The Falklands Islands welcomed us today with their very best side. A beautiful sunrise over the graceful peaks of Steeple Jason Island promised us a lovely day to come and before long we were ashore, hiking over the low shrub vegetation and into the tall tussock grass on our way to visit the world’s largest breeding colony of black-browed albatross. In the afternoon we landed on West Point Island, where we were greeted by the caretakers, Jackie and Alan White. Another beautiful hike led us to another nesting site of albatross and rockhopper penguins and after hiking back we were invited into the snug farmhouse for a Falkland Islands farm tea, featuring a fantastic variety of cakes, cookies, and fresh scones.
3/13/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea Towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia
A gently swaying National Geographic Endurance greeted the day. The wind and waves that our guests had become accustomed to during this voyage were nowhere in sight. Instead, a light breeze and calm seas lifted our spirits as we prepared for our final day on the ship. Sei whales, albatross, and dolphins welcomed us into the Beagle Channel before long. In between packing and reclaiming our passports, several presentations were given with a wide range of topics. First up, our undersea team shared footage from several dives in the Falklands, including a notable visit from some rather playful southern sea lions. Secondly, our National Geographic photographer spoke about photography and how it can be used to inspire conversation about wild places. Wrapping up our presentations for the day was our guest speaker, Mensun Bound, who provided a loose Q&A session on Shackleton. Captain Oliver and Expedition Leader Russ shared a few words about our epic voyage and sent us off to dinner. A day full of education and sightseeing – a great way to say farewell to our incredible guests.