At sea...
A
couple of days at sea as we travel to South Georgia Island. There are
lectures all day long and movies at night so the hours are busy
between meals...and yes, there is plenty to eat on board! This is not
a trip for the faint of heart; one does not need to be the intrepid
explorer, but a thirst for adventure is critical. The seas are
sometimes rocky, although we have been very fortunate so far and I
have only needed Dramamine on a couple of days, and the island hikes
have required stamina and, certainly, a love of penguins!
It
was a foggy morning, but the sky is clearer now and, as I write this,
there is a lecture being presented on Antarctic seals. The education
on board has been impressive; the expedition leaders are all
wonderfully “in the know” and eager to share their knowledge.
Earlier today we listened to a mandatory briefing informing us of the
protocols set up by the International Association of Antarctica Tour
Operators. Safeguarding this pristine and unspoiled part of the world
is critical and only a limited number of people are allowed onto the
island at one time. All equipment( backpacks, tri-pods, boots, etc.)
is vacuumed and cleaned according to a biosecurity checklist and no
food may be brought with us.
We
are cruising the Scotia Sea and the seabirds are a plenty. Often they
follow the ship in search of food as the engines churn up the sea
waters. We are in what's called the Antarctic Convergence where the
warmer waters of the north meet up with the colder, more dense, and
less saline southern waters. The colder water sinks below the warmer
and this mixing results in many nutrients brought to the surface so
wildlife is abundant. In total, tens of millions of breeding
penguins, seals, and seabirds inhabit South Georgia (land, water and
air); as long as the weather conditions are favorable, we are
scheduled to make our first two landings tomorrow and will see some
of them!
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