Adventure Travel Blogs

We sailed into Antarctic waters proper yesterday and this morning approached the South Shetland Islands. Everyone was out on deck to see the land slowly appear out of the horizon. Saw our first penguins in the water plus a flotilla of Cape Petrel accompanying the ship towards land.

After a comprehensive briefing about our obligations under IAATO and Zodiac safety we dutifully cleaned our possessions of all traces of seeds etc to prevent biological contamination. The excitement on board ...

Awoke to find the swell of the sea had increased in the night. Getting from one side of the cabin required new balance skills to be developed. However, am fairly sure that in terms of Drake's Passage, this counts as a calm crossing. Looked out of the balcony window to see a Waved Albatross soaring past. Decided to skip breakfast in favour of donning my newly aquired yellow Quark jacket and going to the stern of the ship for some fresh air. I was not disappointed in my choice for here, several...

Into the truck we climbed - the group split into the buses that we travelled in, and off we went. What a sight behold us, many buses with roof rising waiting in line to enter the gates.

Once through, we first came across the Masi wildebeast, these guys stay put -as these ones don't follow the migration - apparently 'no passports'!

Then with the radio crackiling to life in the buses, we turned at fork in the tracks and went across the mara, going in the same direction as many othe...

After some 30 hours travelling it was a huge relief to finally reach the comforts of the hotel in Ushuaia. After a good night's sleep, breakfast brought with it the first views of the Sea Spirit - soon to be my home for the next 10 days. After the confines of aeroplanes, airports and being processed in various queues, it was wonderful to be able to stretch legs and breath fresh air again. Ushuaia has a peaceful atmosphere and its harbour is the main draw. Here polar expedition vessels sit pat...

Today was a tough but great day skiing. I went with the group to ski a 22km track from St Vigil to Peradu. As the track had kilometre markers on it I wanted to use the day as a guide for how long the marathon will take me (the answer I discovered is a blooming long time!!). It was an uphill slog for the first half and I don't think I would have made it in the time I did without having Roger and Jim, two experienced xc skiers chasing me all the way up. The descent way slightly more hairy with icy...