Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

to a grey-headed albatross colony. We also saw and photographed diving petrel
young, which Peter recovered from a burrow in the peat. There were also lovely
green lawns of short grass and wanderers, giant petrels and other birds to watch. We
returned by the way we had come and a boat was waiting to take us out to Bransfield
in the heavy swell that had developed. It was quite dangerous getting out of the
gemini and up the pendulous rope ladder. We had a proper lunch on board at 2.30
pm, the first meal of the day, a shower and a change.
Meanwhile Bransfield was steaming around the north end of South Georgia en
route for Grytviken. There were lovely atmospheric lighting effects - sun shafts, snow
storms, and clouds. We reached Grytviken at 8.15 pm, but took a long time tying up
alongside the jetty. The base Fids came aboard and I had a chat with Mick Pawley
(BC) and with others in the Fiddery for a while. Later we watched the film "Blow up"
in the wardroom and to bed at 12.30 am. Next day the morning was dull under low
cloud and we walked around the whaling station before breakfast. It snowed heavily
and lay for some time. Mick Pawley came over for Eric and me and we spent the rest
of the day inspecting the base; it was in very good shape, morale high (unlike my last
visit, l973-74 season) and the work was progressing well. We stayed ashore for lunch
and continued in the afternoon. Roy Piggott and Eric Salmon accompanied me.
Afterwards we discussed the few problems identified and then Eric and I tried out
the new base launch Albatros, which was most impressive and performed well.
Meanwhile the unloading was going ahead, cargo being taken across the cove from
Grytviken to KEP by scow. During the day Ian Hogg had dropped a crate of bricks
on his foot and broke a bone. This was very bad luck for him, as he had come out on
the ship for the summer only - and it would take a month before he was sufficiently
recovered to get around. At 7 o’clock I walked across to the Point again with Eric
and we had 11/2 hrs with Mick Pawley, before joining the base party. The evening
was very enjoyable and I walked back with Brian and Gordon Eddie at 11.30 pm and
to bed at 12.30 am.
Tuesday 13 January dawned a beautiful sunny morning and I took some
photographs before breakfast; I climbed up the mast which gave a good all round
view. Roy Piggott wanted to discuss a problem after breakfast and then I walked
round to the Point. There Eric and I talked with John Hall about the base, then
discussed a problem Roger Timmis (Glaciologist) and in conjunction with Roy and
Mick came up with a solution. I saw Jonathan Walesby (Marine Biologist), Lawson
and Hunter (unrepentant about a winter crossing of the island they had made, which
was against orders). I also spoke with the marine biologists and "Scobie" Pye, who
was doing some work on the rat biology, in addition to his job as carpenter. He
showed me his biological results which were impressive. He had some captured
animals in cages he had made, and had distributed rat-survey forms to field parties
around the island and was himself making collections on Hestesletten and at
Grytviken for comparisons. Bransfield meanwhile moved across the bay to tie up at
KEP the engine repairs complete. After supper I finished a letter to Maureen and
posted it - for Endurance, which arrived about 7.30 pm and anchored off Hope Point.
I walked ashore and talked to some of the Fids, then back aboard to wash some
clothes.
We cast off at 9 o’clock on a bright sunny day, 14 January, after Endurance had
tied up at Grytviken; Gordon Eddie now left us. The views were superb as we left in
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