Steam From Box 1 to Box 2 | East Antarctica

Friday to Sunday, 9-11 February 2024
Day 79-81 of 110ish

Box 1 – Tick!

No More Fishies For Us

Today our allotted quota in Box 1 has been caught and it’s time to move the roughly 560nm to our next fishing hole in Box 2 which is further along the coast of East Antarctica towards White Island and Davis Station. 

I’m super excited to see what beholds us though it looks like we might have to endure a bit of a weather system to start. Thinking positively, that usually brings some beautiful days behind it, which is exactly what we want in order to be able to see the land!!! 

Bring it on!

Morale Waning Continues

Otherwise, crew morale has taken a bit of a hit.

I think we are all starting to feel the grind and a bit of an the itch to finish the trip. The other day Dylan and Junior had a little bit of a tiff, but are swiftly back to being buds again.

The rest of us are tired and you can tell we all have less patience but, on the whole, everyone is holding tough. It hasn’t deteriorated to the point of bringing the boat’s lovely peaceful feeling to an end. Thank goodness!

Change of Scenery

The steam to the far end of Box 2 has been lovely. There is an evil weather system just above us and we are managing to, by chance, avoid the brunt of it.

And there are whales absolutely everywhere. You only have to gaze at the horizon and within 5 minutes you will have spotted at least one, but probably more, whales! 

I feel so privileged to be in this area, in this fragile and pristine corner of the world.  I feel changed and even emboldened. These creatures are thriving here because this is a highly regulated area.

However, they are still very much affected and in danger. Human activity and pollution have reached this far off place. Climate change is leaving it’s mark. My heart breaks for these animals who have had no part in this disaster but have to suffer the consequences. 

Time To Step Up And Save The Wild Places

And I have a small part in their struggle. There are parts that are easier to remedy than others but there is no time like the present to start living in line with my heart and my values.

It’s time to reduce my footprint again now that I’m wiser to the impacts of my actions. 

I am going to start eating vegetarian/pescatarian again, for them and for me. And I am going to become an active and engaged citizen scientist. As much as possible, I will eat locally.

Thankfully I live on a boat so it’s hard to accumulate material goods but I’ve never been too interested in that anyway. It’s the travel that’s the clincher. Our work means that we have to fly. If I want to see my family, I have to fly…or wait years to sail there.

Thankfully traveling by boat does reduce my tourist impact but boat ownership comes at an environmental cost too. Everything does, but it’s time to put on my big girl britches again and live my cleanest possible life…for these beautiful whales and all the creatures that call this little blue ball home. 

So watch this space as I develop my citizen science conservation project, Save The Wild Places.