To be in the Middle of A Pixar Film

Ocean Tramp – Lori

We are now at Ketley Point, on Rongé Island. There are a ton of logistics to safely dock a boat of this size. All hands were called on to secure the lines. The safe harbor positioning of the boat meant we docked by an island filled with Gentoo penguins.

In the morning, Damian pilots a zodiac to a landing area for us to explore. Along the way, we see our first Adelie penguins, unusual to see them in amongst the Gentoos. While we are taking the short ride over to the landing area, we realize that the motor stirs up the krill in the bay, and the penguins start following the boat because, hey, it’s a free lunch! We reach a landing point and go off to explore. There is a Weddell seal drying off in amongst the rocks; while Claudia is down at the beach photographing a penguin (or two), up comes another seal practically beside her, hauling itself up on shore and through the rocks to meet up with its friend. As we started back to the boat, the penguins evidently sent out the alert that a free lunch would be forthcoming, and began following us again. In an effort to capture some of the sheer exuberance of their antics, we all hauled out our cameras on the zodiac, and tried to capture the flying penguins on camera. We also decided to check out some of the smaller ‘bergs floating around. We came upon one loaded with penguins, and it just turned into one big free for all! The zodiac was surrounded by penguins; swimming, surfing, flying through the air. Jumping on and off the iceberg, sliding into the water. You cannot help but laugh, they are just so funny. If we weren’t there in person, you would have felt you were in the middle of a Pixar film! It was utterly spectacular, truly a special and completely unscripted morning.

The afternoon was spent navigating the Neumayer Passage. Caesar was at the helm to gracefully and gently manoeuver us through some fresh ice (the results of a calving iceberg, which happens regularly down here), and in the midst of all that, a leopard seal, floating on an ice floe. As we approach Port Lockroy, we see several cruise ships, an Argentinian military boat, and a British research vessel. Busy day in the Antarctic waters. We finish the night with another delish dinner by Lucy. That woman truly looks after all of us; meat-asaurs, vegetarians and vegans alike, nobody goes away hungry. More about the kitchen stores in a future post. It’s pretty cool.

PS: If any of our friends/family are reading this, post back some comments, and the Quixote Expedition folks will pass that along to the crew! A fun way to have a little interaction while we are under radio silence at sea.

Blog Lori ryerson
Photo Claudia Nicolow
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