The final day of our expedition was spent exploring the town of Stanley in the Falkland Islands. The capital of this British Overseas Territory, Stanley contains 75 percent of the population living in the Falklands. Our tours of the area were to either visit a local hydroponic farm where a lot of the produce is grown, take a tour of the city and surrounding area by bus, or take a long hike at the nearby Mount Tumbledown. Having arrived early to the dock, we were able to eat lunch ashore at some of the local establishments and spend ample time at the museum commemorating the conflict with Argentina in 1982. A peaceful and fascinating day ashore in the Falkland Islands complete with on-and-off sunshine was the perfect way to cap off this epic voyage.
10/23/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea and the Beagle Channel
The last day of an expedition is always a mix of feelings. There is the rush to pack and get last minute things done, combined with a cascade of emotions from all that has been experienced during a once in a lifetime journey. The sunrise was colorful, the seas calm, and seabirds dotted the skies around National Geographic Endurance. Throughout the day there were a number of presentations and during lunch we were able to enjoy the stunning mountains of Isla de los Estados off our port side. Teatime was a superb occasion! There was an impressive choice of cheeses, crackers, vegetable sticks, and jams all paired with a selection of wines. On our port side, a rainbow appeared over the gray seas. During dinner and throughout the evening, we sailed along the Beagle Channel and past the Bay of Good Success. It was from here that a 23-year-old man wrote in a letter home, “I have decided to dedicate myself to natural history and hope to make some small contribution to it.” His name was Charles Darwin.
