Discovery Point, Dundee - Scott of the Antarctic and all that!

'Discovery'

The fourth day of the holiday was a more sedate affair after all that walking of the previous two days. We headed off just down the road to the Discovery Exhibition. Here is Scott's ship 'Discovery' and the story of it's voyage with detailed records, audio visual films, items from the trip and of course the ship itself. This is a must-see exhibition. I'm not someone generally into ships and I think anyone who goes to such a cold, God-forsaken place must be utterly mad. I bundle this one in with people who mountain climb in sub-zero temperatures. My two worst nightmares. I hate the cold! Anyway, I have to admit that this exhibition was fascinating and the experiments they did were important. These crazy people still go back, though the conditions are a lot better than they were in Scott's day. What these mad people do is important to us, it enables us to see what nature and man is doing to the planet we share and that has to be good.

Anyway, the exhibition shows a list of food taken with them, the menus, clothes worn (thank God for Cotswold Outdoor shop, is all I can say!), photos, how they caught fish, seals and penguins to eat. There is one photo with dead seal meat hanging from the rigging. Yuk. But there you go, a ready made freezer! There are several audio visual films including one which brings things right up to date with what is happening out there. The tour of the modern living/working accommodation is wonderful.

Then there is the walk on'Victory' herself. This is wonderful. To go below decks and see how everyone lived, the rooms they used, the galley, Officer's shower room, the toilet blocks for the main crew. It's all been done wonderfully well. I was in awe of those men by the end!

By contrast while we walking through Dundee I spotted a cruise ship in the dock. I'd heard there was one in and couldn't believe they would stop in Dundee. But there it was funnel throwing out black smoke as it prepared to leave. On board there would be every convenience - no seal or penguin on the menu and a nice warm room to sleep in!