Faulkland Islands & Antarctica

The cruise schedule has been amended.  Puerto Madryn, Argentina is out and the Faulkland Islands are in.  The plan is to tender in to Port Stanley and take a bus out to Gypsy Beach.  We join forces with Cora And Henry from, Edmonton, Alberta and do just that.  We aren't allowed on the beach as there are still mines from the war fought by the Argentinians trying to take the islands from the British  in the 1980's.  Argentina wasn't successful so the island is still British.  We did see penguins on the beach.  None of them blew up before our eyes so I guess they know where the mines are.  We walked back to Port Stanley, had some fish & chips, and did a little shopping before it was tome to head back aboard.

Taking photos of the arrival sign.

A slightly scruffy looking king penguin all alone 

Lots of Magellanic penguins  

Someone's yummy garden that we walked past

David and Henry by the Post Office

The Faulkland stop was fun and put us in the mood for the adventure that the next several sea days will bring.  Thursday the 6th of February we officially cross into Antarctica.  King George Island gives us our first glimpse of research stations run by various countries.  Our skills at spotting penguin rookeries is honed.  Humpback and Minke whales are spotted feeding around the icebergs.  The first fur seals are spotted on Deception Island Beach.

Our first photo with Antarctica in the background (it was cold!!)

The big blue iceberg that had whales feeding around it

If we thought our first day in Antarctic waters was great, Friday the 7th was spectacular!  It started out a normal gray foggy day.  Then the sun came out!  It became a postcard perfect day.  The seals were all up on the burgs sunning themselves.  The whales were everywhere feeding.  We must have seen a hundred.    The captain took a slow cruise up LaMaire channel which gave great views on both sides of the ship.

Surprise!  Snow on the deck Friday 2/7/14

Everyone taking photos from the bow (except me)

Cursing LaMaire channel (I can hardly keep my eyes open in the sun)

Leopard seal sharing a burg with a blonde crab eater seal

The seven sisters peaks

Two of the hundred whales that we saw.  They are buggers to photograph!

On the boat we have had many lectures from our aboard lecturers.  Movies are shown at multiple times during the day.  The puzzles in the library occupy our spare moments.  We have taught Cora and Henry how to play Wizard and are having great fun playing.

Saturday, Feb 8th.  We are boarded around 6am by 12 residents of the US  Palmer station.  There were a couple of students, the cook, the carpenter, the station manager, and more.  The station manager gave a talk and all answered questions.  They spent the day enjoying our food and comfort.  They had made the 2 mile trip in two zodiacs.  It was a bit rough and wet coming out.  Around 5pm they all headed back.  The Palmer station currently has 29 people in residence.  Columbo, the carpenter told us he has 6 weeks left before he returns to Texas.

Palmer station folks arriving.  There were two zodiacs that came.

After the Palmer Stn. Folks left we headed across Drakes channel.  It was a rough crossing.  No sea sickness in our cabin.  Bonine worked!  Some ships china broken and a few falls.  We landed in Ushuaia, Argentina, hence our access to wifi.