USHUAIA
Passing the famous Drake Passage
2nd - 6th January | 2023
We passed through the famous Drake Passage over the next three nights. It was pretty bumpy as the waves were up to 4m. However, once in a while, we hit waves of 8(!)m. Then everything in the kitchen and in the bar made a "concert" of falling metal or breaking glass. It is a miracle, probably well-trained staff, that we still got excellent food, and even the bar still served drinks!
It usually took some people off their chairs when we hit these high waves! Thankfully nobody got really hurt, but you had to hold tight to the table or something solid connected to the ship. One evening at dinner, suddenly my mum was gone - just last second I could hold her chair with one hand and myself with the other to our dinner table!
Our beds were all the time "ice skating" in our room, and occasionally we had to clear our floor of staff fallen down. However, this time it felt different as the wind was not so strong, so it was more rolling; on our way South, it was solid rocking around!
On the 3rd day, we finally got into the "quiet" Beagle Channel. Also was the outside deck open, so we could get some fresh air again. And enjoy the view over the mountains around.
By the end of the day, we reached Ushuaia, Argentina. After dinner, my mum and I went downtown to have a stroll around. It was really nice to have some solid ground under your feet :-D
The next day was departure day. We got up really early as the charter flight for our group was supposed to leave at noon. During breakfast, we got the information that everything will be delayed, and if we want we could go onshore again until 13h00.
I don't know if you have ever been on a cruise ship, but your luggage will be collected during the night and you have to leave your room by latest 10am. So in this case we were stranded in the bar area and waiting for more information about the delay.
I went with one couple onshore for a last stroll through Ushuaia as there was nothing else to do. When we got back, they had already started taking people to the airport. Also, did everybody receive a lunch bag for take-away.
At the airport, we had again to wait as the flight was finally announced for 17h30. I had a last Argentinian beer (€6 for the tin!) and at 17h00 we finally started boarding - Halleluja! It was a very basic aeroplane, so no real comfort :-(
Around 6am we had a quick stop at Cabo Verde for some more fuel and finally, at 15h00 we landed in Frankfurt, Germany. I felt like a zombie as hardly slept since yesterday morning! We were lucky that we got a good train connection to Cologne (Köln). And then got our taxi driver lost on the way home - it is normally an 8min ride!! Seriously!!
To finish off the day, we got "Turkish Pizza" with french fries from the restaurant next door - YUMMIE! Shortly after, we were in bed - zzzzzz!
I hope you enjoyed the excursion to Antarctica as much as I did, even though it was not bike related. Thank you so much for following my mum and me on this very extraordinary excursion!
I am afraid, there will be for the next month no blog as I am busy with the preparation for the next leg of the RTW trip! So if you are curious where the next leg will take me, just check HERE around Easter!
Places | Cities:
Ushuaia (Argentina)
Health issues:
Guess what - the tickly, dry cough!
Special thanks to:
My mum to take me to this life-time memorable trip.