Friday, November 27 – E-base, Seals and Death Walk

We’re sailing whole night to reach Bellingshausen Islands. Today is the last day of the expedition before we start our journey back to Ushuaia. Early in the morning about 8 a.m. we reached the coast and met with our host Mr. Aleho, Chilean man who spent probably more time in Antarctica than anyone else, as Robert explained us.

Immediately after we landed on the island, the first picture that attracted my attention is huge number of small stations all around – Russians, Chileans, etc., and all of them doing the same thing – weather forecast, and additionally using coal for producing energy. Putting in other words – doing absolutely nothing significantly important for science.

Right on the next hill is “E-Base”, first totally environmentally-friendly station, powered by wind and solar energy. It looks a bit ironic when you see one station among all of them using alternatives for its energy needs, but at least good start and hopefully in upcoming years more and more station will change their course in terms of energy supplies.

Besides, “E-Base” is live proof that using of alternative energy resources and meeting our energy demands is possible, and it’s possible even in inhospitable environment such as Antarctica. If it is possible here, than IT’S POSSIBLE EVERYWHERE!

Bellingshausen is well-known island by its unpredictable weather… Today we took a walk around the island, going deep into the island and experiencing real Antarctica unkindness followed with strong, dry wind, which makes me feel dehydrated and taking water every 20 minutes. It’s quite strange feeling to experience such a cruelty at the end of the expedition… it makes memories, experience and gained inspiration even more intense and raise a question in my mind – When will I come back in Antarctica again?

On the way back to catch up the zodiacs we saw couple of seals lying down on the beach. Unforgettable last picture to take home from the end of the world…

All crew is on board; sailing back to Ushuaia is started with bell rings from upfront deck to symbolize the end of the Antarctica Expedition and the beginning of ACTION!

And as Robert Swan likes to say – WITHOUT COMMITMENT THERE IS HESITATION AND THE CHANCE TO DRAW BACK. NO HESITATION. CARRY ON!