Endurance - Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

Our geography book for this term is turning out to be really interesting reading.  We're studying the voyage of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, on its ill-fated Antarctic expedition which started in 1914. 

I've already learned a few things about ships I didn't know, and it's pretty fascinating to read about the experience Shackleton and his crew had while they attempted this expedition across the Antarctic.  I wanted to share some of the things that made an impression on me today.  

The advertisement Shackleton placed in the newspaper pretty much says it all... this was not child's play!  It was dangerous business, indeed!  It's amazing that anyone responded, really.  Even more amazing was that during the Antarctic night, they didn't go crazy - it had certainly been enough to drive other ship's crews insane in the past.  (I know I get depressed just by several days of rainy weather... I can't even imagine endless night for months out of the year!)  The book says it actually seemed to bring them closer together.  They didn't have much work to do during the 'day' while they were stuck in the ice, so they had all sorts of social gatherings that included 'grog' (watered down alcohol), and put on silly skits for each other, in addition to routine things like reading, writing in diaries, playing cards, etc.  Some of the practical jokes they played on each other were pretty hilarious, too - such as the time they convinced one of the crew members that there was a 'costume' party... they actually got him to dress up as Buddha (with the help of a bedsheet), and when they showed up to the gathering, the poor guy was frozen and the only costumed person in attendance!  (Jake and I both had a good chuckle over that one!)

Shackleton and crew

The book also makes mention of the amazing light show they had during the Antarctic night, courtesy of the Aurora Australis, or the "Southern Lights".  I found some pictures of this, and it's quite beautiful.

I also (never having paid much attention to geography growing up) didn't know how close the Antarctic was to Australia.  When I looked at a map of the voyage, I was shocked to see Australia fairly close by (at least it looks that way!).  I think of Australia as being the opposite of the Antarctic weather-wise... and it is, but their relatively close proximity surprised me just for that reason!