Iceberg

Calving glaciers produce icebergs, and tides and currents sweep them out to sea and into

shippping lanes, as the Titanic discovered in 1912. However, in virtually closed systems like

Glacier Bay, they commonly end up on the shoreline instead, at least until the following tide.

When working at Nunatak Cove in Glacier Bay, we would wake up each morning to a

different display of beached bergs, mainly from Riggs and Muir Glaciers.

The P&O ship 'Sun Princess' would often interrupt their cruise in the Bay to supply our

expedition with whisky, newspapers, chocolate eclairs, etc. The Purser came from the

same town in the NE as our expedition leader, and saw an item about us in the local paper.

Their generosity kept our spirits up when they had perchance flagged (three months under

canvas, remote from anywhere with beer, often raining, risk of bears, etc). It also provided

the ship's passengers with impromptu entertainment as we pootled out to mid-bay

(avoiding icebergs) to collect the goodies. During our final week in the Bay, Captain

Bradshaw and his crew treated us smelly oiks to a day on the ship where we were fed like

kings, had decent showers and a professional haircut. We visited most areas of the ship,

bridge, engine room etc. and were half drunk by 7.00 am. Back on shore, we watched the

ship depart the Bay at 5.00pm as the rain clouds rolled in again.

Calving glaciers produce icebergs, and tides and currents sweep them out to sea and into

shippping lanes, as the Titanic discovered in 1912. However, in virtually closed systems like

Glacier Bay, they commonly end up on the shoreline instead, at least until the following tide. When

working at Nunatak Cove in Glacier Bay, we would wake up each morning to a different display of

beached bergs, mainly from Riggs and Muir Glaciers.

The P&O ship 'Sun Princess' would often interrupt their cruise in the Bay to supply our expedition

with whisky, newspapers, chocolate eclairs, etc. The Purser came from the same town in the NE

as our expedition leader, and saw an item about us in the local paper. Their generosity kept our

spirits up when they had perchance flagged (three months under canvas, remote from anywhere

with beer, often raining, risk of bears, etc). It also provided the ship's passengers with impromptu

entertainment as we pootled out to mid-bay (avoiding icebergs) to collect the goodies. During our

final week in the Bay, Captain Bradshaw and his crew treated us smelly oiks to a day on the ship

where we were fed like kings, had decent showers and a professional haircut. We visited most

areas of the ship, bridge, engine room etc. and were half drunk by 7.00 am. Back on shore, we

watched the ship depart the Bay at 5.00pm as the rain clouds rolled in again.

On the rocks