After being stranded in Antarctica for more than a week, Bob Bonifas knows what he'll do first when he gets back in the States.
“Catching up on my e-mail among other things,” the Aurora businessman and world traveler said via satellite phone Tuesday. “I am not a patient person. Most of my life is on the move at full speed and sitting here for eight days and I got six more before I even get to Montevideo, Uruguay, that is forever for me.”
Bonifas’ ship lost power when a transformer feeding energy to the ship broke, leaving him and 72 other people stranded at South Georgia Island near Antarctica last Monday. But Bonifas, the founder of Alarm Detection Systems in Aurora, was quick to point out the situation could have been worse.
“If this would have happened a day out in that sea, we’d be stranded out there, and if you get big waves it can do serious damage to a ship,” he said, saying it has been snowing and between 20-30 degrees each day.
The captain said a ship is supposed to arrive Wednesday morning to take them to Uruguay, but he won't be back in the States until April 25. Bonifas said the crew has been trying to entertain the passengers by taking them on hikes, but boredom for him has set in.
However, back when the ship started he said everything was going great.
“A week ago we were in a colony of 200,000 penguins here on South Georgia, something phenomenal. Then all hell broke loose.” he said.
Bonfias' last words before hanging up?
“Wish us luck the next boat is better than this one.”
