12/18/07 Latitude: 73.52 S Longitude: 117.16 W
12/19/07 Latitude: 73.14 S Longitude: 116.25 W Temperature: -2.4 C** Wind Chill:** -17.7 C
Well, we are at the midpoint of our expedition, give or take a day. We did indeed get back into some ice last night to collect water samples close to the front of the ice shelf. Around 9pm I threw on my coveralls and went to see what was going on. It was great to be able to get back outside! It was snowing pretty steadily and there was some beautiful ice surrounding the ship. I spotted a single Adele on a snow drift, a seal popping his head up through the ice, and then later another Adele asleep on an ice floe either unaware or unconcerned about our presence.
Ice on the 18th
Wish we could jump into the snow!
Lone Adele
He looks so alone!!
As I was strolling around, I met several others who were out enjoying the evening after several stormy, indoor days! Rebecca was out doing a plankton tow and asked if I wanted to bring the net up. Yes! I replied.
Rebecca in snow
Let it snow, let it snow....*
Lollie Raises the Plankton Net
Not now! I have to watch the net!!*
Capt. Mattias
The Captain lends a hand with the tow, in the snow!*
Enjoying the Snow
Maria, Lollie and Holger: Huddle up- it's cold out here!!*
Description : 3 people with Lollie in the middle
So tonight we set our clocks up 16 hours. That means that at 4 AM, we lose 16 hours and it becomes 8 PM. There are various ideas about how to deal with this. Do we stay up through the night and go to sleep at 8?? Do we go to sleep, wake up for brunch, then go back to bed?? There is a movie marathon of sorts planned for those who want. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. I imagine that there will be some serious biological adjustments to be made in the next couple of days. Interesting thing "time"- as I look out the window it is just past eight in the evening. In eight hours, it will be eight o'clock again.