Thanks to the lads off the warship all the parts are now at Maiviken hut to do repairs.

On the way up to Deadmans it started gusting 25 knots which with the insulation board in hand allowed us to be pulled up the slope by the wind.

They started with a two man lift on the ply and ended with a four man lift – much more sensible.

Now the small world part! One of the officers on the warship was a guy I sailed with in Dubai when I was 16 or 17. Him and his father invited me onto their Val 31 trimeran to race in the Presidents Cup after the boat I was on had a collision. It was one of the most fascinating races I have done.

All these years later I didn’t recognise him but he thought it was me but didn’t say anything until he looked up my blog. The chances of meeting up in South Georgia after such a long time have to be very very slim indeed – I am not that good of a mathematician to work that out. Unfortunately he figured it out after he had been ashore for his ‘shore leave’ so we didn’t get to catch up.

This post is copied from Rob Websters 365 photos.

Leopard Seal Hauled Out, By The Nordenskiold Glacier12 / 365Early this morning a couple of RIBs crewed by myself, Ashley, Alastair, & Katie headed out to Sorling Valley on the Barff Peninsula to pick up part of a group of 17 soldiers that we had dropped off on Friday. We had to wait about 20 mins for their helicopter to fly in and drop off their immersion suits and take their backpacks – we made the most of the time by having a look at the nearby Nordenskiold Glacier, one of the largest in the area. We were lucky enough to spot one of the elusive and formidable Leopard seals, enjoying a laze on a small berg. This is the first time i’ve had a good look at one of these beautiful and deadly creatures since i began coming to the polar regions, so it was extremely special. This sighting is very rare, and I’m over the luna to have gotten quite a number of good photos of it too.

These photos will be sent to scientists monitoring the distribution of leopard seals around South Georgia and they should be able to identify it and see if it has been photographed before.

A truly great moment.

We have been busy boating the last few days taking RFA back and forth from their ship and the next two days we will be doing the same with the Royal Navy. In the short periods between I have been busy in the wood shop making rat bait boxes. Tommy, Rob, Alastair and Kieron have joined in at various points to help out as well. 40 boxes to be made.

The only reason we come to an animals rescue is if the injury is due to human interference such as a packing band around their neck etc. I hasten to add that when ever we get something like this on packaging in base we immediately cut in just in case it gets out of the waste disposal bags.
Sarah saw a widge (juvenile fur seal) with a band around it’s neck so she called Alastair. The two of us went out with a blade (to cut the band off) and a noose to hold the seal steady while cutting the band off. Alastair held the seal and I cut the noose it seemed to be a happier seal for it.

Photo by Alastair Wilson

This morning we transfered 8 people to the Barff Peninsula for 3 days of camping for a visiting ship.

This is a picture of Tommy driving and me holding on tight courtesy of Sam who was on the other RIB holding on tight as well!

I left for my morning run and could only see a few hundred yards ahead of me with the morning mist. However, looking up it thinned and some of the mountains were lit by early morning sunlight. When I got around to Grytviken I wished I had had my camera as the wrecks were just appearing out of the mist and the sight was surreal. By the time I turned around at the hydro plant the wind had started to thin out the mist and move it offshore the cove became clear quickly. I was soon able to see the waterfall next to Shackletons grave which I could hear as it was in full flow with all the rain. The giant petrels were trying to take off looking like large overloaded airplanes eventually becoming airborne. I ran the last section fast to grab my camera as the ground fog was clinging to the slopes of Duse, Bore Valley and Gull Lake. The mist was coming back in as the wind switched direction so I took the above picture.

These are pictures taken by Katie which I am in – bit of a photo diary because I have been a bit lazy with my blog of late!

Painting team this last weekend at the hut it started to rain so we wrapped the recently painted area in a tarp!

View from the stern of the jet boats to Grytviken (the boats can go 30 knots).

The fisheries patrol vessel leaving with the old winterers shrouded in orange smoke flares. Just before christmas.

Aboard the cruise ship we got hurriedly taken off of when the wind came up.

Tommy Katie and I went for a great walk from base to pinnacle pass than traversed round to echo pass it was a beautiful day for it.

Most of the base went to help Alastair weighing seal pups.

Sam, Katie and myself sorted out the years worth of food in the freezer (-20) in a way that means you can see what is there and not freeze trying to find it!

Picture by Katie Brigden
Today at 6pm we gathered around the flag pole and raised a new South Georgia flag in honor of Possession Day. On this day in 1775 Captain Cook took possession of South Georgia for the crown. This is marked by a reception by the Commissioner of the Territory (the Govenor of South Georgia) at Government House Stanley. It is meant to be a holiday however, we all worked as per usual – science and painting must go on!

Matt and I spent the morning grinding old paint off the fuel store (one section of it) and getting a coat of paint on before the rain started.

I helped Tommy do the weekly fire alarm test and mocked up a rat box of which I have to make 20 for a project. We will attempt to catch 20 rats for scientists to look at their genetic make up. This will mean after the eradication if rats appear again they will know if they were reintroduced or from the old population. After work despite the constant drizzle Rob and I ran up to Deadmans in the mist.

Photo by Katie Brigden
Title is two fold. My blog software is not allowing me to load up pictures so I leave it to Matt the other boating officer to tell you about today.

http://southgeorgiajournal.blogspot.com/2011/01/return-of-jcr.html

Also seeing as he is duty boatman this weekend I am not working and he was 🙂 that however, leaves me with lots of navy guys next weekend as I am duty boat and will have to shuttle them back and forth to shore.

Instead I went for my normal daily 20 minute run, followed by the gym and then went with Martin up Duse from base to the top in 45minutes. This is the fastest I have done it in and back to base for an hour and 10 minute round trip. I am enjoying feeling fitter with my weekly exercise schedule of
five x 20 minute morning runs
five x gym sessions lifting weights and doing core exercises
six x evening sessions of 40-90 minute hill runs or 4.5 hour hill walks with weights in my rucksack

I must admit to feeling a bit sore this afternoon. So I helped Tommy in the kitchen and made a plethora of desserts to use up the freshies that were going bad from the World. We have melon sorbet, pear tart, flourless chocolate cake and banana bread. I also made a split pea and leek soup using the pork stock from last week.

It hasn’t rained much today which has been really nice but it is gusting 55 knots and averaging in the low 20’s.

Also exciting news is that my parents are coming to visit on a cruise ship the Plancius on the 11th February. Last night the ship was in so we went aboard for dinner and drinks and I was able to chat to the crew that will be on when my parents are guests. Hopewfully they will be well looked after.

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Today The World came to visit http://www.aboardtheworld.com/ and we went aboard for drinks and to answer questions on what we did on South Georgia. As a gift they gave us lots of freshies including – Grapes, melons, pineapples etc. it is christmas all over again! Also today after taking the government officer Pat aboard a south afican research ship we started on our Maiviken hut renovations. Alastair, Rob, Tommy and myself loaded up with tools and paint and went over to the hut but with rain we weren’t able to paint the hut. Instead we took apart some old science equipment and also helped out with some seal research for Alastair. We also measured up for some new siding for the hut as what is on there is rotten and will do another trip next weekend maybe weather permitting with the new siding which I shall pre cut and paint on base before we lug it 7 km to the hut. Hope you all have a great weekend.