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Day 3 - December 30, 1999
IT'S ONLY ROCK AND ROLL

Yesterday during a briefing about the Zodiac landing craft, our team leader Geoff Green told us, that in his experience during his 60 visits to Antarctica, the waters of the Drake Passage were, on a scale of 1 to 10, behaving at about a 5.  1 being so calm you could water ski, 10 being a full force Hurricane. Well, last night the seas were easily at 7. I slept well, but was awoken a few times by the sounds of things crashing to the floor and breaking glass. I'm glad to report that all in our party are well, and not in the least bit seasick.

12pm:  The captain made an announcement, that everyone should go to an outside view point. Everyone did just that.  On the far horizon we could barely make out a few eerie shapes. 20 minutes later we were sailing between Icebergs. Forget the movies, there is nothing in showbiz or books that can ever ready you for the real thing.

2:08pm: We are now passing between Nelsons Island and Roberts Island, entering the Nelson Straits.

4:42pm. We have just arrived at Half Moon Island; at 5:30PM the first group of people will be going ashore in the Zodiacs. The Zodiac landing craft was designed by the late, great Jacques Cousteau. I will be going across with the 2nd group.

9:30pm. I have just returned from Half Moon Island, it was amazing.  Penguins, Skuars and Fur Seals. I managed to find some time on my own and spent 10 minutes sitting on a rock and just admired the scenery.  The weather has been amazingly calm and not too cold all day.   At one point a Chinstrap Penguin came within 2 feet of me, he just wanted to check me out.

I'm off now to watch Diana Krall perform. Ah the perfect end to the perfect day.