Sunrise 6/1/00, in the Straits of Magellan, our final day at sea.

9:15 am 6/1/2000 35 degrees, light wind, overcast.

After a beautiful sunrise over the Straits of Magellan we are currently at anchor in Punta Arenas harbor. The main pier in Punta Arenas is filled with ships and the NBP will not be able to tie up until midnight tonight.

The hills behind the city of Punta Arenas are lightly covered with snow and low hanging clouds suggest snow or rain may be in the immediate forecast.

Customs officers are on board now clearing our arrival back into Chile. Once the paperwork is done, plans call for a water taxi to come to the ship to take people ashore. Schedule is now for water taxis at 1 pm and again at 7 pm tonight. Return to the ship will only be possible once the Palmer is tied up to the main pier at midnight.

Tomorrow will be spent unloading cargo and exploring the area around Punta Arenas. A post cruise banquet is planned for Friday night at a local restaurant. Saturday morning most of us begin the series of long flights home and the crew of the Nathaniel B. Palmer begin preparing to welcome aboard another science party and head back to the Antarctic.

Cheers,

Dave

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