Lucky escape for the Captain
This photo is rather blurry — it was snapped at the recent exhibition of Sydney of the Antarctic in Hobart. It shows the kidnapper trying to escape, once again, with the Captain.
Luckily for the Captain, the kidnapper fled the scene soon after the camera caught this action.
Many of you may know the history of the Captain and may have been lucky enough to hear some of his sea shanties whispered to you alone — but for those who don’t know him, here is a little of his history.
The Captain is part of Sydney’s family and many years ago he was sent down to Antarctica on the Australian resupply and scientific ship, the Aurora Australis.
We knew he would like to see the ice in the south, coming himself, originally, from the Arctic regions.
On his return, nearing Macquarie Island, he was kidnapped and spent the next twelve months on the island enjoying many field trips.
We would receive emailed photos of him up mountains and enjoying station life. This photo shows the Captain waving to other expeditioners at the light meter on Macquarie Island.
We missed him and had to ask for him to be returned home to us. But since then, he has enjoyed several trips back down south, mainly to help in the search for his friend Sydney.
This photo shows the Captain on the Russian ship Kapitan Khlebnikov, keeping an eye out for his friend.
Luckily for us the kidnapper was not successful in her recent attempt, and the Captain will return to Antarctica again this summer in hope of meeting up with his great friend.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I can smell summer seas and ice right around the corner….Gettin on for time to RESCUE the captain again
There was just one message left on my answering machine this morning…it was from the Kidnapper. She obviously now has some accomplices, and from her comment above, I am a little worried. She suggested the Captain may like a break away in Kabul, Afghanistan, or that there is a journey planned for later this year to the Antarctic Japanese station, Syowa.
The Captain is visiting a school tomorrow, returning to Queensland in a couple of weeks, then Western Australia. I know he loves his school visits. I always carry him in the big black bag that Sydney loved, but I dare not tell him of the kidnapper’s plans, as he is rather cheeky and could run off to join her again. And I have been planning his return with me, to the ice, to try to rescue Sydney again this summer!
Wish me luck, as I know the Kidnapper is crafty and cunning, and once she sets her sights on something, she’ll go to any lenghts to make it happen.
The kidnapper is still out there. Pip is still circling the Captain and trying to take him to far off places. Recently I have had to keep him very close to me. He had a great time on the West Coast of Tasmania, meeting lots of students, but he still has that cheeky look in his eyes…perhaps dreaming of adventures. He will just have to wait. There are more adventures coming.
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