Drake Passage
It is not easy to get to Antarctica. That is one of the reasons that the White Continent is so compelling. After a few days of travel from many places around the world, we arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina yesterday afternoon. Before heading to the National Geographic Explorer we visited the beautiful southern beech forest of Tierra del Fuego National Park and sailed through Beagle Channel enabling us to have close encounters with South American sea lions, imperial cormorants, Chilean Skuas, Chimango caracaras, South American terns and other local residents. Views of the glacially sculpted Andes, just as the range begins its’ descent into the South Atlantic, are shockingly beautiful.
Explorer made her way through the Beagle Channel overnight and into the Drake Passage by morning. While the seas showed some motion, this was not the Drake Shake that many had feared. As the day progressed, the seas continued to calm causing some to wonder what the big deal was about the Drake Passage. We made excellent speed and were well on our way to finishing the last leg of reaching our journey to our much dreamed about goal – Antarctica!
The day is a relaxing contrast to our days of travel. We are home now, our comfortable and friendly ship being our base for the next three weeks. Settling in, exploring the ship, enjoying fine meals with shipmates, attending naturalist and photographic presentations, watching the world go by from the bridge… Drake Passage is an extraordinary place to watch sea birds, and those putting in the effort are greatly rewarded. Soaring and gliding, sea birds put on a fine show. Among our many sightings were southern giant petrels, pintado petrels, black-browed albatrosses, diminutive Wilson’s storm-petrels and wandering albatrosses, the largest flying birds in the world.
After a delicious dinner, we headed to bed with great anticipation. Tomorrow, we will be in Antarctica.
