Zanna

As I sit in the doorway of my tent on a hillock overlooking the incredible view of Fortuna bay, I am reminiscing over the past two weeks and what I have seen, done and learnt.

To summarise the past two weeks on South Georgia, I have points of advice:

1. Always carry with you a ski pole. If it’s not snow you are walking on, it is undoubtedly the turf of some lovely fur seal of whom the large majority appear to have a male inferiority complex and feel the need to assert their authority over you. A ski pole is, therefore, ones defensive weapon of choice.

2. Do not go anywhere without your camera as one can never have too many photos of the same penguin (of course it may be a different penguin but who can honestly tell the difference?!) However, if there is a lack of penguins, George will undoubtedly be around the corner, desperate to be in yet another of his own photos!

3. When a 70mph wind hits you whilst walking up the Karakatta Pass, crouch down to avoid toppling over and make like a rock (all that can be seen is the rucksack with a pair of arms, legs and occasionally a head sticking out from under it).

4. Excretion is a part of everyday life so get over yourself and squat over that rock upon which everyone else has left ‘little presents’.

Overall, it’s been a fantastic two weeks and regretfully our time is nearly over. With trips to our advanced base camp at the foot of Mount Best, a day of mountain skills, penguin surveys, the search for Shackleton’s stove an overnight bivouac under the stars, everyday has had new and exciting stories to tell and provided us with views that words cannot describe. Everyone is reluctant to leave this untouched natural beauty but time flies and we still have a lot more excitement to come.