Photos from V1

The last Australian sunset from Aurora Australia V1

Ice forming on the ship

 Justin's voyage down to Antarctica was V1... the first of the new Antarctic year.  He took plenty of photos on board the ship but with email restrictions of only 10k for the duration of the journey, he was unable to send them until he got to Davis.  

He has been extremely busy for the first couple of days and will be again today.  The ship is scheduled to leave again on Saturday so things will start to settle down as that means that everything has been unloaded and delivered to base, and the departure of the 2009/10 wintering crew.  

An iceberg seen through Justin's sunglasses

We have been able to have a couple of short but very clear phone conversations as the service from base is excellent.  The signal from the ship was very up and down so we found it hard to talk.  Yesterday it was a quick call before getting stuck in to preparing lunch. Schnitzel.  Justin's menus will be posted as he gets in to a routine and has more time to sit down and get them sorted.

Me on the wharf waving goodbye

  It is hard to see me but right in the centre of the pictre, there I am, wrapped up warm - it was sunny but cold - waving to Justin.  We spoke on the phone, waved and took photos of each other right up until the ship sailed out of sight.

Justin has one more night to spend in temporary accommodation before moving to his permanent room, as the previous chef moves out, which will be much bigger.  He will be able to get unpacked and properly sorted.  I can't wait for him to open his boxes and find all the wee bits and pieces that I stashed in there for him! 

And, as declared, I have tried another new recipe this week and am still enjoying the results.  I went for Annie Clark's Carob Date Slice from her book Muffin Magic...vegan, wheat free, dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, egg free and low fat!!!  But don't turn your nose up... this is one mean slice that tastes decadent and naughty without the nasty side effects.  I can't get enough.  Check out Annie's facebook page.  And I am sure if you would like it, Annie wouldn't mind me giving you the recipe.  

Recipe no. 2: Carob Date Slice... success!

There's something so beautiful about the small things

"G'day dear....

Well it was nice to talk to you yesterday. How is the head today?  We are currently making our way through silky 'grease ice' and large icebergs. It's all very nice.  Do a google on grease ice ......... as our wake passes over the surface, water is pushed out over the top like spilling coffee on a table.  For only a couple of seconds it remains separate from the sea.......then it slowly combines with the grease ice and warms up a little to become water again. All very beautiful and new to me...............I suppose I'm in for a few eye openers down here.

A few of the guys eat their eggs on crumpets...............I might try it tomorrow. I understand the doughy texture and flavors would only enhance the egg taste. I'll tell you all about it.

I've made it through to the finals of the darts.................OMG.  I've played better than I've ever done before................more focussed, a lot more focussed. There were a few sharks that didn't enter the comp ...............so the results thus far are not a reflection of the quality onboard.  I'll keep you posted, its now a best of three for the win.

I cut some of the expeditioners' hair yesterday ...............did a good job and managed to get a kitkat out of it for payment from one. I'm not sure where the chocolate bar came from as they are not readily available on the ship......................but boy did it go down well in my cabin whilst I was editing a photo for the picture comp and listening to music. I felt like one of the boys on the roof in "Shawshank redemption"...........

I'm already feeling the small things will be very special things soon.

Fisia Fears (Mr Bear)...................cute little bugger!!!! Give him a big kiss from me but tell him it's from you.  A couple of nice pats and a comb for my favorite moggy.  And finally kisses for you my honey.  XXXXXOOOOO"

If you have any questions for Justin, he would be happy to answer them for you. Just send as a comment.

Getting comfortable

POSITION:  51° 20' S, 124° 2' E

Distance covered last 24 hours:  193.2 nautical miles

Air temperature:  3 deg c

Sea temperature:  6.5 deg c

Speed:  9 knots

This is actually from yesterdays Sit Rep as there were problems with email yesterday and lot of people lost them so am thinking it is also why this didn't make it on to the AAD website by the time I went to bed last night. 

More expeditioners are being spotted around the ship, visiting the library and playing cards in the mess as they are feeling more comfortable at sea.  They have entered the 'Furious Fifties' though which is making things difficult and keeping them at the lower speed of 9 knots.  Westerly swells of 5m, seas 6m.

Activities including show and tells (there are more technical terms being that they are scientists doing the showing and telling), a talk about the Auroral Lights, a 'first iceberg sighting' sweepstake and the planning for an upcoming quiz night all starting to take place on board. 

There are no photos available from the ship at this point as the email limit to and from is a mere 10k whilst they are at sea.  There will be a lot of photo catch up happening once they reach dry land but in the meantime, for the first time, I have borrowed one of the Auroral lights from Davis base,  from the AAD photo library.  Enjoy.