I met Steve (British Antarctic Survey; BAS) at Heathrow (1 flight down, 4 to go). The highlight of the many hours in the air was flying across the Andes to Santiago (early morning flight 4) and on down to Punta (flight 5). Flying over the Andes towards Punta on such a clear day was incredible, even more so when the Captain announced that in twenty minutes we would be flying past Volcan Hudson (1,600 km south of Santiago) which had just started erupting one hour earlier (that means just as we were taking off)! I thought I’d misheard but sure enough, there out of the window we saw the ash cloud rising and as the news spread the whole plane became a hive of activity and Chilean chatter as everyone peered out of the windows to see the spectacle below. Nearing the end of our 40 hour journey this excitement soon woke us up.

On arrival in Punta we were met by Agunsa. Later we ate in La Luna – the restaurant where, three years ago when on our honeymoon Steve (husband) and I met Steve (BAS) and other colleagues by chance one December evening, as you do. Punta might be at the southern tip of Chile but it’s a hub of activity, and a small world in terms of links with Antarctica – the hotel is full of people waiting for the weather window to continue their journey to Antarctica, whether to the South Shetlands, Halley, Rothera, Novo etc. A day or two for us to wait before our flight to the South Shetlands – currently scheduled for Sunday – weather permitting …