Highlights of Gary’s progress on the
Our Far South Expedition
February 22, 2012
The Ross Sea
Our trek south in the Ross Sea began with picking our way through what looked like a minefield of ice bergs that sit at the entrance to the Ross Sea where they are corralled by the Ross Sea Gyre. An amazing arrange of bergs from large tabular forms to small “growlers” mostly submerged beneath the surface. The bridge had several spotters employed to pick our way through. And then as fast as the Bergs appeared they we’re gone and we were back into open water. We’ve now been steaming south in the Ross Sea for two days and still no land.
The ride has had it’s moments – most of yesterday we punched into a large swell and a 50 knot headwind, which brought sheets of spray across the top of the ship and gave us a rollercoaster ride as we fell off the top off one wave and into the next oncoming wave. But still no land in sight – The Ross Sea is far larger than I had envisaged in my mind. We’ve been aboard and steaming for nearly a week now but the lack of exercise does not seem to bother me as I am using a lot of energy just trying to keep still.
The ride has had it’s moments – most of yesterday we punched into a large swell and a 50 knot headwind, which brought sheets of spray across the top of the ship and gave us a rollercoaster ride as we fell off the top off one wave and into the next oncoming wave. But still no land in sight – The Ross Sea is far larger than I had envisaged in my mind. We’ve been aboard and steaming for nearly a week now but the lack of exercise does not seem to bother me as I am using a lot of energy just trying to keep still.
Coming up….. land ho
Gary - why are clusters of ice bergs called a "minefield"????
ReplyDelete