Peters' Antarctic Adventure

Finally, after lots of rumours and false starts, we boarded the RSV Nuyina on Friday 16th Feb 2024 and pulled away from the wharf at 8:00PM! After the ship turned around and began to head south out to sea, I pulled my trusty bagpipes out of their case and played a couple of tunes to celebrate our long anticipated departure. It was a beautiful still Hobart evening with a sunset to boot.          Very quickly after that I took the first of my little blue seasickness tablets in the hope that they would keep away the nausea that has plagued me on other sea going trips... most notably on our honeymoon trip to Tassie on the Seacat from Port Welshpool. We foolishly ate a packet of Chicken in a Biscuit as we left and we very very sick on the trip to Gerogetown. After that we couldn't even look at a packet of those things without feeling squeamish!     For the next three days the Southern Ocean was generally pretty kind to us, with swells around 3-4 metres. Thi...

  February 12th 2024 CHECKLIST FOR DEPARTURE ON THE RSV NUYINA  Complete training mixed with lots of waiting around and wondering what we will do to fill in the day..Check Pack, unpack, repack, de-pack and repeat ad-nauseum. Check Shift hotel rooms multiple times. Check Spend much time wondering what to take/not take, make multiple lists, consult other experienced expeditioners, leave the really important things you will need at home. Check Ensure other expeditioners going to Mawson with you are not total lunatics likely to turn into the Antarctic Axe Murderer... possibly Check Ensure harmonious relations between Management staff of company operating the Icebreaker vessel RSV Nuyina and their employees .... Not so much checked. So, as you may have gathered the estimated departure date for us to travel to Mawson station from Hobart has arrived.. and departed into one of Hobarts rather lacklustre sunsets. I guess that is the way they are because from where my hotel is Mount Well...