Having boarded the R.R.S John Biscoe in Southampton in October 1966 we sail across the Bay of Biscay and out into the Atlantic Ocean. The order of the days is sunbathing when nothing else to do.  We cross the Equator - here tradition has it that first timers crossing the Equator are subjected to a "Crossing the Line" ceremony.  After you have succumbed to this ceremony you continue southwards down the coast of South America to the Falkland Islands.  The first albatross is sighted and it follows the ship.  

 Eventually after 3 weeks on the seas the R.R.S john Biscoe arrives in Port Stanley - the capital of the Falklands Islands.   Work has to be done helping to load sandbags onto the ship.  You have an evening at a reception at Governers House.  After a brief stay in the Falklands the ship moves out to visit,offload supplies and collect items from BAS Bases in the Antarctic Peninsular (Grahamland).  The ship moves into open water, past icebergs and into the pack ice. You admire the scenery and see the first seals on floating ice.

The first base to visit is Signy Island - installed on solid ground from Fibreglass construction.   After Signy you head into Deception Island base- which is inside a volcano caldera. Steam can be seen to be emitted around the water's edge even though snow and ice are all around. From Deception Island the ship heads back into the Grahamland scenery and down to Anvers Island - where supplies are offloading and Husky pups taken on board. 

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