In Antarctica, Antarctica is in charge, not us. She dictates how our day plays out – is there weather? wind? Ice? blue skies?
Yesterday we set out for the LeMaire Channel. Reports had been mixed over the previous days on some boats getting through and others not. The LeMaire Channel is “famous” for its spectacular views, high mountain peaks and narrow passage. As we approached, we started to wonder if our attempt was worth it – it was foggy, super low cloud cover – what were we going to see? We certainly couldn’t see peaks, let alone the two sides of the channel.
However, Antarctica had other wonders in store for us. As we entered the LeMaire, the clouds stayed, but lifted enough to see an incredible vista of ice. On every 4th iceberg seals sprawled in their seal dream land – mostly crabeater, some leopard, a few weddell seals. Many icebergs covered in penguins – playing – “flying” out of the water and belly flopping back in. Rafts of penguins porpoising along from one iceberg to the next. We didn’t know which way to look. Then at one point a whale passed by our stern. The wind died, so we could all stay outside without freezing. The original misting precipitation faded away and we were left with an icy wonderland.
– Laura
