19 Mar Day 9 – To Plunge or Not to Plunge

Day 9 – To Plunge or Not to Plunge 

I woke up around 4:30 for good. It was rather blinding, opening my eyes!

I talked to Mukta for a while and we started packing our bags up around 4:50.

The zodiacs were coming back to get us around 5. We put everything back in the garbage bags and tried to knock down our snow walls.

Which was much harder than you would think! The snow had frozen solid around us, and we worked hard to get it looking like it did before we arrived. Mostly like it did anyway!

We walked down, hopped on a zodiac, and zoomed back to the ship. They were waiting for us with hot chocolate, which was a welcome sight!

I took off my gear in the mud room, and went and got right into pajamas. I set my alarm for 10, and I was asleep very quickly. The bed was sooooo soft. And warm. Ha!

At 10, the cruise director came on the speakers and said it was time to get ready for the polar plunge!

When I heard about the polar plunge, I was an immediate no. No desire whatsoever! Plus, you can do polar plunges anywhere! Except maybe Florida.

Then several people pointed out that you can’t do them at the ACTUAL poles! Plus, most of our group was doing it.

It was peer pressure. One hundred percent!

Mukta woke up too, and we put on our swimsuits and robes and went to sign the release forms. Then we met up in the lounge with everyone else.  It was packed! I think half the ship was doing it!

After our group was called, we went downstairs to the mud room again. They had music playing to get us excited!

When it was my turn, I knew I couldn’t stop to think. Simon, the cruise director, said he would film me. There was also a photographer on a zodiac. I was like – I DO NOT need pictures of this. But then I thought, well… why not! Let’s document it, even if no one ever sees it! So I gave him my phone, took off the robe, and immediately questioned all of my life’s choices!

I walked to the end, they put the rope around me, and I went downstairs. I asked about 20 questions – do I jump, do I stand here, there, etc. Stalling maybe?

Someone in the zodiac yelled – it’s your second polar plunge! Ha! Truth!

I truly didn’t know if I would be able to make myself jump. Then I heard someone counting to three, and I stopped thinking, and when they hit three, I jumped!

It wasn’t bad!

For about .5 seconds.

Your first thought is – not bad! Then it hits you. And it shocks you! Sooooo cold!

Back to the ladder immediately. I crawled out and was never so happy to be on a freezing platform. I climbed the stairs, and I was sooooo happy to be done and to have done it. I’m so glad I did! It’s a life experience, and I never need to do it again. 

Here’s video proof:

And a picture from the photographer:

Mukta did it right after me! They were waiting with hot chocolate again, and I grabbed one and went to shower. Mukta showered after me, and we sent our laundry off again. Our suite included laundry twice. It was extra nice to send away our wet swimsuits!

Here are the normal prices:

The view from our room:

After we got ready, we went to lunch. It was delicious, as usual.

Jenn and Audrey gave us the lowdown from their dinner last night. They said it was only for ten people and was amazing!

Then we went up to the Dome and hung out. We were going through Foyn Harbor which was a bay full of whales. Like we passed pods of 4-5 every 5 minutes. We would go outside, freeze and take pictures, come back in for two minutes, and then go out the other side. I just couldn’t believe how many there were.

Whales!

At 2:30 we had our last expedition. It was a zodiac ride through the bay to see a shipwreck. And hopefully, see even more whales!

We did both! Woohoo!

One of the other passengers very kindly took a picture of me. I had no idea! He told me later that he knew as photographers, we didn’t get in the frame enough. He is correct!

Love these green jackets!

There was a shipwreck in the harbor:

The ice was so blue.

When we got back, we got some pizza and then went back to the Dome. More whales!

The expedition briefing was at 7, so we went down for that. They said the Drake should be smooth again! My word, that would be lucky! Then it was time for dinner and then bed!

Antarctica At Last – January 13-24, 2024
Day 1 – On My Way 
Day 2 – Beautiful Buenos Ares 
Day 3 – To the Ship
Day 4 – Drake Lake 
Day 5 – First Penguins
Day 6 – Two Landings!
Day 7 – Penguins Again 
Day 8 – An Unintentional Polar Plunge and Camping on the Continent!
Day 9 – To Plunge or Not to Plunge 
Day 10 – The Day I Did Nothing 
Day 11 – Calm Waters Again 
Day 12 – Ushuaia For the Day