We've had a lot of visitors this week!
We started with Jim and Jean Foley, on their yacht the Onora (http://www.foleysail.com/). I helped give them the station tour and got included in the return dinner invitation; very nice folks, very nice vessel - not the prettiest thing floating but it's exactly what the Foleys want for the long, intercontinental, and extreme latitude sailing that they do. They're heading north from here so they're waiting for a bit of weather to pass through before they cross the Drake. They've been visiting the local islands, doing some engine maintenance, and hosting any of us who wanted to visit while they've been here. They're anchored in Hero Inlet, just off to the side of the station.
Next we got in a bunch of Canadians on the Sedna IV (pictures and English description at http://www.onf.ca/aventures/sedna/arcticmission/ma_voilier/visite.html; French expedition journal at http://sedna.tv/). They are a professional camera crew who have already made a successful documentary on the Arctic, now following up down here. They are shooting some footage here of the local islands and our birder group, who have been studying local bird populations for 30 years. Then they'll head up to Melchior Island, just north of here, pick up science personnel and winter over. They gave a science talk on Thursday and a few of us visited them last night. They have a grand vision but they're not starry-eyed romantics: they have solid experience and a sturdy and comfortable vessel, well-equipped and supplied. I'm looking forward to reading their winter journal postings although the Google translation lacks a certain something; for example, "Palmer Station" translates as "Micrometer caliper." Hmmm. They're over in Arthur Harbor, the opposite side of the station from Hero Inlet.
The Spirit of Sydney (http://www.spiritofsydney.net/), a medium-sized yacht, is in the vicinity and stopped in for a station tour. They haven't been socializing so I can't tell you much more about them. We see their mast in various locations around the outer islands.
On Wednesday we hosted the Cheeseman's Eco-Safari (http://www.cheesemans.com/): this is a family business running ecological-focused tours worldwide. For this trip they chartered the Polar Star, a former research vessel, and showed up here with 92 passengers. Of all the commercial trips these folks come across as the most serious about making an actual connection with the places that they visit. They spend more time in the Antarctic Peninsula area and each day they have more time on land than the other visitors. Less deluxe, more voyage. Interesting people to talk to.
On the opposite end of the spectrum we visited the Rotterdam (http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruiseships/Rotterdam) on Thursday. This vessel is honking huge: over 1200 passengers, 600 crew. They don't visit Palmer! As a matter of fact their passengers never get off the boat down here, so when we went out to give our presentation the only facility for getting on board was a rope ladder hanging out of an open hatch. This got pretty exciting with 6-8' swells but we did fine. The vessel is very comfortable and deluxe, the people were extraordinarily nice to us, but it sure is the windshield tour. Their passengers don't have the opportunity to make contact with Antarctica. On the other hand, we did see people in wheelchairs and older people who wouldn't be up to the challenges of a more engaged trip. We had a great response to our presentations, and the staff sent us home with t-shirts and freshies. Since our next incoming supply trip is Feb 18 we sure do appreciate that!
Yesterday we had the Clipper Adventurer (http://www.intrav.com/transport/adventurer/intro.asp), an old friend by this point. Very nice, well-organized trips, professional staff, and also a good example of the cooperation we get down here: they've helped move our staff in and out when the Gould was getting its engine repaired. One of their lecturers on this trip was a broadcaster who filmed the South Pole Millenium New Year's party, he remembered me and we had a nice chat.
Are you feeling exhausted yet? We are! We have been able to get some genuine work done in amongst all the babble, and our socializing with the Sedna folks and the Foleys have been after hours, but we are looking forward to a quieter week coming up.
My best to all and have a happy Burns Night,
-Sarah