The British Antarctic Base built in the 1940’s at Port Lockroy was known simply as Base A. As we got back into our drysuits again we paddled across to Base A from the ship and pulled up in the middle of a colony of Gentoo Peguins. Climbing up the slope and across the deep packed snow of the ‘Penguin Highway’ we looked around the base, parts of which had been carefully restored to their operating days in the 1940’s and 50’s. Staff at the base operate a small shop and mailbox from which we could sent our postcards – approximate delivery time 4 – 6 months!
From the base we kayaked around the ice again and past another Gentoo colony and nesting blue-eyed Cormorants, sitting on their eggs. Returning to the ship we had ice cream cones and hot chocolate on the deck as we watched the sun setting near midnight. The beautiful appearance of pink ice coloured the landscape as we continued to the Lemaire Channel, our furthest point south.
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