Crossing the Drake Passage

 November 4

Today was "the day" that you never know about - crossing of the infamous Drake Passage - the open waters that separate the southern most tip of South America from the outer Antarctica Peninsula.  Sometimes, smooth as glass....most other times, rough seas ahead mateys.  Sorry for us to tell you it was worse than rough seas.  Poor Kim, never got out of bed all day today after a L-O-N-G night with the rolling of the ship.  I was "uneasy" or maybe a better word would be "anxious" all night long and was up a couple times to sit and be on my computer as I felt "more comfortable" than laying in bed.  There was a mandatory meeting at 9 in the morning and I thought I'd go.  Weaved my way down the passage swerving from one side to the other with the ship's motion and holding on to the rails and walls.  Thought I'd be one of a couple dozen to feel good enough to make it to the Aula (the big theatre-like meeting area).....but no, the place was nearly full.  At the meeting our Expedition Director, Marc, went through the rules and regulations of going to and on the continent and then explained about the use of the ship's "toys" as he called them :)

Expedition Leader Marc addresses the crowd

The Viking Polaris' "toys" - submarines (2), special operation boats, the "bread and butter" of the operations - the zodiacs, the kayaks, and hiking

Learning the international rules & regs as developed by the IOAA

Did you know....you cannot pick up anything from the continent, not even a pebble?

AND when we come back on the ship we have to have our boots washed down so as not to carry particles onto or off of the ship

What we can expect on our journey through Antarctica

The rest of the day I had to get our boots for the trip and was able to get streaming video of the 2022 Breeders' Cup Future Stars Friday card.  For the day I had six selections, only scored with one.  BUT, TwinSpires was running a "VIP promotion" where if you bet a horse to win - in any race at Keeneland on Friday or Saturday - and you ran 2nd or 3rd, you would get your wager refunded up to $20.  So in four of the other five races I ran 2nd or third.  So for the day I had six bets, "cashed" on five of them and had a clear profit of a little under $10......all the while cruising to Antarctica!  Wow, the wonders of technology :)

The rough seas - with winds up to 40 mph with stronger gusts

Some of the swells we were told were upwards of 20 feet :O

Kim having her pistachio cake at Manfredi's last night before the weather turned

Watching the Breeders' Cup from the Drake Passage

A nice perk to being a regular player

Cashin' tickets without winning :)

Fournier Bay

 November 5

We've ARRIVED and we got our first look at Antarctica today!  As we looked out today we were greeted by a bit of sunshine and finally the rough seas had subsided.  As we cruised along this morning off in the distance we got our first glance of the Lost Continent as we headed towards Fournier Bay.

Good morning sunshine!

First sighting off in the distance

Where we are today

Around 1 pm - THERE IT WAS....so Kim and I headed up to the upper deck to have a look and get our photo taken.  Just spectacular.

We are IN Antarctica :)

Making my first video from the Lost Continent

Later that day we boarded a zodiac and cruised through the ice fields for our first experience IN Antarctica.  The ice, just amazing and SOOOOO huge.

Let's go exploring in Antarctica on a zodiac

This ice berg must have been 20-30 feet tall....looks like a cave, right?

Our driver tells us we will now drive IN THE ICE FIELD!

Can you believe this?

Right through the ice we go!

About ten feet above the water, but note how it's also below the water

Looks like a pile of ice blocks

Do you see the camel?  Head to the right....then two humps :)

We haul a chunk of ice into the craft - probably several hundred years old

Another "pile of rocks" - except it's about 20 feet high of glacier ice chunks

Oh, and did I mention it was snowing?  :)

And oh yes.....what about the Breeders' Cup World Championships you ask?  Today the Internet was not cooperative in terms of allowing me to see streaming video like yesterday.  But I would get updates on my phone that it was 10 minutes to post time.  And then about 20 minutes later I would get a message as to who the winner was.  I COULD log onto TwinSpires and then check the payouts.  And by later in the day, on Facebook and/or Twitter I got to see the stretch run of all the races.

For the day I had twelve selections - cashed on EIGHT of them (two with money-back promotions), including my BET of the Weekend on Flightline in the Classic; and for the weekend I closed out the 2022 Breeders' Cup by cashing on 13-of-18 and made a profit of well over $125!  CLICK HERE to read all about the racing for the weekend :)

Domay Point

 November 6

We're ON Antarctica!

The day began with us literally snowed in and when we arrived at Domay Point there was next to no visibility and it was snowing, A LOT.  The captain and expedition leader made the decision it was unsafe and so we left for a day at sea.  About mid-afternoon I noticed we’d stopped and then began it appeared to turn around.  Checked the map and sure enough we were headed back.  The weather had cleared and we returned and got a chance to go on shore.  It was spectacular.  Rode the zodiac out, had a “wet landing” where we splashed out of the zodiac into the arctic water then climbed steps made of snow to the top of a horizon.  Saw HUNDREDS of penguins – just stunning.  So looked like a movie-set, so unreal….but there we were standing in Antarctica.  Just a huge WOW.

Nothing but ice everywhere!

The ice - RIGHT outside our window/along the ship!

The crew tries to keep up with the snow!

The view at lunch :O

All aboard, next stop ANTARCTICA!

Navigating the ice fields in the zodiacs

Penguins EVERYWHERE

Trekking up the snow path

WOW - STANDING on the Lost Continent!

Damoy Point from our stateroom

The Viking Polaris amidst the ice!

Dallmann Bay

 November 7

SURPRISE - Blue skies awaited us in Dallmann Bay

We left Damoy Point yesterday not really knowing what the plan was for today with the promise of a morning meeting.  At 10 am we met in the Aula, the theatre-like meeting room which has a floor-to-ceiling screen that can be raised to reveal windows showing a panoramic view off the end of the ship.

Marc explained to us that we would be traveling to Dallmann Bay today because the weather and winds were favorable.  The alternative would have been to sail north to the islands north of Antarctica and not return.  NO.  Everyone applauded when he said we were staying local.  Many, like me wondered why we had sailed east around the island (see map below) instead of going through the channel.  The reason was because the channel was blocked with ice and in fact late last night two other expedition ships from other companies radioed the Viking Polaris that they were trapped amidst the ice.  YIKES!  Good choice to sail around the island in open waters (less than ideal for sleeping!).  Today we will be doing zodiac cruises, but no landings.  And the forecast with the current winds call for the ice to blow out of the channel enabling us in the coming days to duck down into the channel and then into the bays along the continent proper (not the outer islands of the continent like yesterday and today).  I thought I’d share the gear we wear under our warm weather clothing – sock liners and wool socks; glove liners with gloves; longjohn shirt and pants; and note that the parka has a lined inner coat (ours to keep).

Dress for success - which in Antarctica means staying warm

That's a NICE view out our stateroom window

And THAT is a nice view for lunch!

Our expedition voyage we met in the launching area and were soon boarded onto a zodiac.  There were seven of us as we set out to get up close and personal with the ice bergs and the gigantic glacier the ship was sitting near.  Won’t lie – the speed of the zodiac in the open waters, when you’re just hanging on to a rope as you bob up and down off the waves is “interesting” to say the least.  But once we reached the ice – WOW, squared!

Here we go!

That's a huge ice berg - at least 30 feet tall and 50 yards or more long

The zodiacs exploring the glacier

One section of the glacier wall - just massive

Further along the glacier - note the "holes" and carvings

The zodiacs move in closer

Further along the glacier wall.....looks like a cave :)

Close up view of the "glacier cave"

We were out on the water for about 45 minutes then returned (at an even faster pace, oh my!)  then went for a drink – where saw a great sunset on the water through the big picture window of the Explorer’s Lounge.  Then had another wonderful meal at our favorite spot, Manfredi’s.  I have found a new wine that’s a favorite, “La Linda!”