National Geographic Explorer awoke with eager anticipation; for many had come to the White Continent in anticipation of reaching the landmark of the Antarctic Circle, and upon waking, it was within but a few nautical miles of being reached. To add to the myth of the moment, a dense fog obscured visibility, allowing building-sized icebergs to appear out of the ether to greet us for a moment before they disappeared back into the haze. Crossing the line, a cheer went out on the Bridge, as our guests celebrated a new milestone. The rest of the morning was filled with informative talks on Shackleton and the Cryosphere by our talented natural history staff. In the afternoon, we took to Zodiacs to weave the monoliths of ice in Skogg Bay, named after our legendary captain currently navigating the vessel. As the wind picked up, the ice pushed in and the expedition truly took form, as our pathway back to the ship was blocked and new pathways had to be formed. Another fine day in one of the finest places on our spinning planet.
2/27/2022
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National Geographic Explorer
The Drake Passage
Almost home. Land is in sight as we complete our crossing of the Drake Passage and draw within view of Cape Horn. As sunrise begins to illuminate the clouds, we see the blinking light of the Cabo de Hornos lighthouse. Expedition leader Lucho tells us about the poignant albatross sculpture dedicated to lost mariners and reads us the associated poem in Spanish and English. We are sailing in sheltered waters now, and the sea has reached the balmy temperature of more than 7° C. The seabirds we have learned to recognize in the open ocean–albatrosses, petrels, and prions–are now joined by others, such as imperial shags from Patagonia. Fur seals are once again frolicking near the ship. With formalities complete, there is time for a last series of presentations from our expedition staff, including: a lively account of the world-defining voyage of Ferdinand Magellan by naturalist Madalena Patacho, intriguing ‘Behind the Scenes’ insights into the life of an undersea specialist from Brett Garner, and more about the famous Endurance expedition under the leadership of Sir Ernest Shackleton. After making time for some excellent afternoon Swedish pancakes, we sailed the remaining stretch along the Beagle Channel and came at last to port in Ushuaia. We gathered in the lounge for farewell cocktails with our captain. We celebrated the wonders we experienced over the last ten days, the good friends we traveled with and with whom we shared our discovery of the Antarctic, and the glorious land of Antarctica–the seascapes, history, and wildlife. Where will we travel next? Photo caption: An avian harbinger of the coming day. Photo by Steve Backus
