After departing Ushuaia, Argentina and transiting eastward through the Beagle Channel yesterday evening, we have, like the albatross, cast our fortunes to the wind and the waves far from the sight of land. Although we cannot shed our land-based habits as easily as those elegantly adapted seabirds, we trust the ship and crew to carry us away from encumbrances and away from daily concerns. We are moving toward adventure and experience in places far removed from our daily milieu as we travel almost due east, directly to the island of South Georgia. We are in search of wildlife and wild landscapes. A unique bit of mountain range rises directly out of the sea, where cold Antarctic waters intrude into the South Atlantic Ocean. Our journey will take several days, giving us time to adapt to shipboard life and prepare ourselves for the adventure ahead as we enjoy the comfortable embrace of National Geographic Resolution.
3/8/2023
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National Geographic Explorer
At Sea
We approached the Beagle Channel on our final day on board National Geographic Explorer . The winds had calmed, and the sun was shining. This resulted in the perfect opportunity to spot sei whales, which are often found in the waters of the Beagle Channel. Naturalist Sophie Van Der Hart provided us with the first lecture of the day, sharing insights about the evolution of whales. We learned how whales truly became the giants of our oceans. After lunch, climate change in the Antarctic was the topic for discussion. Naturalist Zac Brown guided us through the impacts this pristine environment is facing due to a rapidly changing climate and the things we can do to help. The afternoon’s activities came to a close with a delightful tea prepared by the hotel team. The captain’s farewell cocktail party gave us the chance to reflect on the expedition with a premiere of the guest slideshow. We celebrated a fantastic exploration of the Southern Ocean as the photos in the slideshow reminded us of the amazing wildlife and scenery we have witnessed along the way. Cheers!
