Sunday 26 February 2012 - Drake Passage / Half Moon Island

A great night's sleep and comfortable start to the day. Malcolm appears to be better also after his stomach problems. At 09:00 we had a compulsory presentation on "Prevention Measures of Introducing Alien Species to Antarctica" followed by an opportunity for everybody to take bags and coats or such apparel as was being taken ashore for a vacuum cleaning service on 2 deck to ensure that no foreign seeds, pollen or any other unwanted microbes from the mainland are released on the Antarctic peninsula.  After lunch everybody was issued with the special warm and watertight Arctic Muck Boots which have to be worn when leaving the ship for any landings.  The boots of course are an extra cost which should have been included in the booking price.  We were all issued with our own set of boots which we retain for the entire trip and placed on a peg, relating to our cabin number, on 2 deck.  At 14:00 we entered the South Shetland Islands and found plenty of photo opportunities and of course being the first time we saw icebergs and got a view of the land everybody snapped away with their cameras.  At 16:00 we prepared for the first landing dressing in warm clothes, our waterproof light blue jackets, life jackets and Muck boots and set off 20 minutes later in the Polarcircle boats.  Once on land we were instructed about which areas we could visit and where we could not go and then set off to look at and photograph the many Chinstrap penguins and fur seals.  Yesterday we were informed that anyone who was crazy enough and wanted to go swimming could do so.  Malcolm told me that he would do it for Queen and Country whereas I was more focused and said that I would also go in but it was to be for Honour and Glory and so we joined a couple of other hardy souls from Scandinavia and the Netherlands for a cool swim.  Getting our clothes off on the beach with the wind blowing was cold to say the least and the water although just above freezing (yes there were icebergs in it) did feel warmer, I think!  Our little swim didn't last very long as we had wandered into the domain of a large and very aggressive male fur seal who took offense and chased us out.  In the photo you will see his head a couple of meters away to my right.  Drying off and rubbing down (in the wind) was interesting as there was a sensation deep under the skin of tingling and the heat coming back into the chilled blood cells which start to close down under severe cold conditions.  For this adventure we get a certificate (maybe that means that we should be certified??).  Back onboard it was immediately into a nice hot shower and change for dinner followed by a pre-briefing for tomorrow's landings.  To bed and 23:00 and a big sleep!