In Bed with Douglas Mawson

Departing Hobart on a seven-week voyage on board the RSV Aurora Australis, Craig Cormick is fulfilling a long-time dream to visit the frozen continent of Antarctica – an adventure to one of the few under-discovered regions of the world. As the ship navigates its way through the wild Southern Ocean and explores the icy coastline of the Antarctic continent, Craig muses about – and with – the great explorer and geologist Douglas Mawson. Mawson’s ill-fated but scientifically successful Australasian Antarctic Expedition sailed from Hobart in 1911, as Scott and Amundsen were embarking on their race to the South Pole. Visiting the three Australian bases, with Mawson’s ghost at his side, Craig Cormick describes the exhilaration of seeing his first iceberg, climbing a mountain on the Antarctic plateau, flying in a helicopter over the Vestfold Hills, photographing Adelie penguins, seeing the spectacular Aurora Australis in the sky, smelling elephant seals and discovering the mysteries of ‘crap and wrap’ field toilets. In Bed with Douglas Mawson is a humorous and thoughtful exploration of the enduring spirit of discovery, adventure and comradeship around Antarctica.PB 320 pages