from the top ... wind blown and exhilarating
LOCATION: South Shetland Islands - Telefon Bay
Certainly marked our last day of adventure with some highlights. Laundry shouldn't rank up there in the spotlight - but we did appreciate a break in the lineup so that all Icebergs and Icecubes could nab a machine. So organised here, managed to slot parts of the drying schedule into breaks in dinner courses. So clever.
@Pratish and @Moses were in early to clarify details of the evening's menu and the weather is kind enough to enable us to go ashore.
Last day looks like a winner!
The Adventure
There was no way we were going to be dragging the chain this morning. Went for the full gear approach and skipped breakfast because we were in that 7.30 grouping for the Zodiacs.
We were booted up and rugged up for the dash across the choppy water and needed a little assistance to get the walking sticks co-ordinated.
Today's landing was on the black basalt shore of the active volcano of Deception Island. The ship was anchored in the caldera and we traversed the beach to reach the cliff face of the crater in Telefon Bay.
No steam from vents ... just a steep cliff face with collected water in the base. @Mick, our resident geologist, took us through the history of its formation, recent eruption and current status on the side of the craters. Luckily, on this Friday the 13th landing there were no rumblings.
Last eruption here was in August of 1970 and since that time no resident scientists have been on the island - just a series of remote sensing stations to track the seismic rumblings. There are thermal vents in the bay to warm the water - but wasn't really a day of swimming for us!
Once we had finished the background briefing with @Mike, it was the "point of no return" decision time. It was a no brainer for the ladies - we happily turned back towards the shore and laughed, talked and stumbled our way back to shore.
The men opted to do the 2 km cliff climb and trek across the rim of the craters. They looked absolutely fabulous as tiny red dots across the horizon.
Their reports were that it was crazy windy and exhilarating. They had sweeping views across the bay and inland across the volcano. Unanimous in their agreement that the 45 minutes of exertion was worth it!
And that's a wrap really! Now it's time to head back across Drake's Passage for the return to Puerto Williams.
Washing done - and sad to say - this has heralded the start of the packing routine. Needed to bundle up the hire gear and return that to the mudroom. And then it was a case of sort of getting our ducks in a row in case we are not well enough on the return to stand and do the job. Committed to folding and re-cubing our belongings and making decisions around what to wear for the return to mid 20s temps.
I am confessing that we did not go up on deck for the viewing of the narrow entry and exit that is the challenge of access to the bay through Neptune's Bellows. We were definitely up for the 6.30 arrival but didn't want to risk our call to the mudroom and for the exit, we were elbow deep in crab claws and lobsters at the Gala Luncheon and unanimously voted we didn't want to rug up and go outside and get wet. Besides, I had actually packed our red parkas!! Setlled for a shot through the window.
The Gala Luncheon was spectacular. An absolute feast of a buffet. Plenty of seafood - wonderful food carvings and endless bubbles. Had claimed we were going to "take it easy" and save ourselves for this evening, but couldn't resist the offerings. The addition of the live music with hearty sing alongs to American Pie and Sweet Caroline only heightened the enthusiasm for eating and drinking.
The afternoon was taken with more enrichment sessions, a @Mareika debrief and rotations through the laundry to try and secure a machine and preliminary packing duties. @Deb and @Lloyd discovered they had a massive on board credit to burn through and did hit the single shop to find some merch.
We reported straight after the debriefing to suite 522 for the first round of our Progressive Dinner. We were welcomed by hosts @Loraine and @Richard for the first course. @Pratish and @Moses excelled in the organisation, delivery and service and the champagne cork popping welcomed us to a fun evening. We were all kitted out in our whites and @Prlooatish and @Moses admitted they were having so much fun - it was the first time guests had requested this arrangement and they loved the challenge and variation to routine.
Main course, hosted by @Deb and @Lloyd with lobster thermidore all round. Plenty of wine, plenty of requested sides and probably the only dull point was that we didn't have our fun loving @Naina to hold the microphone for speeches of welcome.
Rounded out with shared dessert and mind numbing puzzles at our place and @Mac shared his thanks for everyone's buyin in for the trip.
What an adventure it has been. Would be great if we do have our sea legs for the return. We are heeding @Mareika's advice - "It's better to ward it off than run it back." Starting the anti nausea early!
Survival Barometer
Steps 9403
Weather overcast and 3 degrees
Health good enough for a hike and three solid meals
Can you believe this?
Amazing Facts About Deception Island from Co-Pilot
Active Volcanic Caldera: It is one of the only places in the world where you can sail into an active volcanic caldera, known as Port Foster. The volcano is still active, with major eruptions occurring in 1967, 1969, and 1970, which destroyed scientific stations.
Geothermal Beach Swimming: The island’s geothermal activity means that at locations like Pendulum Cove, visitors can soak in warm water on the shore, surrounded by freezing Antarctic temperatures and icebergs.
Massive Penguin Colonies: The island hosts one of the largest chinstrap penguin colonies in the world at Baily Head, with over 100,000 breeding pairs.
"Polar Pompeii" History: The island is littered with the haunting remains of early 20th-century whaling operations, including rusted boilers, whale bones, and abandoned buildings in Whalers Bay, which was largely abandoned overnight.
Surreal Greenery: Despite its bleak volcanic look, it is considered the "greenest" place in Antarctica, home to over 20 species of mosses and lichens that thrive in the geothermally heated ground, some of which are not found anywhere else.
The "Deception" Name: It is hypothesized to have been named for its deceptive appearance—a seemingly solid island that opens into a hidden, safe, and massive natural harbor via a narrow entrance called Neptune’s Bellows.
For Jesse ... you'll have to go back today and see if tou can find the card in each of the three rooms!
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