A very gentle roll of the Scotia Sea eased us awake this morning on the National Geographic Explorer. In our wake, The Falkland Islands. Our current destination promises an adventure that most of us have yet to even comprehend. Navigating our way through a very forgiving passage, an enveloping fog bank marks our crossing into Antarctic territory and adds a bit more to the mystery of what is yet to come. Even though the fog enhances this feeling of utter isolation, we had visitors throughout the day in the form of an occasional black-browed albatross, Antarctic prions, and southern fulmars passing by the ship and disappearing back into the fog.
There was an excitement in the air as we cleaned our gear in preparation for arrival to South Georgia. Afterward, we were rewarded with yet another delicious meal that had us struggling to remember what it is like to be hungry. Today, some of us sat in the chart room and received more tips to fine tune our cameras from our very experienced photo team. From the comforts of the lounge we listened to an incredibly inspirational talk about exploring the world’s oceans by one of our Global Perspective Guest Speakers, Dr. Joe MacInnis. We enjoyed tea and pastries in the bistro. Others ventured up to the bridge to chat with our bridge team. And some of us just relaxed in our cabins. While we continue to indulge in these comforts of this ship, it’s difficult to imagine what it must have been like for Sir Earnest Shackleton and his crew to sail in the James Caird, a modified lifeboat barely big enough for the six of them, toward the same destination 100 years ago. We may not be making this journey out of necessity for survival as he and his compatriots did, but this journey is one that will survive in all of us both in memory and in spirit.
For some, this has been an adventure of over 20 years in the making. And for others, it is a return pilgrimage to a place that has changed them forever. Regardless of any of our reasons for choosing to make this journey, it promises to be unforgettable.
