Punta Arenas, Chile (53˚10’S, 70˚56’V)
Photo: Hans Christian Meen
Today’s Antarctic weather was no kinder to the aeroplane pilots. In fact the wind at Patriot Hills was even stronger than yesterday – at 30 knots, with gusts hitting 40, it would be hazardous to come in for a landing.
We are, of course, ready to depart and eager to start our real journey, but the weather gods rule. ALE, the company that operates the flights as well as the base at Patriot Hills, has strict parameters for wind and runway conditions, and when conditions are outside those parameters they simply don’t fly.
Everyone here understands that, and we are all exercising our patience.
Yesterday we had a nice excursion, a boat ride to a penguin colony out on the fjord, as well as a walk in the forest. Today has been a tranquil day, a day of rest, but a few of us are planning some training for this afternoon.
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PS. Isla Magdalena is the name of the island with the penguin colony. About 140 000 Magellan penguins live in that colony alone, and that species is quite common her. These penguins mate for life. However, they have quite a temper, something that Rudi can confirm after one of them bit his foot.
We also visited a training centre today to sweat a bit, as well as to swim, courtesy of Arturo Sverre Storaker Molina, the Norwegian consul general here in Punta Arenas.
Last chance – there won’t be much swimming on Antarctica!
Don’t ask us how we got here!
