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The Apollo 11 patch, and a shot of the Saturn V rocket blasting off the launch pad. PHOTO: NASA/Wikimedia Commons
There is a story about Neil Armstrong that will endure forever. It goes like this: when he was climbing back into the lunar lander after his first historic walk on the moon’s surface, Armstrong is said to have muttered under his breath, “Good luck, Mr Gorsky”. Read More…
CITY OF GHOSTS: The town of Pripyat has been abandoned since the day the reactor blew its top in 1986
At 1.45am on April 26 1986, the number four reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine blew up. Read More…
South African kayaker Hendrik Coetzee was obsessed with exploring the remote rivers of Africa. But after a decade of highly risky first descents and tough river expeditions, he was ready to pull back from doing extreme adventures – as soon as he had guided two Americans on a remote and wild river in the Congo. That’s when his luck ran out. Read More…
A King Penguin colony cover a beach on Marion Island PICTURE: Tiara Walters
Roving environment reporter Tiara Walters writes:
THE SA Agulhas, moored at Marion Island for much of last week for the launch of the South African National Antarctic Programme’s R200-million research base, finally lifted anchor on Saturday and set her course for Cape Town. Read More…
Members of the Second Marion Expedition about to voyage south with three kittens whose task would be to sort out the mouse problem on the island PICTURE: WML Strydom
Roving environment reporter Tiara Walters writes:
“SHHH,” Pierre, the radio comms officer for the South African National Antarctic Programme’s new research base at Marion Island, hissed as I moseyed into the kitchen last Thursday to knock together a late-night snack. Read More…
Wandering albatrosses get on with their mating dance PICTURE: Tiara Walters
Roving environment reporter Tiara Walters writes:
IT felt unreal to make landfall at Marion Island last Wednesday. Read More…
A rainbow arcs over the old base on Marion Island PICTURE: SJ Van der Merwe
Roving environment reporter Tiara Walters reports from Marion Island:
If the word “awful” originates from something that fills you with awe, rather than dread, then that’s what Marion would be. Read More…
The South African research vessel SA Agulhas steaming through heavy seas and under leaden skies in the Southern Ocean. PICTURE: Tiara Walters
Roving environment reporter Tiara Walters writes from aboard the SA Agulhas in the Southern Ocean:
* Stats at 11am, March 16
Air temperature: 7.7°C
Position of SA Agulhas: 46°S 37°E
Distance to Marion Island: 0km
Although it should be, this will not be a blog about wandering albatrosses. They could quite possibly be the most arresting things I’ve seen and I’ve spent hours staring at them since we’ve entered their world on the high seas. Read More…
A Wandering Albatross gliding over the swell in the Southern Ocean PICTURE: Tiara Walters
Tiara Walters writes from aboard the SA Agulhas:
* Stats at 11.30am, March 15
Air temperature: 9.6°C
Position of SA Agulhas: 45°S 35°E
Distance to Marion Island (46°S 37°E): 280km
We are nearly there! Read More…
The SA Agulhas leaves Cape Town on a mission to the frozen south. PICTURE: Ian Shiffman
Roving environment reporter Tiara Walters is aboard the resupply vessel SA Agulhas, presently making for Marion Island, a few thousand kilometres southeast of Cape Town. Tiara’s blogposts will be appearing here, on The Wanderer, for the next few weeks.
Stats at 9.45am, March 11
Air temperature – 20.4°C
Position of SA Agulhas – 36°S 20°E
Distance to Marion Island (46°S 37°E) – 1850km
I told the plumber that I was about to depart for Marion Island (by way of explaining the urgency of fixing the leaking cistern in my flat.
“Fully,” he replied, looking genuinely intrigued. Read More…
