Sweet Victory @ Rothera

Yesterday we were at the British base at Rothera. This is a long-standing stop on the cruise and is highly anticipated by both the people on the Gould as well as the Brits. Many of us went ashore at 7:00 AM while an equal number of Rothera people came aboard. The Gould left on a half day cruise and we got a tour of the facilities and environs of the base. They even have a runway with several aircraft that ferry people to and from field camps, do aerial surveys etc. There is also an extensive diving operation (year round) along with a wide variety of oceanographic, geologic, meteorologic and other scientific activities. However all work and no play would be dull indeed, and the annual soccer game was an event of huge proportion.   Over the years we have never won a game or even had a lead in a game. This year our team enjoyed a splendid 1-0 victory. The team was helped, no doubt, by Hugh Ducklow’s salute of Rothera from the deck of the Gould on a loud vuvuzela. Since this vuvuzela came from the World Cup it may have portended good things for us. The game was played on a dirty gravelly surface that was pretty slippery.  Also note the background scenery – pretty fantastic! The score at the half was 0-0 but the halftime break was interrupted by 3 Adelie penguins who wanted to take over the field and this may have been another good omen. Early in the second half we scored a glorious goal and held on defensively for the win. The third picture shows the victorious team celebrating our win. After a nice dinner in the Rothera dining hall we moved to the much-anticipated party. And people partied indeed! Some not returning to the boat until the wee hours of the morning. All in all it was a truly fantastic day and one which we will all remember for a long time.