Anyone would think we were in the tropics! T-shirts up on deck! We have to confess....we were posing for the photo! It was beautifully sunny, but still pretty darn cold. Remember we're heading to Antarctica folks! What is going on here - I hear you ask. It's the famous 'boot washing ceremony':an activity we were forced to indulge in between islands so as not to get soil from one island contaminating any other places we visit. We were all very good and did what we were told (ok, it's true I got out of it most times as I was mostly carried around in the backpack). Another strange activity...Cath and Geoff practising their Tai Chi on a moving, slippery, rolling deck. Mmmm, technique leaves a bit to be desired - as does their outfits! MacQuarie Island! Have heard so much about this - can't wait to see it. Oops. Cath managed to get a gumboot full of icy cold seawater getting out of the naiad (zodiac). Here she is wringing out her socks. These wet landings really test your timing. Ah, guys, there are SOOO many penguins here on MacQuarie! These King Penguins are still nesting and raising their cute little furry chicks. Please, please can I meet one of them? G'day! Er, I mean 'squawk'! Great to meet you - really. No, I'm not THAT strange looking... This could be me with my Mum and Dad... Ok, maybe not, the coloring is not quite right. Let's call them a pair of bookends instead! Oh my goodness! These are the biggest, fattest, laziest looking creatures I've ever seen! These elephant seals have flopped on the beach to moult. You should hear the noises they make! There's a cute one! This seal appears to be rather fascinated with me as well! What - haven't these dudes ever seen a stuffed toy penguin before?? Hey, more cute penguins! These Royal penguins are much smaller than the Kings, and they have these cute little furry bits on their heads. The Royals seem to be just as curious as the Kings though! Tina (our chef) has made quite a few friends. Another day at Macquarie Island - this time visiting the Australian base station ANARE. This is located at Buckles Bay, at the Northern end of the island. The Aussies were really welcoming and gave us a great tour of the base and the island. We met more penguins here...and guess what! These ones look like me! They have yellowy orange beak and feet. I'm sure this is where I came from. These gentoo penguins weren't curious like the others. Even with ME, one of their own, they were pretty shy. Cath got me to take a photo of her with the gentoos. Also the rugged scenery. It's rather windy here on the shore. Later in the day we cruised by Lusitania Bay in the naiads. We couldn't land on the beach because it was wall to wall penguins. There wasn't one inch of beach left. Gee I feel sorry for those penguins at the back that have to weave their way through to the beach to swim out and get food. A great couple of days. And today there was big excitement because we crossed over into the Antarctic Circle - into the realm of 24 hour daylight! We all received the 'mark of the penguin' on our foreheads, and signed a pledge to protect the Antarctic Continent. Here I am relaxing and celebrating in Enderbys Bar with Geoff, Harley, Cath, Mark, Trish, Robert and Yuri.