Cath and Geoff have sent me down to the lecture room to hear the talk about Campbell Island (our next stop). Rodney always gives us heaps of information about our shore landings. Some royal albatross circling our ship as we get close to Campbell Island. Aren't they magnificent? We're off on our 7 hour hike around Campbell Island - another sub-Antarctic Island. We're feeling a bit sad that we've left the ice (and 24 hour sunlight) behind but this should be a good day. Aaron thinks these are erect-crested penguins? The mist has lifted just enough to get a view of the rugged coastline around Campbell Island. It's pretty windy up here! More of our elephant seal friends, rolling and grunting around the island. I spent most of the day in the backpack. Here we are at the hut where we stopped for lunch to get out of the mist and rain. Sprung! Well guys, I've had a traumatic couple of days deciding whether I should run away to sea and find some fellow penguin friends to hook up with, or whether I should just head on back home to 'real' life. I think all my fellow passengers are experiencing the same dilemma. Our Heritage Expeditions staff on the last night of our voyage (sob, sob). Rex the NZ gov rep, Aaron (naiad driver and lecturer), Rodney (expedition leader), Sally (cruise director), Dr. David and Margaret (our very capable geology lecturer). Of course Bill and Tina (our chefs) are hard at work in the galley. We'll miss you guys! Oh, oh, the ship is rocking quite a bit so Geoff has ended up flat on his back on his bunk again. This means I can finish off his dinner for him! It's so sad, saying goodbye to my good friends Sally and Rodney. We've disembarked the ship for the final time, sob, sob! Our last photo with the ship in the background, and most of our fellow passengers with whom we shared this exciting adventure. Well I'll just drown my sorrows in the Golden Wing lounge at Invercargill Airport with Mark and Trish while we await our flights. We have a couple of days in Christchurch before flying back to Melbourne, so let's check out the Antarctic Centre! Mmmmm, not quite the real thing - but very interesting. Now we're checking out Antarctic vehicles at the Christchurch museum. We just can't get enough! Who are these little dudes? I found them in yet another Golden Wing lounge awaiting our flight back to Melbourne. Home sweet home! These paintings in the background are original work by Cath's Dad Jim. They take on a new meaning for us now that we've been there. I think Morgan our cat is very pleased to have us back home. I wonder what she would have thought of the penguins? (She is not too impressed with me!) Don't we look happy to be home? NOT! We just want to go back to that beautiful place ANTARCTICA! Thanks for sharing our exciting adventures with us!