Ice Bergs, Rock Cliffs and Getting to the Gentoos

January 14. The ship anchored this morning off Spret Island. We toured on a Zodiac for about 2 hours   seeing fantastical ice bergs, huge rock cliffs and arches, and Chinstrap penguins. It was foggy and raining, which contributed to the feeling of being in another world. The Chinstraps were quite cute hopping around the cliffs, congregating, and then deciding to jump in the water. Others were porpoising around our Zodiac. Our guide took us through tunnels, dodging small ice bergs. As we were getting back to the ship, it was announced that humpback whales were behind the ship and so they were! Jan declared this the best tour so far!

After a special buffet lunch, the ship moved to Mikkelsen Harbor where it anchored for wet landings on the beach. This sheltered harbor, surrounded by glaciers was a refuge for whalers and sealers with the remains of a whale and whaler on the shore. It is home to a large colony of Gentoo penguins. People were fascinated to watch chicks about 2 weeks old being fed by their parents. Snow was speckled everywhere by abundant quantities of penguin poop. A pair of Weddell seals was lying on the “beach” where the Zodiacs landed.

Sunset tonight 11:16 pm. Sunrise 3:22 am

Tomorrow “boots on the ground” on the Antarctic continent, our 7th. 🐧