There is nothing quite like being out of sight of land. No other feeling can replicate the immensity of blue water surrounding you. With no harbor in sight, and only the memory of from where it was you came and the knowledge of a targeted destination soon in your future. No expedition is without a good deal of journey, and it is in these times that the National Geographic Explorer excels. With the captain and his crew making sure that all was well, the natural history staff was free to educate. The lessons began with Robert Alexander delivering a presentation on the “Cetaceans of the Southern Ocean”, illustrating the variety of marine mammals that we long to see in the coming days. Next was some hands-on tutelage with our photo instructors on how to better use our smartphones in the days to come. And lastly, an immense and well-delivered overview by Peter Hillary of his life spent exploring both the North and South Poles, as well as the highest peak our planet offers, Mt. Everest.
Not to be outdone, nature had its say. With a myriad of seabirds circling our vessel, guests stormed the bridge both with binoculars and cameras at the ready. The most dominant bird following our trail, in terms of numbers, was the black-browed albatross. With their sizeable wingspan and distinguishable darkened ridge above their eye, these aerialists circled and soared in the wind currents interrupted and created by the movement of our vessel. Accompanied by a number of other species, including pintado and southern petrels, and even the occasional wandering albatross, we had no shortage of company. Pressing east, we head toward South Georgia with great anticipation, knowing that what is to come is greater than what has come before.
