Paradise Bay & Neko Harbor, 12/13/2017, National Geographic Explorer
Aboard the
National Geographic Explorer
Antarctica
Today started a little earlier than scheduled, but 6 a.m. is a welcomed wake-up when the call is to come outside to watch killer whales. After we said goodbye to the whales it was time for breakfast before heading back outside for Zodiac tours and kayaking in Paradise Bay. With the calm seas and bluebird day it seemed foolish not to take the polar plunge. For a normal day this would be full enough but not in Antarctica—the day was only half over! Next, we headed to Neko Harbor for more Zodiac touring and a continental landing which included a hike to an overlook with amazing views.
Having grown up in the wilds of Northern Minnesota, Eric’s lifelong love of nature and a desire to explore was a forgone conclusion. His childhood summers were spent canoeing the lakes of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and his winters were spent expl...
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As we navigated north across the Drake Passage, conditions gradually improved and blue petrels and black-browed albatrosses graced our journey as visitors. John Pailthorpe delivered a captivating retelling of Shackleton's attempted crossing of the Antarctic continent, recounting the trials faced by those rugged men who cared little for comfort yet had a penchant for taking mortal risks. Following him, National Geographic Photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins shared some of the many future exploration options available to our guests through National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. As we approached Tierra del Fuego, the seas calmed. Although the skies remained overcast, wildlife became increasingly abundant as we neared the entrance to the Beagle Channel. Captain Martin presented a fascinating overview of the construction of MV National Geographic Resolution and her impressive capabilities. As we entered the channel, we were greeted by hourglass and dusky dolphins while enjoying empanadas for teatime. Once we entered the Beagle, sailing was smooth all the way to Ushuaia.
As we smoothly made our way through the Drake’s characteristic seas, it’s always comforting to know that our exceptional crew has everything well in hand. Even as the wind blew and the waves rolled by, National Geographic Resolution has been a warm and comfortable ride. Our crew represents no less than 18 different nations and work hard to create a feeling of family onboard. From the bridge team to the folks in the galley handling the dishes, everyone works hard and works together with kindness and professionalism every day. Not every workplace can boast that kind of camaraderie, and it’s part of what makes this expedition special.
This morning came with a slightly different experience to that of the previous days, with a visit to Vernadsky Station in the Argentine Islands. This station is owned and operated by Ukraine and is staffed all year to carry out a variety of research projects. We were welcomed by the team and shown around their labs and recreational quarters. In the afternoon we relocated a short distance to Petermann Island to make a landing at Port Circumcision. This was our final operation of the voyage and was appropriate for the occasion in its abundance of sunshine, snow, and penguins. Here we soaked in our last hours ashore, breathing in the essence of the Antarctic Peninsula and watching the many birds busily go about their day. Once we returned on board and National Geographic Resolution was prepared for sea, we began our transit of the famous Lemaire Channel as our final goodbye to Antarctica. As we eased our way into the narrow passage, the mountains and glaciers towering above us on each side were like supports for the blue sky overhead. The day was not yet done, however, and after dinner we made our way to the lounge to enjoy an energetic series of performances by our ship’s crew. This served as a fitting celebration as we entered the final part of our voyage.
