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Hans Hansson – Wind, Sun – the realities of South Georgia – Vanessa

The citizen scientists are confined to barracks. The archaeologists and coastal mappers have been allowed on shore for a short visit. We are anchored in Wilson Harbour and its VERY windy. This is Shrove Tuesday morning (happy anniversary sis!) with patchy blue sky, scudding grey clouds, snowy peaks and the nose of Schrader glacier outside the portholes.

Up on deck there are passing wandering albatross and prions. We had lovely views of the wanderers flying yesterday in glorious sunshine, when we were guests of the British Antarctic Survey at Bird Island, treated to a cup of tea and intro from base commander Jamie Coleman. The albatross nest on the grassy hills around the base.

We wrenched ourselves away from Elsehul yesterday morning. Five days at our first archaeological site yielded evidence of brick and metal tryworks under the three pots, several timber and stone structures. Its all been dug, recorded, drawn, sampled, photographed, surveyed and finally covered up again.

Our next archeological site was on the beach across from the Bird Island Station where there are large stone structures and some timber, which we managed to record. The fur seals there seem a bit less interested in us than those at Elsehul, maybe because they see BAS people regularly. Not complaining! And the gangs of pups playing in the kelp were great to watch while the zodiac was being rowed to shore – I coxed – a minor fuel pipe problem, nothing serious.

Spectacular icebergs complete our views here and we are looking forward to getting ashore tomorrow. It’s a treat to visit the south coast – few tourist ships do this – so we’ll keep our fingers and toes crossed for a few more days of quiet weather…..

Vanessa

Photo Notes: The photo is on a beach on Bird island Near the station. In the foreground measurements of the site are being taken to document the key features of the site. All the way on the left, near the feet, one can see the rocky outlines of “something”. In the background a group is working with the metal detector to find bits of metal near a trypot.

Also please continue to comment – we can see and read your comments onboard, even if you can’t see them on the blog – we can – thanks !

5 replies on “Hans Hansson – Wind, Sun – the realities of South Georgia – Vanessa”

Sounds like you are having a fantastic adventure. If it’s any consolation, storm Erica has made it very windy here (and wet!)

Great to hear from you Nes, it looks from the satellite you might be in a sheltered bit on the south of the island, Schlieper Bay? Doesn’t sound very sheltered though! Lovely photos too thanks. I’d forgotten it was pancake day – if you have some I hope it’s the only battering this week! Love Lindsayx

These blogs are making me increasingly envious but delighted interesting thing are being found. It’s 48 years since I was at Bird Island so I had difficulty recognising the scene in the photo. I hope the droning went well there. My one attempt to get down the south coast ended when the cruise ship (luckily ice-strengthened) sat on a rock in King Haakon Bay. Where next?

Thanks for the anniversary wishes Vanessa, and thanks for your card. I hope the weather is kind to you and doesn’t disrupt proceedings too much. Does everybody do a bit of everything or are you allocated a particular role? Continue soaking up what must be an incredible experience. Wonderful to be able to read the posts.

It is great to hear how much you have done at your first site on Elsehul. I hope you do as well on the other sites you will be visiting. And it is good you had a cup of tea on Bird Island and got good views of wandering albatross.

I am envious of you visiting the south coast. It will be interesting to see your photos of Wilson Harbour to see how it compares with the north coast. I hope the wind has gone down.

Rowing a zodiac sounds fun. It would be a good “warm up” event for the Boat Race later on this month.

Ian

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