I’m not sure it is possible to fit more into an Antarctic day than we did onboard National Geographic Resolution today. An exciting navigation through the ice in Penola Strait this morning had Captain Martin jumping about on the bridge like a cat on a hot tin roof. He released some energy in a polar plunge later on. Our first Zodiac cruise of the trip took place under a brooding sky in the ‘iceberg graveyard’ of Pleneau Bay. By the afternoon, we enjoyed exquisitely calm conditions for kayaking in Girard Bay. A few seals hauled out on ice floes seemed indifferent to our desire to photograph them doing something other than snoozing! An after-dinner transit of the famous Lemaire Channel completed an eventful day.
2/20/2024
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National Geographic Resolution
Cape Horn and Beagle Channel
The huge distances we have covered on this journey meant that our last full day was spent almost completely at sea on our return leg from Antarctica. After a merciful lie-in, we crowded the decks as we sailed past Cape Horn, the majestic headland at the bottom tip of Hornos Island, the southernmost point of Tierra del Fuego and the entire South American continent. Despite its fearsome reputation, pleasant seas allowed for an enjoyable brunch before we plunged into our presentation schedule for the morning and afternoon. Naturalist Gail Ashton related her experience of living on the Antarctica continent for 18 months, Jonny Reid discussed marine mammal acoustics and the underwater soundscapes of this region, and Jess Farrer explained how the study of whale and seal poop can tell us so much about these animals. As we entered the Beagle Channel, the stunning mountains of Tierra del Fuego lined our passage to Ushuaia. Gathering in the Ice Lounge for the captain’s farewell party, we toasted a hugely enjoyable trip and the new friends we have made.
