Failures, a party and new arrivals - March 6 to March13

So our attempt to climb Edinburgh Peak ended in dismal failure. We arrived at Gonydale on Sunday evening and looked up into a clearing sky, covered in bright stars. We went to bed full of hope for the next morning only to awake to driving mist and rain. The next part of the hike to the next campsite at the base of the peak, Waterfall Camp, requires a traverse of a high, exposed ridge and we decided that the peak would still be there another day and beat a retreat to base. The worst part was waking up to a stunning day on Tuesday, windless and hot, a rare perfect day on Gough and knowing that it would have been a perfect summit day. Mornay and Robyn, neither of whom have hiked at all before Gough, took a lot of strain, particularly on the long (for Gough that is) descent to Base from Gonydale. So when Michelle and I decided to try again yesterday, neither of them was keen to join us. The second attempt ended much as the first with us again waking to worse weather than the day before. We were momentarily tempted to try push through by a gap in the clouds but it quickly closed and we trudged back to base. Current score: Edinburgh Peak 2, Gough 56 team 0.

At least the trips to Gonydale have given me a chance to get some nest checks and log lots of Tristan Albatross partners. It is also really nice to get out of Base, even if it is only for a couple of days. i think I would go crazy if I spent all day, every day there.

Tristan chick, deliberately not posing

The first Tristan chicks have started to hatch, they are the cutest, tiny little bundles of feathers sheltering under their parents down. Hopefully I will be able to log all the parents before they leave the chicks on their own, only returning to feed them intermittently.

This week was also Prince's birthday and a big party was held to celebrate. The theme was Hero/Villain and which one you were was chosen by random draw from a hat. It was a great evening with loads of pool, dancing, surfing and drinking; too much drinking. Way, way too much drinking. What happens on the island stays on the island so all I can say is that the hangover was a champion...

From left: Elastagirl (Michelle), Zorro (Leonie), Catwoman (Robyn), Jason (Me) and Mr Big (Prince)