Invercargill

 

You do almost feel like you are at the end of the world in Invercargill.  A quaint city that still feels like a town, very quiet, lots of empty shops, but spotlessly clean and very efficient.  Arriving a day early was a very good idea – it was very blustery, not particularly cold, but the wind was strong enough to want to blow you in any other direction except the one in which you want to go.  The streets are like wind tunnels!  I spent all yesterday trying to finish off my lectures – 3 down, 3 to go.

 

 

 

The Kelvin Hotel rises above the rest of the buildings like one of those transformer toys – very blocky, quite old-fashioned but also quite charming in its own way.  Most of the group have arrived now – it has been great to renew friendships with Dean, who I shared a cabin with last trip to Antarctica, and with whom I will share on this trip.  I have been sharing a hotel room with Karen from San Francisco, and that has been fun.  Have caught up with the lovely Scott Davis, delighted he is on the trip, and also Laboun from Saudi Arabia.

 

 

This is my one and only opportunity to send any photos before we embark on the now notorious Akademik Shokalskiy for a month in the Sub-Antarctic islands and the Ross Sea area.  We have been told that the Ross Sea is looking the best it has for around 10 years or so, which should mean we get to do all our landings.

 

Next update hopefully will be from the ship.

 

Ahoy me hearties.

 

I can spot an elephant from 1000 paces!