South Georgia has thrown us a baiting lifeline. The weather over the last week has been better than when we arrived during the southern summer time of February.

In the last 6 day the mad ratters have achieved more than in the previous 2 months.

At sea level our base camp is enjoying a perfect summer-like day. Blue skies, light airs, sunshine everywhere. The Island is flaunting its wild spirit and basking in its own glory.

I am not required for the baiting work. This spare pilot has no machine to fly; I have simply become a spare person, a human in need of adventure.

I head up into the peaks that crowd up in a semicircle just a mile behind the camp.

Just a 600 metre climb turns the warm day into a sunny winter wonderland, an ice realm of baby glaciers and cool ice-pools decorated with flat slabs of glittering ice blocks. Waterfalls pierce dark tunnels through thick sheets of snow and surreal cold needle peaks jut up to rake the clear azure sky.

This amazing Island of South Georgia slaps reason with an impossible overlay of sensations. They make a mad sense all of their own when put together. Just like the peaceful madness of Spike Milligan's insane and zany humour.

It's time to climb back down from the high and airy ridge back to our base camp, basking in the sunshine at the waters edge.

"I must go down to the sea again,
To the lonely sea and the sky.
I left my shoes and socks there,
I wonder if they are dry?"


On a totally different note I'd like to remember an evening meal we all enjoyed recently at "The Restaurant At the End Of the World", shortly before the main party moved out to 'Purgatory Bay':

Freshly baked breadsticks
Hummus and fresh garlic mayonnaise dips

Sweetcorn risotto with Parmesan crisp

Mutton Putanesca
Polenta

Bread and Butter pudding
Fresh Trifle.

All served with one of the wildest views you can imagine.




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