The day started with low clouds, intermittent mist and snow, no wind, and flat seas…perfect for the morning ops of kayaking and cruising. Kayakers paddled widely, encountering a few humpback whales, but appreciating most the near-absolute silence. One could occasionally hear penguins calling from distant locations and ice cracking and popping. Cruisers went a bit farther to see a distant pair of whales and penguins jumping on and off ice floes.
After returning, the majority of us participated in the traditional polar plunge. Facial expressions before and after the plunge were quite different, as were the descriptive words uttered (screamed?) after emerging from the really cold water! But just after the plunge, the clouds parted and the wind remained minimal, thereby creating an absolutely perfect afternoon and evening.
Under these conditions, the voyage to Danco Island was beyond stunning. The bright sunlight illuminated the snow-covered mountains with floating brash ice resembling sparking diamonds. A leopard seal was spotted on an ice floe and a mom-calf humpback pair briefly appeared off our bow. The island experience gave us another opportunity to view penguins and burned their delightful antics deep in our memory.
In all, the day deserved a standing ovation!
