Last night we left the protection of the Magellan strait. As we were heading toward the open waters we had the first citing of penguins. They were swimming and were just as fast as the dolphins that were also spotted. Some of us with a romantic side turned their eyes and cameras toward a spectacular sunset.
The romantic revelry did not last. Soon after dinner we entered the Drake and have been rocking and rolling since. The Drake is living up to the expectations. So are the crew and everybody in the science party. It is a bit more quiet in the labs and the galley, but as Andy, a Cornwall fisherman of 33 years and our drilling superintendent told me: "Men are not meant to be put in tin a box and shook around."
Despite the effect of the seas, the excitement and enthusiasm are not diminishing. Students are standing watch 24 hours and with great dedication chart our position and monitor the lab equipment. Raytheon technicians are busy teaching us more about the tools available on the Palmer. The multi-beam swath bathymetry system was started this afternoon and, as we have reached the international waters, we will soon have the first data.
The galley is still baking cookies around the clock. Ooops! Excuse me. Maybe I should have not had that last one.
Alex Injac