set sail to Ushuaia, Argentina around 4pm. Good bye Antarctica….until next time! Yes there will be a next time!
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