On May 10, 1916 the James B. Caird, carrying Sir Ernest Shackleton and his five companions, reached Cape Rosa in King Haakon Bay, on the southwest coast of South Georgia Island, after the incredible small boat journey from Elephant Island. They found refuge in a narrow cove with a small cave at its head -- now known as Cave Cove. Appropriately, our first landing on this beautiful island, rich in wildlife, was at this very spot. The photo shows six of the naturalists of the Caledonian Star in the cave -- really more of an indentation in the rock -- recreating that moment.

Shackleton and his men rested in Cave Cove for five days. They then moved farther into King Haakon Bay and established a camp under the overturned James B. Caird. (They called this "Peggotty Camp" after a character from Dickens' David Copperfield.) There, Harry McNeish, Timothy McCarthy, and John Vincent waited while Shackleton, Frank Worsley, and Tom Crean crossed South Georgia on foot to reach the whaling station at Stromness.

Continuing to follow in the wake of Shackleton, our second stop of the day was at Peggotty Camp. The wind and spray only added to the authenticity of our recreation of Shackleton's voyage. At Peggotty Camp we found king penguins standing on the beach, seemingly curious about our arrival, and elephant seals lounging in the tussock grass.

Our third stop of the day was in a small bay called Elsehul, where we cruised in Zodiacs among uncountable southern fur seals, macaroni penguins, king penguins, gentoo penguins, black-browed albatross, gray-headed albatross, and more.