AlmondFarmer Posted December 31, 2023 Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 You must have a long pole. The photo looking back at ship appears to be a great distance away. Mind if one man asks another the length? WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 17 minutes ago, AlmondFarmer said: You must have a long pole. The photo looking back at ship appears to be a great distance away. Mind if one man asks another the length? Six inches. Cactus527 and AlmondFarmer 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Our zodiac ride this morning: SpeedNoodles and Lovetocruise2002 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 I received a phone call in my suite between stops. Remember that silent auction for the South Georgia Heritage Trust? I won... the most expensive bottle of whiskey I've ever purchased. Buy hey, it's for a great organization and a pretty cool bottle. PPPJJ-GCVAB, MaryS, Cactus527 and 6 others 2 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Here is a 360 photo from Point Wild. Point Wild, Elephant Island 360 Photo Shari, WAAAYTOOO, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 31, 2023 Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Wow, the water is such a beautiful color. PPPJJ-GCVAB and MaryS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Departing from Point Wild yielded one more chance to capture the Chinstrap in action. Such a great weather day! MaryS, Cactus527, Ampurp85 and 5 others 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Sailing along the coast of Elephant Island was beautiful. But also very cold in the wind. Despite the cold we were out here for a reason. Whales. WAAAYTOOO, MaryS, Ampurp85 and 3 others 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 We had been informed this was a whale hotspot. It was. There were some penguins out here as well. They were everywhere and all around. Some near. Some far. Whales to the left and whales to the right. I have never seen so many whales in one location before. It went on for hours. MaryS, WAAAYTOOO, SpeedNoodles and 4 others 4 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 It was bitterly cold with the windchill from the moving ship in the wind but there were so many whales. The scenery was pretty outstanding as well. ScottishRobbie, Cactus527, Lovetocruise2002 and 2 others 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Eventually we started making our way closer to the island. An Antarctic Shag photobombed my picture. The water was so clear I could see a penguin swimmming just under the surface. Lovetocruise2002, Ampurp85, SpeedNoodles and 4 others 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 We were very lucky today. Not only would we have a zodiac tour but we would be able to land on Elephant Island today. If a penguin sees its own shadow does that mean six more weeks of summer? I'm not sure it saw its shadow. Yesiamthere, Lovetocruise2002, Cactus527 and 5 others 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Landing on Elephant Island is so rare many of the expedition team have never been able to do so in five or more years. PPPJJ-GCVAB, MaryS, Ampurp85 and 4 others 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Kayaking is equally rare here. Theres from the Kayak team had told me yesterday it has been once in six years for her. Today would make number two. Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins can be found here. Elephant seals resting on the beach. SpeedNoodles, Ampurp85, Lovetocruise2002 and 2 others 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 After a short time on the beach it was back to the ship. ScottishRobbie, SpeedNoodles, Lovetocruise2002 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 The sail away brought more whale sightings. At one point I walked into my suite and there were two whales right there just off my balcony. ScottishRobbie, PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO and 2 others 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 What a day. Beautiful weather at Point Wild. A whale extravaganza. Walking on Elephant Island. Wow! Can it get any better? MaryS, WAAAYTOOO, Cactus527 and 5 others 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 A pretty spectacular sunset to end a fantastic day. How often do you get an iceberg in your sunset pictures? Very calm seas tonight. Just wow! Cactus527, MaryS, Skigoofy and 5 others 2 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Daily briefing for tomorrow was held earlier. The goal is to make Brown Bluff in the morning and Hope Bay in the afternoon. Lovetocruise2002 and SpeedNoodles 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Day Thirteen - Brown Bluff and Hope Bay, Antarctica Position report: SpeedNoodles and Lovetocruise2002 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPPJJ-GCVAB Posted December 31, 2023 Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Wow looks like the pool water is having a bit of a splashing around moment! Hope the pool is heated! Has anyone even used it? WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 A quick note about the sites that we will visit in Antarctica. They determine the sites that will be visited a day or so before we visit them. Weather changes rapidly. Ice conditions change daily. They don't know exactly where they will or can take expedition tours that far in advance. Instead they pick from sites that are available, or they hope will be available, for the conditions that day. The sites I visit on this voyage may be the same or different from other voyages in the past or future. Ampurp85, TomBryant, Lovetocruise2002 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 Eager to cast my eyes upon the Antarctic Sound I ventured up to deck 9 forward. The story of today, or much of it, involves ice. There was no shortage of ice in the sound. PPPJJ-GCVAB, Lovetocruise2002, Cactus527 and 5 others 4 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 Penguins were using the ice sheets for a rest and safe haven from any leopard seals that may be about. Nothing like a massive ship approaching to wake you from your slumber. To the water! Looking aft from where we came I could see how the bridge team had picked their way through the pieces of ice in the sound. Our destination for today lies ahead. To get there we negotiated our way around more icebergs. Skigoofy, Lovetocruise2002, Cactus527 and 5 others 4 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 Well hello! MaryS, Lovetocruise2002, WAAAYTOOO and 4 others 3 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 The anchor dropped and we had arrived. MaryS, SpeedNoodles, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 The first zodiac groups were called and away they went. Lovetocruise2002, MaryS, Ampurp85 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 This morning was an introduction to the Adélie penguin. Lovetocruise2002, PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO and 6 others 4 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 Like all good penguins the Adélie were on the move! In the hills you could see thousands. Skigoofy, DDaley, ScottishRobbie and 5 others 4 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 They wanted to get us on shore this morning but the wind was pushing the ice to the water's edge. Our zodiac driver Gabe did a great job negotiating us into place as close to the beach as he safely could. Not always graceful but there are young to feed! A Kelp Gull soars above the colony. SpeedNoodles, MaryS, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 4 others 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 The wind was pushing the ice into the same area of the sound where we were and over the radio I could hear they abandoned the concept of a shore landing. The ice was too thick at the shoreline and it was all the ship could do to keep the side gates operational for loading and unloading zodiacs. The Adélie didn't mind the ice. ScottishRobbie, DDaley, Cactus527 and 6 others 5 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 I understand a later group made it to shore but they found themselves ice bound for a little while, or so the story goes as told by fellow travelers. Here a zodiac is being used for ice management. Just as we were to unload an urgent call over the radio informed the crew to close the side gate. Approaching ice required the ship to reposition and the platforms must be closed for this maneuver. A few minutes later and the side gates was once again available. A zodiac selfie from my 360 camera: Ampurp85, Lovetocruise2002, MaryS and 3 others 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 Back on board from my suite I could see the source of the bridge and expedition's team stress. This large sheet of ice was coming right for us and it was just one of many. MaryS, WAAAYTOOO, SpeedNoodles and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 Despite the challenges from the wind driven ice everyone was back on board safely and we prepared to depart. Lunch as served as we moved up the sound to our next stop at Hope Bay. I arrived back at my suite after lunch just in time to see the ship passing through some brash ice. Lovetocruise2002, PPPJJ-GCVAB, Ampurp85 and 4 others 3 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 The sight of an Argentinian research station marked our arrival at Hope Bay. Around the corner the hills were covered with nesting penguins. The weather turned and it began to snow. MaryS, SpeedNoodles, Lovetocruise2002 and 2 others 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 Time for a zodiac tour! Base Esperanza. More Adélie penguins! These guys are so cute! A Weddell seal. MaryS, Lovetocruise2002, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 5 others 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 This curious Adélie popped in for a visit. I thought this was an Antarctic Shag but our zodiac driver and guide Damon called it an Antarctic Cormorant. Damon should know. He maintains a great website: https://www.ecosystem-guides.com/ SpeedNoodles, WAAAYTOOO, Ampurp85 and 2 others 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 The Antarctic Marine Patrol were busting zodiac drivers who were going too fast near the penguins. Actually it was just ship crew operating a bar zodiac offering hot chocolate and mulled wine. Shari, Ampurp85, SpeedNoodles and 4 others 2 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 Penguins have a bit of a lemming quality. When one decides to jump in often many react and follow. SpeedNoodles, Ampurp85, MaryS and 4 others 4 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 After bopping around the edge of the ice for a bit it was time to end our zodiac tour. A very enjoyable tour. Skigoofy, Cactus527, Lovetocruise2002 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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