South Georgia Traverse - Day 3 - Stromness to the Ushuaia

4:17 on Wednesday the 15th November, 2006

We went to the graveyard and grouped for a photograph before jumping aboard the Zodiacs and returning to the warmth and safety of the Ushuaia. A warm shower, clean clothes and good food were a welcome prize.

We had a late lunch, followed by an amazing steak dinner. It’s impossible to convey the atmosphere on board the ship. We started into a sing song around 9pm, led by Cormac on the guitar, and this lasted into the early hours. Everyone joined in – a night we will never forget. Our Captain had followed the coastline to Grytviken and we were joined on board for the evening by a couple of staff, including the commissioner, who proved himself to be a great guitarist.

It was a tremendous feat of Pat Falvey to mount such an expedition and to undertake the crossing with a group of 25 ordinary people – with little or no experience outside of the training provided over the past 14 months. The hand picked group leaders ensured everything ran smoothly.

The team members showed tremendous strength of character and despite the tough conditions and definite discomfort, there wasn’t a single complaint. People worked together and supported one another throughout.

The support team were outstanding both in their role as supporters and in the force with which they joined in for the final leg of the traverse.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this truly historic event.

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