Blog Entry 02 14 10: A Valentine’s Day Sunrise

A Valentine’s Day blog:

So as we, the crew of the JR, spent this day far away from our homes and the people we love and hold dear, the spirits of Antarctica once again showed that this harsh world can be one of such rare beauty that it can completely bypass our minds and goes directly to our spirit and touching our souls. 

Once again the night shift was given a rare gift of such beauty.  I believe that today’s sunrise was the most spectacular of them all.  

The colors were like a huge Valentine’s Card, with intense fiery reds on the horizon that seemed like the glow of a bonfire of passion set off by Mother Nature herself.

Sometimes the better part of wisdom is what is left unsaid.  I will let the pictures tell most of the story here......

The sky continued to brighten making way for an orange reddish sky that wrapped its way around the horizon. 

Further away from this light show, Mother Nature set off for just the handful of cold brave souls up at this time of night on the ship, a sky of  rare lavenders and light reddish shades of violet of the likes I have rarely seen.  All set off by the approaching rising sun.  However, at sea level, the colors of the sea and ice were of a deep bluish purple as most of the light still came from the still brightening dark sky above as it continued to lose its nighttime hues. 

Then once again as the sun did over the Adellie site, it burst forth in a blaze of color and light that spread across the horizon and lighting up the icy icebergs in a crimson red light.

Even after the sunrise, the sun refused to stop showing off how it can create such intense colors and beauty.

Happy Valentine's Day to all those far from their love ones.