We have been sailing all day in fair weather and no swells. Apparently this is remarkable weather for the area and we are ‘doing well’.
Whales were spotted off the port side [hammmm hmmmm that is the LEFT side for all you land-lubbers out there] and they were deemed to be Fin Whales who seemed to be on an eating spree and simply foraged around the boat keeping their mind on the right things.
We are in ice-berg country. The seas abound with these huge monoliths which are a piece of history floating on the ocean. This afternoon we passed a huge berg - with penguins perched on the one surface. The captain was good enough to circle it and we had this spectacular view of turquoise ice as is tipped into the ocean with a cerulean shelf which floated just under the surface of the ocean. Imagine a ball gown in the same colour with light ruches of aquamarine and white lace peeking as the skirt swirls.
We had another great dinner with a couple from New Mexico who enjoy sea-kayaking in the remote areas of Alaska. We have some wonderful tips for our next expedition [which has to be the northern Polar areas. Well we have the gear don’t we?]. Alaska and Greenland here we come!
We hope for an early start tomorrow as we are forging ahead so rapidly. The captain has to slow down because the weather is so good [can you believe it?] and we are approaching Elephant Island too quickly. This is the island that Shackleton and his men arrived at after their escape from the ice shelf after their ship broke up and sank. This is the place too, where the men remained for five months while Shackelton went to find assistance to get them all back home.
We will probably only have a Zodiac ride as there is little beach for landing, but as you know that is good enough for me!
Hopefully the captain will keep good watch in the next few days, as this is the land of the Ice Queen and many icebergs and much pack ice lies around and before us.
We had a relax after our shore excursion. Well to be honest I had a snooze while DJ played with his remarkable images. He has been able to capture magnificent wildlife photos and I cannot wait for you to see them. The animals, similar to The Galapagos, simply sit and do what is natural for them. So in comparison [and I know that is not fair] to African wildlife image taking this offers more opportunities to obtain more photos.
We spent the whole afternoon in Greytviken – the whaling station. But before that we have officially seen our first ice-berg – larger than a grand piano. So we are officially [I suppose] in South Polar country.
A barbeque arranged for the evening turned into such fun. Arranged on the Lido deck [no swimming pool in sight]the view was as different from a South African braai that you could get. Icebergs on the horizon, steep cliffs nearby and a small museum whale village on shore. The staff is always so helpful and certainly full of fun. I have found a ‘fellow Indian’ who on making a chance remark about the area being similar to Kashmir, became an instant pal and when he mentioned that he lived just outside Dharamsala we were instantly related.
The staff began setting up the evening function on the deck early afternoon and as always everything was set and done for our return. Caribbean music played, more food than you can consume [anything from sausage to prawns] great salads. Gluwein was the drink of the evening which was quaffed by all the passengers.
The community of the Greykviten joined us [all fifteen of them] and preceded to enjoy themselves talking amongst the passengers and enjoying the companionship expedition ships provide – although apparently it is not a given that they are invited on board.
Many of the people on shore are contracted for more than two years. I suspect they find it extremely difficult to fit back into the humdrum home life in England. One young person is doing research on the breeding patterns of the King penguin – and hopes to return for a second term and stay on the even more remote Bird Island for a further two years.
