** ANTARCTICA - 2002 **
** Chapter SIX **
** 'Base A Museum' (PORT LOCKROY - British) **
This is the 14 February 2005 edition
of this page.
11 December 2002
I was awakened at 4.08am with the anchors being pulled up, before we started going further
Southwards. A had awoken painfree (because of the tablets!) but my left arm and a left finger
felt a 'bit numb', as if I had been laying awkwardly!
It was the same when I re-awoke at 7.15am!! I got ready for breakfast - which I had with my good friends
Frieda & Martin (real names Elfreide & Elgiriyage, as they are Austrian & 'Indian' respectively).
I did some wandering between my cabin (on Deck3) and decks 4 and 7 for viewing of the scenery from
inside the vehicle. Halfway up the LEMAIRE CHANNEL, the snows, winds and precipitation were all
getting worse, so we turned into a side-bay (East of BOOTH ISLAND) to see if matters improved!
In fact, it deteriorated, so we exitted from there and headed NORTH - hoping for a call on PORT LOCKROY at about
2pm today (said an announcement at 9.15am!)
I, then, got my writings up-to-date and had more chats with the 'wingeing-aussi' who admits to 'brain' and
'health' problems - with seizures and 'triggers'. What an exciting guy!
Then I took my leave to fill-in the "Norwegian Coastal Questionnaire" by 10.27hrs - before more chatting with
various friends and travellers until 11.55hrs. We got into the Newmayer Channel at about 1210hrs and looked for the
PORT LOCKROY landing place on WIENCKE ISLAND.
LUNCH was at 13.00hrs and was very good, comprising four courses, before we went for the 'briefing' for Port
Lockroy. We then quickly donned our 'overboots' (I got some 'medium' this time - which made it safer!) - and then
got rigged-out with our gear before getting a 'zodiac' to Port Lockroy.
After the 'landing', it was a steady uphill walk
through the snow and the penguins to spend quite a while in the HISTORIC BASE (the Post Office - where, in its
kitchen, SUNNIVA was stamping our passports!!)
Despite Sunniva's busy time, we still found time for a little chat (here is this kitchen in the Antarctic!) -
what a lovely lady!
Penguins, of many types, cover the 'station' - and a snow-storm blew throughout this time. The ZODIAC
returned to take me back to the NORDNORGE - even before my scheduled time was up!! The
SNOW-STORM persisted thoughout my return trip - and at 15.59hrs I was back in my own cabin and
completing my write-ups.
Then I took my refreshments whilst chatting to Martin and Freida until about 17.20hrs on the inside on
Deck4. later, I had a long chat with AUSTRALIAN Fred towards 18.00hrs, before dining, below, with Martin
and Freida from 19.25hrs..
It was a beautiful REINDEER lunch, even more tender than usual - and we were joined by Ron Beatty
also! Before this, from 18.00 - 18.40hrs, the scientists and operators of PORT LOCKROY came to talk
to ALL of us (through two more translators) and dealt with many questions in several languages from the audience.
They appreciated the interest that we showed and the SHOWERS that the ship could provide them with. (The
protocols are so tight that the Antarctic severely restricts what everyone can do - in that respect. On the ship, we
could take all people's muck and grime back to SOUTH AMERICA!!) We clapped their talks and friendliness
and looked after them well.
I didn't get into bed until midnight whilst awaiting a call from Sunniva.
(The travelogue will continue in the next chapter.)
EMail (?) to: Roy's Location.
Return to 2002's Index-page
or return to Antarctic index-page
or return to Roy's home page for full
list of books/travelogues either finished or under preparation.