Friday, February 3 2012–Day 29 Ushuaia Argentina

The night was uneventful now that we are in the Beagle Channel.  We got up bright and early as we had ported at 5:30am.  Short port today as we have to be back on board by 2:30. The town didn’t open until 9:00, so we left the ship shortly thereafter. This port is the southern most city.  It is called the gateway to the Artic.

It started out cold and rainy…but that didn’t deter us!

In the 20th Century, this was a prison for the hardened criminals.  Similar to Alcatraz, with the mountains and the cold sea, there was no escape.

 

 

Well, we only took 488 pictures today, but it is SO BEAUTIFUL, the pictures really don’t do it justice when God’s hand is all around you.  We love and miss you all.  Again, our only wish is that you could be here with us, we are in awe of His majesty.

Another note, we just learned that we are approaching a MAJOR storm with 40 foot waves in the pacific.  Captain Mercer is asking Punta Arenas Chile if we can spend Saturday night in their port.  He said our schedule for the next 3 ports will be altered.  We will know more later.  Naturally the safety of his crew and passengers is of utmost importance.  He has sailed for over 42 years and is a wonderful captain and keeps us informed. No worries.

Thursday, February 2, 2012 Groundhog–Day 28…At Sea…

We encountered turbulent weather.  Waves 10-14 feet high.  These pictures are right from our cabin window.  I took my motion sickness meds and went to bed until 2:30.  Jerry worked out and the treadmill dropped about 8 feet while he was walking!  Jerry continued his day as normal.

This is our friends, Widi and Andre.  Jerry went up and had coffee with them.

 

  Then on to Computer Classes, at least two per day!  We went to supper tonight in the Fontaine Room.

After Supper, we entered Beagle Channel so the seas calmed down. The view was spectacular!

 

We received our Cape Horn Certificates from Captain John Mercer.  Because of the storm we had entered the Channel early and headed for Ushuaia, Argentina.

Wednesday, February 1 2012–Day 27 Antarctica

We spent the night in Palmer’s Strait as Explorer John Splettstoesser, an Antarctica expedition Team Leader boarded our ship bright and early this morning.  John grew up in Minneapolis Minnesota and now lives in Waconia Minnesota…..hmmm wonder if he is related to our cement guy, Dave! 

 

We received our Antarctica Certificate signed by Captain John Mercer.  It’s hard to believe there are no permanent human residents, but 1000 to 5000 people reside throughout the research stations.  5.4 square million miles -huge and desolate.

 

We started our day with Chris in the Techspert Lab working with our camera, computer and blog. Then on to Team Trivia, and Nan’s second time playing Bingo and second WIN!  I got so excited I yelled HEY BINGO, instead of just BINGO!

THEN….I hit a royal flush in the casino.  When you’re hot you’re hot.  But seriously, the casino handed out blankets, that’s how cold it was. 

YEEEEEHHHHHAAAAAWWWWWW!!!!!!!! 

Captain Mercer came over the intercom and said he was sorry, but there is no way around it.  We are headed into a storm.  They are handing out Meclizine, green apples, crackers and ginger tea. They even have the “little bags” hanging on the stairways. We have now turned toward a northeasterly course towards South America heading straight toward the Beagle Channel and the Horn.

We got the movie “Have you Heard about the Morgan's?”, ordered in chocolate chip cookies, fruit and milk and are calling it a night! Sweet dreams.

Well, we love you guys and think of you often.  The only thing that would make this trip better is if each and every one of you were here with us.  Special prayers today for Jude. Every night the captain puts a card on our bed that says: “The ship’s captain and crew wish you a restful sleep tonight as we look to tomorrow’s horizons”. Then there is a daily reading.  Todays was:  “Climb high, climb far. It’s the journey, not the arrival that matters.” T.S. Elliot.  We know this in our life.  We have had a wonderful journey.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - Day 26, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic

Our Antarctic experience continues…

As we were climbing the stairs to the gym this morning, 3 crew members were taking large canisters of hot chocolate to an outside deck.  They were singing praises to the Lord – we had to join right in!  What an awesome way to start our day, deeply grateful for all of the blessings He has bestowed on us.

Right from the gym….

We sailed into Croker Passage, from Croker Passage we entered Gerlache Strait, following along the shores of Brabant Island on our starboard (right) side. Then went on through Neumayer Channel. One of the earliest navigators in the Artic was the Norwegian mariner, Fridtjof Nansen who sailed down to Antarctica with his ship called “Fram'”. The Fram still holds the record for the farthest south ever sailed by a ship.  Our ship, the MS Amsterdam is the last of the big ships going to be able to navigate down this channel. The Argentine government is making this a Reserve. Smaller ships of 75-100 passengers will be allowed in the future. The following are pictures of beautiful Antarctica.

Base Camp: The farthest south.

It’s been day light continually, so it’s strange to get ready for bed when it’s still light out!We took hundreds of pictures today alone, it’s just so beautiful, it was natural joining in signing praises to the Lord, made our day.  Love you all!