Overnight, Viking Octantis was heading towards Snow Hill Island. This had been announced the previous afternoon and was very exciting news. This was not the original itinerary. We were heading way south to look for Emperor penguins !! These elusive animals had generally not been viewed by the scientific staff. This adjusted itinerary was to put the "expedition" into expedition cruising.
However, by morning - disappointing news (more so for the excited scientific staff). We had been heading towards an enormous ice sheet. Initially it was thought that Octantis could sail around this mass. Unfortunately, overnight it was decided that this could not be done because of the speed at which the ice sheet was moving. (The scientific staff were the most disappointed.)
It was still to be the most distance south that the Octantis had ever travelled ! (We were only seven miles short of crossing the Antarctic Circle. No certificate for us this time !!) We were reflecting on the many polar journeys we had read about where the explorer concerned was aiming for the furtherest south, only to be foiled by bad weather, being iced in for the winter, and death !!
The new itinerary was Hope Island. Notable for housing the Argentine Esperanza Station and one of Antarctica's largest Adelie penguin colonies. The bay is surrounded by rugged peaks and glaciers.
Very icy decks
Back of the boat (zodiac)
On hearing the zodiac motors, the penguins on the beach scurried to higher ground.
Jagged edge of the glacier
Late afternoon, Viking Octantis sailed out of Hope Bay, past the Argentine Esperanza Antarctic Base.
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