Unfortunately, I am unable to remove Google locations, there are scores of penguin colonies, just why they should mark this particular one is beyond me 😯
Well, what a few days and, I have to admit, I’ve seen better weather at the bottom of the world. That having been said, we’ve had a ‘whale of a time’, seen awesome sights and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves despite rain, fog and snow. I now sit at my desk, it’s Sunday, Day 4 of our Antarctic experience and time to write. I have spent long hours on the Bridge, part professionally and part enjoyment. We have had thick fog today and, unfortunately, had to cancel our last visit, Antarctic Sound and Hope Bay.
Having crossed Drakes Passage, (the stretch of sea between the southern tip of South America and the Peninsula) in reasonable weather conditions, (it can be extremely rough), we made landfall off King George Island, South Shetland on the 30th January. Like the remainder of our days, low cloud made for a ‘dull’ day, however there is a certain majestic beauty despite this.
Our first destination that morning? Admiralty Bay. on the south coast of King George.
A Brazilian Survey vessel, leaving the Brazilian base
The base itself. Newly rebuilt, the previous one having been destroyed by a fire
We see our first penguins! Now the 600mm lens comes in handy!
On the beach adjacent to the base, a whale skeleton ‘montage’.(? I’m not sure if that is the correct phrase)
Then, onto volcanic Deception Island, a caldera with an old whaling station inside and a massive penguin colony on the south-east coast. The last active ‘eruption’ was in 1967, I believe. The entrance is extremely narrow, the visitors being guests on smaller ‘Expedition’ vessels. One of the reasons for a visit is the vast, (50,000) colony of Chinstrap penguins.
The east coast, shrouded in low-lying cloud, the headland being on the south-eastern corner to the left.
The colony is vast, stretching inland to the high hills behind the coast
volcanic lava and ice walls.
Our day ends and we spend the evening and night steaming towards our next destination, the Neumayer channel. Day 2 and 3 will follow in separate posts.
