After nearly three weeks of exploring the wonders of the Southern Ocean, from The Falklands to South Georgia Island and lastly to pristine and wild Antarctica we have set a course north across the Drake Passage and back to Ushuaia, Argentina where our journey began. With so many incredible experiences behind us, where one day seemed to rise above the previous one, having the vast Southern Ocean ahead of us for the next two days provides a natural means by which we all can absorb and reflect on our time here.
With relatively mild sea conditions for the first full day, our passage began with a farewell party of Antarctic petrels soaring alongside the ship. This rarely seen but very abundant seabird calls the waters around Antarctica home and nests far inland in the mountains. They are elegant and sublime masters of wind and sea, symbols perhaps of the wild, unspoiled, and challenging environments we've encountered.
For the majority of the day we all had the time to reflect and process the overwhelming nature of our journey. There were presentations given in the lounge to further enrich our experience as our trip comes to a conclusion. But perhaps just the simple views of the rolling swells and our wake leaving a temporary sign
There are no words or pictures that can accurately describe the beauty, majesty, and intensity one finds in this part of the world—this very thought echoed throughout our trip and will likely echo inside all of us.
