Day 13---last day in Antarctica

We first awoke around 4am to hear the engines at full speed. We sleep with the blinds up and have 20 hours if daylight. From bed we could see that we were slowly moving through heavy ice. We went back to sleep and later awoke to a clear sunny and very windy day. Captain said 35-40 K winds....much stronger than anticipated. Our destination was Linblad Cove. Too windy to be on deck so many of us crowded in the Bridge to view more spectacular glaciers.
I quickly took this shot but it in no way does justice to the beauty before us. Glaciers are every where on our trip...almost take them for granted.


Determined that the conditions were too poor to launch the Zodiacs we crossed the Bransfield Strait and head for the South Shetland Islands. Our new destination is Deception Island, a restless volcano. We enter through a narrow passage known as Neptune's Bellows.



The collapsed cone has become a very safe harbor. This was the site of a whaling station until 1930, when whaling no longer became profitable.
At the far end we anchor to let some passengers take The Polar Plunge. We watched from the deck.


Despite the warm cinder and some steam visible, those who partook said the water was VERY cold.
It was a gorgeous sunny afternoon and we took a self-portrait!



A little later we headed for the lounge and cocktail time. Each evening we have a recap of the day's activities including what the dive team found underwater that day...amazing.
Al is waiting for the recap while enjoying a cocktail!