Monday 9 March started with breakfast then we quickly proceeded to getting ready for kayaking.
It had been a long time coming but this was Glen and my opportunity to go out on the water in a double kayak and attempt not to kill each other.
We had to wait a while as the waters off Spert Island looked a little rough so it was touch-and-go for a moment whether we’d actually get to go out.
Meanwhile, we’d been given our onesies — one for ‘thermal’ layer and the other for the waterproof layer — which had to go on over our own thermals and our double layer of socks.
Glen and I sat around in our room for a while waiting for further instructions (and wanting to wait until the very last minute to put all our gear on in case we needed to pee).
Eventually the ship stopped and while everyone else was going out on zodiacs to cruise around the island, 16 of us head down to level 3 to customise our kayaks.
As there was no landing that day, we were put into the zodiac and the kayaks came out in a long line after us.
We then had to get into the kayaks from the zodiac, which was easier than it sounded and had the added benefit of not putting our waterproof feet in the water and them getting cold.
Almost as soon as we were all into our kayaks, Humpback Whales started to appear nearby. We all gasped with amazement at their appearance.
We didn’t go up to them but one of them came right next to Deidre and Graham’s kayak. I was so envious!
We watched them for a while as they got further away, then set off around Spert Island.
Spert Island is a group of exposed islands west of Trinity Islands, and is sensitive to wind and swell.
There doesn’t actually look to be much to Spert Island other than big walls of rocks that form imposing channels for us to go between.
The sea looked rough but thankfully there was no wind so we didn’t have to fight against much during our paddling.
Icebergs got trapped trying to pass between two bits of rock, their ice splintering off and drifting out to sea. These bits of ice made a sound like pop rocks.
We kayaked through two of the cliffs, along one of the channels that they formed, and then turned right at an intersection.
There was a big archway that would have been cool to go through but the guides were playing it safe.
This was partially due to the fact that they’d never kayaked there and they didn’t know anyone who had (often it was too rough).
We went one way then another before stopping at some open water where the seas were getting higher so we turned around and went back…then went back again.
Sadly, no more whale sightings but we did see fur seals as well as a solitary Gentoo Penguin on one rock and a solitary Chinstrap Penguin (finally!) on the one opposite.
There was also a flock of cormorants in the water that came close to us.
After about 2.5 hours we were taken back to the zodiac, got out our kayaks, and taken back to the ship.
Yay! We kayaked in Antarctica (and Glen and I haven’t gotten divorced).
The rest of the day passed quietly. We had lunch then a two hour nap.
I played many rounds of Monopoly Deal with various people in the lounge before going out to watch the sunset (with whales) and a 2-point-something-km-long iceberg.
This iceberg was huge! Its top was flat and level and continued on forever.
The sun set behind it and created a fantastic light display. Just when you think you can’t see anything else, then you see this.
We had dinner at Lindstrom, the ship’s fancy restaurant, that night with Ravinder and Narelle, which was a pleasant experience. Ate too much (despite it not being a buffet).
By 10pm we were all done and ready for bed. Another big day full of firsts!
Travels with Dan 
What do you say, eh?