It's been over a week since we acclimated to our new playground. One might think the Antarctic Peninsula is deserted, but in fact, life
is everywhere. Glaciers calve, icebergs and growlers drift, whales blow, penguins porpoise, petrels, terns, and skuas
watch us, seals rest on the ice.... The landscape is constantly changing! And let's face it, we're not the only ones
discovering Antarctica, many sailboats and cruise ships find themselves at the same anchorage, even if they often stay only for about a week...
We were more relaxed in Brazil!
After two recuperative nights in the Melchior archipelago, we sail along the east coast of Anvers Island and anchor in front of a
ice cliff just northwest of Cape Andrews. The weather is gray, and landing possibilities are limited, so we spend the day making
Christmas decorations. The next day, the wind drops, and we weigh anchor to reach the Enterprise anchorage south of Brabant Island. This anchorage is special
because a factory ship, the Gouvernoren, has been stranded there since 1916 and allows mooring. It is probably the southernmost marina! We stay there for 3
nights and celebrate Diane's birthday on deck in the sun on a beautiful windless day. Last year Diane blew out her first candle in
Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, this year, for her second birthday, the setting is different! We spend pleasant days trying out the new sled and playing in
the snow. Monday, December 18, we head a bit further north to Portal Point, the entrance passage is not easy to find, but the anchorage is very comfortable and
sheltered. The walk ashore allows us to land for the first time on the Antarctic Continent since most of the time we are actually on
the islands bordering the peninsula. The next day we try to venture into Charlotte Bay, but it is too crowded with ice, and we return to
Enterprise for the announced gale. We should leave tomorrow to reach Cuverville Island and then the Neumayer Channel.
We didn't mention it in
notre dernier post mais il nous est bien sûr impossible de mettre en ligne des photos avec notre connexion satellite, il faudra donc attendre le mois de Mars!