28. Cuverville Helicopter Abort Song
Sung to the tune of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville.
Sipping my Earl Grey
Waiting for sun today
When the captain cries out, “Get ready. Gear up!”
I run to the flight deck, camera round my neck,
Into the Helo we climb up and up.
Freezin' my bones again on Isle Cuverville
Wond’rin’ why the pilot had to call halt!
Some people claim that superstition’s to blame
But I know it’s the dang weather’s fault
Don’t know the reason
I came in Spring season
Nothin’ to see but the ship’s bright orange Q
She’s a real beauty
With twin helo duty
Why we aborted I haven’t a clue.
Freezin' my bones again on Isle Cuverville
Wond’rin’ why the pilot had to call halt!
Some people claim that superstition’s to blame
But I know it’s the dang weather’s fault
We hovered above the ship
Turned it around a bit
Pilot insisted we had to head home
He cut short the flight today
There’s lots of snow on the way
”You’ll thank me later, I swear, now go.”
Freezin' my bones again on Isle Cuverville
Wond’rin’ why the pilot had to call halt!
Some people claim that superstition’s to blame
But I know it’s the dang weather’s fault
Officially, this was my first helicopter ride. I was in the very last group to be called. We went up, hovered about for a bit, then headed back due to poor weather and increasing winds. We watched the second helicopter struggle to land on the helipad. Within seconds, we were on deck and quickly ushered to the holding area and downstairs to shed our gear. All loose bodies must leave the flight deck, please!
At the Daily Recap and Briefing, the crew and our expedition leader seemed agitated. Something was abuzz. They had also aborted the overnight camping trip on the continent. A small group of passengers and their expedition handlers had begun to set up camp on the Arctowski Peninsula but were called back to ship. Lots of disappointment going around. I wondered if that was the extent of my heli-flight. If so, I was crestfallen yet reassured that the crew always prioritized our safety.
It wasn’t until we returned to the United States that we learned one of Quark’s sister ships, the World Explorer, had lost two of its passengers the day before. On November 15th, a Zodiac boat carrying 6 passengers and 2 crew members capsized near Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands. The boat was near shore and there were low winds and calm seas. Considering ship-to-ship communications, news of the accident must have traveled quickly to our ship’s captain.
*For accuracy, the helipad-flight occurred in Neko Harbor but Cuverville rhymed so well with Margaritaville, I took a little artistic license.
News report of Zodiac accident:
https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/expedition-cruising/two-die-quark-expeditions-zodiac-incident-antarctica
Love your song--a sure hit. And your sketches are awesome: both delicate and powerful.