Back to Antarctica 2022 Season Blog

Port Lockroy team members Kit Adams and Lucy Dorman, along with Conservation Carpenter Tank Adams, are finally travelling to Port Lockroy as we approach almost two years away from Antarctica. They will carry out essential assessments and repairs to our sites as well as lay a power cable to connect Bransfield House to the solar array installed on the Nissen Hut. The team will also install a new weather station funded by our Big Give campaign and get to work on the penguin survey. While Penguin Post Office isn't reopening in its usual capacity for now, Kit and Lucy will be handling any post that arrives at Port Lockroy. Follow their journey below.

Back to Antarctica 2022 Season Blog

Port Lockroy team members Kit Adams and Lucy Dorman, along with Conservation Carpenter Tank Adams, are finally travelling to Port Lockroy as we approach almost two years away from Antarctica. They will carry out essential assessments and repairs to our sites as well as lay a power cable to connect Bransfield House to the solar array installed on the Nissen Hut. The team will also install a new weather station funded by our Big Give campaign and get to work on the penguin survey. While Penguin Post Office isn't reopening in its usual capacity for now, Kit and Lucy will be handling any post that arrives at Port Lockroy. Follow their journey below.

2022: Blog | Community

10/02/2022

As we have mentioned before, this season is unlike recent others - we aren’t able to host visits. This means that most of the time it is just the three of us on our tiny Antarctica Island. We occasionally see the larger cruise ships sailing past and more frequently the yachts harbouring in the back bay to shelter from the harsh weather that Antarctica is testing their little vessels with. Despite Covid preventing us going onto ships, giving lectures, showing people the interesting artefacts in the museum and having our conventional post office open, it hasn’t managed to come close to touching the welcoming sense of community down here. Yachts that anchor nearby, radio to say hello allowing us to chat to friends we’ve made on previous seasons or those who are new to the area. Exchanges of well wishes and long waves from shore to vessel (a bit of a tradition at Port Lockroy) are always met with gratitude and enthusiasm.

Pictured: Kit waves to passing visitors

We have also managed, in a Covid secure way, to organise a way in which passing yachts and ships can get postcards and stamps. To hear the chattered excitement in the background of radio conversations while the operator tries to act coy, “I’ll check to see if anyone is interested”, never fails to bring a smile to your face. It is such a simple but lovely thing to be able to do – spreading joy in this ongoing pandemic, one stamp at a time.

Thank you all for your unconditional kindness and generosity. We hope we can welcome you all back into Bransfield House soon!

Kit Adams, Port Lockroy General Assistant 2021 - 2022

Follow the team's progress on social media using #BacktoAntarctica

Read the team's next blog