A perfect morning
If something can be perfect, it was this morning. Fog, clouds and gloom seemed to be a thing of the past. It is a new day and we are bathing in abundance of sunlight on the deck. The grandeur of the surroundings is hard to describe by words. No matter how hard we would try, there is no justice to it unless seen by our own eyes.
Just after the breakfast, we are entering seemingly un-passable Lemaire channel, one of the most picturesque places on western side of Antarctic Peninsula. At first sight is is completely blocked by ice. Mathew with harness on climbs up to fore mast with radio in hand, trying to find just a little room that the ship can squeeze through.
The channel its about 7 mi in length and averaging about 1 mi wide, extending in a NE-SW direction from Splitwind Island and False Cape Renard to Roullin Point and Cape Cloos, and separating Booth Island from the W coast of Graham Land. It was discovered by a German expedition under Dallmann, 1873-74 but it was not traversed till December 1898 by the Belgium Antarctic Expedition under Gerlache, and named by him for Charles Lemaire, Belgian explorer of the Congo.
As thew ship gets closer, the way through the ice seems very clear now and Eric doing what he does and enjoys the best, getting Europa safely through the ice. Old lady is graciously gliding through the ice field deeper into the channel. Many of us took advantage of the beautiful weather and calm waters to climb up the rig and have a completely different view of surroundings from high up. Earlier on, the crew unfurled the topsail with idea of launching zodiacs and photograph Europa on sail through Lemaire Channel. But this is rarely possible and even tris time around, it remained an idea only. As we progressed towards the end of the channel, there was one last iceberg to clear. It seemingly blocked the exit but we were hopeful to find a gap. Unfortunately our luck has run out and exit was indeed blocked. We had to turn around and find another way, but it proved to be difficult. Wind has also picked up and crew had to furl back the topsails.
After few more attempts to get through the channel we decided to head north. We were hopeful that ice will move and open a gap we could use to slip through, unfortunately, that was not the case. In the meantime, we are filling the suddenly free afternoon with lectures and movies. Tomorrow is an another day and we wait with excitement what it brings.
