Day 5 - Approaching the Great White Continent

We crossed the Polar Front very late last night but the temperature hadn't dropped much first thing this morning.  It was very misty and drizzling all morning with limited visibility.   At the 8.00 Wildlife Watch we only saw 2 birds, a Grey Headed Albatross and a Giant Petrel.  At that time we were at a latitude of 62 degrees.

After breakfast we had a mandatory PCR test and then had to take all our outerwear and rucksacks to the science centre for decontaminating.   This is to remove anything that we may have brought with us from our home countries that would harm the ecosystem of Antarctica.


On deck we joined the marine biologists to help spot whales and dolphins.  We saw a humpback whale in front of the ship.

After lunch we settled down to watch a lecture on Penguins.  For the first 5 days all lectures are streamed to the TV in our cabin to minimise a large gathering in the lecture hall.  A few minutes after the start there was a knock at the door and it was a member of staff with 2 chocolate Penguins and a card welcoming us to Antarctica.

Card and chocolate penguins

Inside the card

We went out on deck mid afternoon and it was much colder with a very strong wind.  We saw Cape Petrels and what possibly was a Southern Fulmar.

Looking down on a Cape Petrel

Underside of Cape Petrel

Southern Fulmar (I think)



We had a talk by one of the guides who spent a winter in Antarctica in 1997 while working on the British Antarctic Survey team. 

After this it was almost impossible to stand up outside and felt even colder.  The waves were really high with a very heavy swell and it was difficult to walk around.

We first sighted land on returning to our cabin after dinner.  It is a small outcrop south of Anvers Island.




We will reach our first landing point tomorrow morning at Damoy Point on Wiencke Island and have to be ready to leave the ship at 9.00.

Our route from Puenta Arenas to Antarctica




 

 







Comments

  1. JustSteph8 February 2022 at 10:35

    Amazing! How are your sea legs?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jean Dalby8 February 2022 at 13:19

    I am fine but Paul didnt feel so good crossing the Drake Passage. He is ok now though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. splottdad9 February 2022 at 09:39

    Did you p-p-p-pick up your penguins? ... #IllGetMeCoat x

    ReplyDelete

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