After a fun Saturday night in the Shackleton bar it’s a relaxing Sunday today, a bit of housework as it's Captain's rounds on a Sunday, a trip to the doctors for a repeat prescription of nicotine patches (5 weeks now and the cravings have subsided considerably), and a game of badminton in the hold, which is now clear enough to allow a makeshift court, albeit slightly squashed. After a healthy lunch I spent the afternoon reading the Sunday papers and printing off articles for others to read (the speed of the internet connection and general aversion of printers to do my bidding making this a full afternoon’s job, though it did allow me to find the comfiest chair I’ve sat on for months in the ship’s office – one disadvantage of perpetual motion is chairs locked in place at least a foot from the nearest table) Then a little bit of work followed by circuit training. All in all a very pleasant Sunday on board the Shackleton. Scientific discoveries are on hold whilst the ship is moving in circles recovering moorings and making CTD measurements, I’ve been analysing data which suggests high iodocarbon concentrations in diatom rich ice which is great news!
I’ve made preparations for onward travel –someone in Argentina will only let as many Brits as will fit in one aeroplane above their land so I must spend six days in the Falklands before flying to Chile, I’ll have plenty of time to pack up and walk off some of Rab and Ray’s cooking at least. I fly to Punta Arenas on the 14th March, myself and a few others on board plan to explore the coastline on motorbikes, then I’ll hike the ‘W’ route in the Torres del Paine national park, which provides some of the most amazing scenery imaginable. Then it’s a short flight up to Santiago, and the nearby Lakes District where there is much fun to be had – zip-lining, canopying, which involves swinging through trees on a harness, and horse-back riding expeditions, then I think a few relaxing days on a beach, maybe a little surfing, before flying back to the UK on the 3rd April, so see you then!