April 6, 2006

Funded by the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs

Voids

We have been wrapping things up in these journals for a couple of days and SHALDRIL II is now officially over. We have been packing data and copying pictures and cleaning up behind us, ourselves as well as the boat--this year I joined in the traditional haircut before port. This morning we tied up at the dock during breakfast and then waited patiently to clear customs as the first step on our journey home. (If for no other reason, it is none to soon for me as I only had three pairs of pants and just ripped one of those. I believe in packing light, but two pairs of pants might be too light, and as I said before, I don't intend to wear a skirt in Antarctica.)

Many of us have been walking around town, and even though it is a nasty cold, wet, and windy day, Punta Arenas still holds its charm. I wonder about the people who get to live in those big old houses by the water where, after cruises that have ended in nicer weather than this, I have been able to escape to a memorable walk. We see favorite landmarks like the greenhouse at Jose Nogueira or the store in the little red house, as we wonder where to buy our first water, or coffee, or beer-beer seems to be the winner today. We are clutching in our hands those finds we hope to take home with us. Tonight we will all attend a cruise dinner together to celebrate our accomplishments and say goodbyes to some.

While Punta Arenas and our experiences here are at the forefront of our minds now, we will soon be home and looking back at the cruise. What I at least will remember is that after so many years of planning and talking about SHALDRIL almost every single day, sometimes dreaming about things like refueling and stability, going to meetings around the globe-even one when my son was two weeks old, although that was a mile from my home-and in the process getting to know each other so well, we have actually done it. It is not exactly as we planned, but in the end it is just as good in almost all respects. I am thrilled to have accomplished what we have but also wonder about the void it will leave in my days, though I won't mind the absence from my dreams.

We owe thanks to many, many people for making this cruise the success that it is. Right now, I would like to thank Suzanne O'Hara on board and April Metz at Rice University for updating our web pages each day. Also, all of the authors who made these pages far more interesting than I could have alone deserve the thanks of all of us. I will continue to enjoy their postings.

Best wishes, Julia Smith Wellner

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